New to solar heating...live in Sacramento Valley. Wondering if my expectations are too high or if the equipment isn't working properly. Example (this past Thursday): Air temperature 79 degrees, 5 pm with plenty of sun on solar panels all day, pool temp only 81 with heat set to 86. 2 degrees above air temp doesn't really seem right. Any input appreciated.
Solar Heating Northern California
- Thread starter susanc23
- Start date
- May 3, 2007
- 18,052
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
What is the volume of your pool and the sq-ft of the panels?
Also, are you using a pool cover? You can't expect to hold the heat during our current cool nights without a cover.
Also, are you using a pool cover? You can't expect to hold the heat during our current cool nights without a cover.
Solar will heat your pool, I have 7 4x20 panels for 11K and a hotter climate, but even down here if I don't cover when the overnight temps drop into the 70's or lower then I'm almost wasting my time trying to heat the pool. The cover keeps the heat in and is especially helpful overnight. Get a cheap bubble cover it's peanuts compared to the cost of the solar panels. Also get a reel if you can for easily removing the cover.
here's a $70 14x28 cover from walmart. I actually had the pool up to 90 in January
here's a $70 14x28 cover from walmart. I actually had the pool up to 90 in January
+1 to the solar cover
Are your panels piped in series or parallel? Parallel is recommended.
Are your panels piped in series or parallel? Parallel is recommended.
CJadamec
TFP Expert
Solar panels alone won't heat your pool more than a couple degrees a day. If your pool isn't covered at night you will loose almost all the heat you gained overnight. With a cover you should have no problems keeping the pool well above ambient temperature. This assumes you have a solar controller and there is a lot of sunny days.
Looks like the consensus is that I get some type of cover to keep the heat at night. Appreciate everyone's input.
Agree -- a "solar" cover works great here in Sacramento because even on the hottest days here it cools off pretty far at night.
It's not instantaneous -- having the cover on at night typically means losing 1-2 degrees less. The next day that means the water heats to 1-2 degrees warmer than the previous day, then the next day... up to a seasonal limit. As of yesterday, our pool was at 88 (no solar or other heater), but the sun is lower and lower every day so that will drop over the next couple of weeks. By comparison, in the mid-summer heat waves if I forget to take the cover off for a few days the water can get to 94+, which is a bit warm even for me!
My understand is that most solar panels are kind of similar -- they'll get you 1-3 degrees more rise each day than you would have gotten otherwise. Over the course of a few days that can get to a much warmer pool. Combining the solar heater and cover will give additive benefits, which you probably need at this time of year.
Let us know your results, whether you end up with a cover or not -- I have some old solar panels I got for free but haven't piped in yet, and am curious if I can get enough benefit to be worth doing. With a cover alone I can keep the water above 80 from late April through the end of September usually, would be nice to get one more month on each end.
My solar can give me 6-8 degrees a day if covered about 4-6 if not (then I loose most of that at night in the winter). I'm over sized at 280 sq ft and getting a very strong southern exposure sun in FL, so I'm sure that's probably above average. I agree on the cumulative effect of the cover and can't emphasize enough how much that is needed at night when northern CA drops much lower than FL.
My swim season (above 80 preferably above 85) in FL would probably be late May to early October, with solar late March to November, with solar and cover, all year except on exceptionally cold weeks in the winter
My swim season (above 80 preferably above 85) in FL would probably be late May to early October, with solar late March to November, with solar and cover, all year except on exceptionally cold weeks in the winter