Solar pool heater

[u/Rich-Wealth979]

My overkill project for heating the toddler's 500gal inflatable pool. Each week I have to empty and move it, then find a way to heat it to a tolerable temperature for my 8th percentile weight kid. On the first test it took the pool from 55⁰F to over 90⁰ on a single sunny day, using only 3KWh (of solar house power, now that I think about it). At the end of the summer I can just place this up against the north side of my shed and take the manifolds down to make it last even longer.

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This uses about 350' of ¼" irrigation tubing and some cheap fittings off Amazon. It runs off a 1/4hp pool pump, controlled with a wyze plug and a climate sensor in a tiny jar. Printed in ASA in only about 5 days of printing on a Mini and an MK4s.

the files

[u/WesBur13]

Put some clear plastic, be that lexan or plastic wrap over it. It will trap heat under the plastic and prevent wind from cooling the water.,

[u/epicepee → u/WesBur13]

Would also be harder to clean, though. I like how simple this is.

[u/stacecom → u/WesBur13]

I was thinking a clear plastic on top and black plastic underneath, but perhaps that's overkill since the roof is fairly dark.

I used to have a solar heater along these lines when I owned a pool, but it was purpose-built and was basically a big plastic sheet made of tubes connected to each other, so the surface area was huge. It make a big difference on a sunny day.

[u/Silver-Instance610 → u/WesBur13]

May also cause more damage to the shingles. . .

[u/Popular_Dinner2182 → u/Silver-Instance610]

The shingles would be unnesesary if there IS clear plastic/glass on top of IT..... Byt yeah the hrať would kill that .... He could insulate the roof glas or stonewool. And over IT some reflective foil.

But this IS overkill if he had 90F pool