Solar Heating

[billy10]

Has anyone had any experience of having solar heating their swimming pool, I am almost at the point of buying a fairly large heat pump to do the job , but my friend (pun) is now making me think about doing it by solar panels, my concern is do we get enough good weather early and late in the season i.e may to November.in the southern tip of the Berry (dept 36 close to la chatre ) Any thoughts please.

 

[cooperlola]

See

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/848976/ShowPost.aspx

[Poolguy]

Billy

The calculation is quite easy.

We look up the table of available radiation for your area and make a guestimate on the % are of your pool necessary.

Typically, 50% of the pool area in a solar array would yield something

like a 5-8 degree improvement over the shoulder months either side of

the season.

60% would give you another few week and so on. If you are intending to

start swimming in March for example then I would suggest that an array

100% of the pool surface would be required to raise the temperature the

10-12 degrees required. Also a very good insulation cover. Prices for

this are about 130 euro/m2 for leading brands and you can addon more

panels at any time, so you have the possiblity of experimentation to

see how many will suit you for your area.

You can have either manual or autmatic control (for about and extra

1,000euro) and the whole thing will give you more than 20 years without

a problem or costing another cent I like the solution so long as there

is a nice discreet place to hide (?) the large area of black panels(or

gree or terracotta). Some times that is not possible so a heat pump is

the only alternative (practical).

PM me if you need more help

Andrew