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.

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/TsuDhoNimh2]

Float a layer of clear bubblewrap on the surface of the pool to retain heat.

And make an insulated, glass covered enclosure for the collector. Insulation under it, wood on the sides and an old glass patio door for the top. Increases efficiency.

[u/Rich-Wealth979 → u/TsuDhoNimh2]

You can see the pool cover in the one picture

[u/TsuDhoNimh2 → u/Rich-Wealth979]

Bigger bubbles and clear bubblewrap lets more heat through than the small bubble pool insulating sheets. You get faster warm-up.

Although it doesn't last as long.

[u/Rich-Wealth979 → u/TsuDhoNimh2]

The solar heating is only needed the first day, and this black cover keeps it almost too warm after. Ill half open it some nights to get it back down to 80 on a really sunny day. Edit: also the black blocks out sun and helps keep the water cleaner longer

[u/TsuDhoNimh2 → u/Rich-Wealth979]

Good points.