Solar Swimming Pool Heater in St. Helens
How to build a solar <strong>poolstrong> heater, step by step guide. On the left is the front of the panel. It measures 34" outside and 30" <strong>instrong>side the frame. That is the smallest I could make the frame and still fit a 100' coil of poly tub<strong>instrong>g <strong>instrong>side. The frame is made of 2" x 2" alum<strong>instrong>um extrusion that is manufactured for screen porches and <strong>poolstrong> enclosures <strong>instrong> the South. I cut 4 pieces with a 45 degree angle at the corners and then held them together with 4, 2" x 2" angle brackets. On the right, the back of the panel is covered with alum<strong>instrong>um coil (2- 16" wide pieces) and then re<strong>instrong>forced with 1" x 2" alum<strong>instrong>um extrusion. I am a contractor and specialize <strong>instrong> <strong>Poolstrong> Enclosures and that's where I get the scrap alum<strong>instrong>um. If you live <strong>instrong> the south you might be able to get this stuff for the price of scrap metal or less if you go to an alum<strong>instrong>um screen enclosure company. On the left, a panel freshly pa<strong>instrong>ted with Rustoleum black pa<strong>instrong>t. On the right a 100' roll of 1/2 " poly tub<strong>instrong>g is carefully coiled up and held down with a 1 x 2 extrusion screwed <strong>instrong>to the center area. I had to really work at mak<strong>instrong>g the tub<strong>instrong>g coil this tight and stay <strong>instrong> place. I ran hot water thru the tub<strong>instrong>g to make it soft and used lots of bricks to hold it down till I f<strong>instrong>ally got it <strong>instrong> shape. It is important not to k<strong>instrong>k the hose as once k<strong>instrong>ked, it is hard to get it not to k<strong>instrong>k aga<strong>instrong>. I laid 2 x 4 's pa<strong>instrong>ted black on the roof and fastened them down to angle brackets <strong>instrong>stalled under a sh<strong>instrong>gle tab. Each panel was then screwed down <strong>instrong>to the 2 x 4 with 3" screws. On the right you see the manifold made of 1 and a half <strong>instrong>ch PVC with <strong>instrong>ch and a half by 1/2 " threaded T's. The splices and connections for the tub<strong>instrong>g are <strong>instrong> the irrigation dept at the build<strong>instrong>g supply store. I may one day cover this array with clear corrugated plastic, but for now it's work<strong>instrong>g as is.Learn More from our Website L<strong>instrong>k.