Question:
I have a above ground pool and would like to make a solar pool heater for it.
> Not sure how to go about it. I assume you would use black flex pipe. I may also
> want to by-pass the heater sometimes. Any recommendations?
Answer:
Popular these days (and reasonably inexpensive) are mats integrated
with molded fine tubing that you run water thru - at the bottom and
top are larger manifold tubes for supply and feed respectively.
The mats are often made out of recycled car tires. Last I looked
a 2'x10' mat was around $200CDN. Typical pool should have 3 or 4
of these mats. I worry about roof rot with these things (you don't
want it lying flat on the roof).
I've seen DIY designs for solar collectors which effectively consist
of a thin copper sheet with 1/4" or 3/8" copper tubing soldered to them
(like the molded-in fine tubing above in the rubber mats), 3/4" or so
copper manifolds. Spray paint the whole thing flat black (with a
moderately heat resistent paint), and install inside a flat insulated box
with a glass cover (thermopane if you can scrounge/afford it).
