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Posted by on November 9, 2006, 1:47 pm
In alt.solar.thermal nicksanspam@ece.villanova.edu wrote:
> They also gain solar heat, esp clear vs blue covers like the $75
> No. 441428 14'x28' version from solarcovers.com (800) 433-4701.
Clear is better? Why are most of them blue then, just appearance?
> >But our pool is kidney-shaped, and it's not clear to me whether it
> >would be better to
> >
> >(1) cut the cover to the shape of the pool, or
Cut it to fit the kidney. When you get ready to roll it up, flip the
excess part onto the main part, and roll. Don't drag it around the bulge,
and don't leave a big area of uncovered water.
I would definitely get a reel, if the cover is too large to handle easily
by yourself. Our 12x32 cover was a chore to take off and put on. It's no
big deal with the reel. We have one area that sticks out, and I just fold
that in before I reel it up.
> (3) keep the cover rectangular, but cover all the water?
> The extra solar collecting area will help by keeping the ground warmer.
> You might buy 2 covers and cut the bottom one to fit the pool and pump
> water up over that part and let it drain back into the pool during the day.
The portion of the cover that is not in contact with water would overheat
and ruin the bubbles.
--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5
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Posted by on November 9, 2006, 3:58 pm
>nicksanspam@ece.villanova.edu wrote:
>
>> They also gain solar heat, esp clear vs blue covers like the $75
>> No. 441428 14'x28' version from solarcovers.com (800) 433-4701.
>
>Clear is better? Why are most of them blue then, just appearance?
Yeah. Dumb.
>> (3) keep the cover rectangular, but cover all the water?
>
>> The extra solar collecting area will help by keeping the ground warmer.
>> You might buy 2 covers and cut the bottom one to fit the pool and pump
>> water up over that part and let it drain back into the pool during the day.
>
>The portion of the cover that is not in contact with water would overheat
>and ruin the bubbles.
Maybe you missed the part about pumping water over the bottom cover,
or you don't know that polyethylene film is transparent to UV,
which limits the max temp.
Nick
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Posted by on November 10, 2006, 5:53 pm
In alt.solar.thermal nicksanspam@ece.villanova.edu wrote:
> >nicksanspam@ece.villanova.edu wrote:
> >> The extra solar collecting area will help by keeping the ground
> >> warmer. You might buy 2 covers and cut the bottom one to fit the pool
> >> and pump water up over that part and let it drain back into the pool
> >> during the day.
> >
> >The portion of the cover that is not in contact with water would
> >overheat and ruin the bubbles.
> Maybe you missed the part about pumping water over the bottom cover,
I did miss the construction of this two cover arrangement. Describe that
in a little more detail, if you don't mind.
> or you don't know that polyethylene film is transparent to UV,
> which limits the max temp.
The cover seems to be damaged by exposure to the sun in a short period of
time. The covers come with opaque white sheets that are supposed to be put
over the cover when it is off the pool. The little bubbles seem to
overheat and distort.
--
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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5
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Posted by Don Phillipson on November 9, 2006, 11:27 am
> I'm thinking of buying a solar pool cover for our swimming pool. I
> understand that these work by cutting the evaporation (there's some
> useful info at
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13140).
Thermal insulation is the main function of a "solar blanket."
Evaporation occurs mainly in direct sunlight.
> But our pool is kidney-shaped, and it's not clear to me whether it
> would be better to
>
> (1) cut the cover to the shape of the pool, or
>
> (2) keep the cover rectangular, but don't cover all the water.
>
> Are there durability issues if I do (1)? From what I've read, it
> should buy a reel to make it easier to put on and take off. I'm
> concerned that using the cover every day during the cooler season would
> mean that the wider parts of the cover would rub on the narrower parts
> of the pool as I reel it back and forth, and wear it out (more!)
> quickly.
1. The cheaper solar blankets do not last long, 4 to 7
years, before the plastic developes holes.
2. Friction damage is reduced by (a) storing the blanket
on a roller, (b) elevating the roller a foot higher than
the rim of the pool.
> It's also unclear to me how well I can fit it when I do the cutting,
> and whether a little excess cover or a little open water is better (or
> maybe this doesn't make much difference).
1. Float the blanket on the water.
2. Decide how to fasten the blanket to the roller,
i.e. position the roller conveniently and measure
how long the various straps should be. There
should be a strap or connector every three feet or so.
3. Secure the blanket to the roller and confirm that
it the roller spools up freely. The lumpier it is, the
more height you will need; but the blanket will roll
up smoothly when excess material is removed and
the lengths of the straps are exact.
4. Float the blanket on the water and cut off the
excess, to fit the pool.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)
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Posted by on November 9, 2006, 1:00 pm
Don Phillipson wrote:
> Thermal insulation is the main function of a "solar blanket."
> Evaporation occurs mainly in direct sunlight.
FWIW, from my observation it occurs when the water is warmer than the
air, including at night. It's obvious in the early morning, when the
sun's rays are nearly horizontal, and I can see the mist rising up.
The humidity of the air is probably a factor, too--I suppose the
evaporation is more obvious when the air is humid, but occurs at least
as much (maybe more) when the air is dry.
> 1. Float the blanket on the water.
> 2. Decide how to fasten the blanket to the roller,
> i.e. position the roller conveniently and measure
> how long the various straps should be. There
> should be a strap or connector every three feet or so.
> 3. Secure the blanket to the roller and confirm that
> it the roller spools up freely. The lumpier it is, the
> more height you will need; but the blanket will roll
> up smoothly when excess material is removed and
> the lengths of the straps are exact.
The lumpier what is? I guess you mean that if the blanket isn't
rectangular, the rolled up blanket will have "troughs" where parts have
been cut away?
> 4. Float the blanket on the water and cut off the
> excess, to fit the pool.
Thanks for the tips!
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