set-up for rigid panel solar pool heater, solar blanket

[KLE]

We have bought a rigid plastic panel solar heating set-up for our above ground pool. Because of the orientation of many tress, fencing, and the pool itself within the property line, as well as distance of the pool from the house, we are limited to one sunny corner of the yard for placement of the 4'x20' unit. (Pool came with house, not reponsible for non-ideal location!)

At this point, we are planning to have the solar heater laying flat on the ground, next to the pool, the only location int h e back yard to get sun much of the day. How exact do we have to be with its placement when we start - will it be difficult to adjust its position once it's in use (too heavy to move with water in it), or will we be able to scootch it around a bit until we get the placement just right?

Should we put some kind of barrier down on the grass, or build some kind of lumber frame or platform, instead of having it on the ground? Part of the area was previously (unfortunately) my garden, the rest is grass.

Also will be buying a solar blanket for the pool, which is 24' round above ground. Any tips for a cheap way to manage daily placement and removal of the cover without buying the $200 reel? Found some very long PVC pipe in the shed, which I think was used in association with previously used, now varmint-chewed solar blanket. I will likely be managing the cover by myself most days.

Thanks for any helpful tips and advice. Rochester, NY area, if that matters.

Karen

[nicksanspam]

Is the pool itself in the sun?

No.

Solarcovers.com has nice clear vs blue solar covers...

They also have interesting $30 60" diameter "sun rings" with 6 magnets to keep them in a hexagonal kissing pattern (one circle surrounded by 6) and make them stick and slide together so they can be removed by a person standing in one position. They recommend 12 for a 24' round pool, which would leave 48% of the water exposed.

You might make your own 6'x5.19'-tall sun rhomboids with 31 ft^2 of solar cover and a bent PVC pipe and a 60 degree elbow and 4 magnets... 12 would cover 83% of a 24' pool in a tight hex pattern, except for the perimeter, which could have a 2'x12' greenhouse polyethylene film skirt attached to the pool wall.

Or make a 24' greenhouse polyethylene film pillow with a perimeter PVC pipe ring and a small tube running across the diameter inside and a float with an opening at the top of the tube in the center. Deflate the pillow so it sinks to the bottom for swimming, and reinflate it to float it.

With a dark bottom, 1080 Btu/ft^2 of unshaded sun might keep the pool

34.3+0.9x1080/24h = 74.8 on an average 34.3 March day and 51.1+0.9x840/24 = 82.6 in October. For more sun, you might add a reflective half-cylinder above the north wall of the pool. For more insulation, you might inflate the pillow with soap bubble foam at night.

Nick

[Eye144]

I would prop it up so that captured heat is not lost to the contact with the ground. A solar blanket for the pool works well if always replaced for evenings. www.SolarPanel-Rental,com Mike