The below graph shows the typical temperatures that a pool with a properly sized Heliocol system can reach in both Gauteng and Cape Town for the different months of the year. It shows the increase in temperature for a pool with and without a thermal pool blanket. From these graphs it can be clearly seen that Heliocol panels can completely transform your swimming experience.
North-Facing Installation (Full Sun)
Panel area = 75% of pool surface area, mounted North-facing without shading
Due to the air to water heat exchange properties of the Heliocol panels, one can still drastically improve the pool water temperature even if the panels are not mounted in a sunny North-facing area. The below graphs show the performance in the extreme case where it is mounted in full shade.
Shaded Installation (Ambient Air Heat Exchange Only)
Panel area = 75% of pool surface area, panels mounted in full shade
Frequently Asked Questions
The general "rule of thumb" is that the total surface area of the solar panels must be at least half the surface area of the swimming pool (75% to 100% will of course extend the swimming season even more). So if you for example have a pool that is 5m long and 3m wide the pool surface area is 5 x 3 = 15m². You will therefore need at least 15/2 = 7.5m² of solar panels. The Heliocol HC40 panel has a surface area of 3.85m² and so you will need 2 of these panels.
Please note that Heliocol panels have about double the number of riser pipes than most other panels on the market. You will therefore need double the number of similar sized "regular" panels to get the same output power as the Heliocol panels.
The thermal losses on the surface of a pool are significant and can drastically cool down the pool. This will get worse when even a slight cool breeze is blowing over the surface of the pool. The more the thermal loss the more panels you would need to try and maintain the desired temperature. It is therefore very important to always use a thermal pool blanket to cover the pool when not in use. Even for indoor swimming pools this is important as the evaporation from the surface of the pool will cause heat loss and high levels of humidity inside the building.
Please note that the use of the correct type of pool thermal blanket will also substantially reduce evaporative water loss, filtration pump time and chemical use and therefore we would highly recommend it even if you are not interested in a heated pool.
In order to ensure maximum system efficiency and full warranty coverage it is recommended that the system is installed by an authorised installer. Please contact us to find the installer closest to you. The installation manual is available for download on the specific product page for people that would prefer to DIY.
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