Italian Pool Heater

[RogerT]

My panel is now up and running (pix later).

Haven't done any measurements yet - how long does it take for a tube to get up to "full speed" ?
I tried that Dick Strawbridge trick with a drop of water on a tube that had been in the sun for 10 minutes or so and was disappointed not to get a puff of steam...

[AndySV1K]

that tube had been out there for much longer than ten mins, bear in mind it was mid december and amb temp was about 3 deg c!

stick your tube out there for and hour or so and you should get a result like that, dont burn yourself though!!

Andy.

[RogerT]

Yes, I guessed it had been out there for a while...  I have now replicated the test having left the tube in full sun while we had lunch.

Also done some measurements. Flow is about 2L/min, water input temp. 12C, output 24C, should reach the 5C temp gain in a month that was predicted.

First pic shows the panel on it's new stand, second shows the pump passing water through the coil of black tube that I experimented with last year. doesn't add much, but every little helps !