How To Power Your Pool With Solar Panels

A swimming pool is a fun and relaxing place for your family to spend their summer days. They can go for a swim and soak in the sun while staying just feet from home. There are tools that can keep everything operating at a low cost to your budget as well as being friendly to the environment. Here are a few steps to powering your pool with solar panels. 

Why You Should Consider Powering Your Pool With Solar Energy

While the initial startup to obtain solar power can be pricey, the panels that you purchase will pay for themselves quickly. From there, they will provide you with budget friendly energy for years to come. The parts required for this conversation can be financed by pool loan companies. The equipment that you will need is simple to put together and hook up to your pool and takes little time if you follow the instructions provided. They can last for decades if you take good care of them and keep them clean. The mechanisms that they are composed of are durable and make them work for a long time. Since they run from the power of the sun, you can cut back your carbon footprint and help the environment. 

Installing the Panels

Analyze your yard to determine where you will be installing the panels. They are large pieces of glass and solar cells combined, so you will need a great deal of space. You can find a spot in your yard or consider mounting them on your roof. Whether you do this for your whole home or just to heat the pool, you will need a wide area to house them. They should also be in the sunlight as much as possible. Consider a few spots on your property where you believe they will work the best then observe that section of ground or structure over a few days to see if the sunlight does indeed land there for a significant amount of time. Contact the company that you are purchasing them from to set up a time for them to come and put them together. You can also do it yourself if you follow the instructions that are provided to you. Be sure they are sturdy and attached well, especially if you live in a region with high wind gusts. 

Collecting the Energy

The power that comes through the cells in your solar panels is significantly different from what you use within your home. You will need to change it so that you will be able to use it within the house and for your pool. You will need to purchase a charge converter along with the rest of the equipment that is required for the project. This device takes what you get from the sun and transforms it into the energy that flows through the structure. Find a place inside where you can install this that is out of the way of your daily life. It should be easily accessible so that you can connect it to the electrical panels with the building and outside of it. This is also a good place to keep a battery to collect all of the excess electricity that will be manufactured. This keeps the lights on and your pool running long after the night has come.

Transforming It Into the Right Energy

Study the pool heater that you have purchased to keep the water warm within the swimming area. Specifically, you want to see what kind of electrical current it is manufactured for. If you bought one that runs on AC energy, you will need a device that converts it to that type. The power that comes from the panels and the converter is DC. This means that it is less than compatible with your new equipment. Most of the items within your home that you will be connecting to your new source of electricity will require this conversion. Install this new piece near everything else so that it is easily accessible if you ever need to repair or upgrade it. If you are only using solar power for your pool and the heater utilizes a DC current, then you can proceed to the next step with little worry of conversion. 

Connecting the Parts Of the Pool

Identify the pieces of your pool that require electricity and set them aside. This should be the pump that filters the water and the heater that keeps it warm. If you yet to have an outlet or source of electricity nearby that you can plug these into, you will need to have an electrician come in and install these for you. Review both your solar equipment and these items to ensure that they are compatible with each other. Attach these together according to the instructions that come from each of the manufacturers. You all want to test it out before you allow anyone into the water. Having anyone swim while being unsure that everything works correctly can hurt them significantly.

Using Solar Energy To Heat the Water

You have the option of using solar power drawn from the sun to heat your pool. You will still need to install panels to draw this energy from so you will need to determine where these will be on your property. When you choose to do this, the water will pass through the panels themselves and the sun warms it. There is very little electricity required to accomplish this. It is environmentally friendly since the process happens organically instead of through an electrical device. If you live in a climate that can get chilly overnight, you may want to consider getting a blanket for your pool. This will help you conserve the temperature and have less reliance on the heater. A swimming pool can be a fun addition to your home where you can entertain family and friends. Using solar energy to warm and filter the water is an economically and environmentally friendly way to maintain and operate it.