Question:
Have a east facing house in southwest New Mexico, will be flush mounting 3 4x8 Novan Optima II panels on south facing portion of the roof. Will these be enough to heat 18x36, 40K gallon pool 5-10 degrees? Am simply looking into extending swimming season for my kids. I got the collectors from a neighbor who wasn't going to use them. They have been pressure-tested and appear to be in good condition. Apparently, they have not been used for some time.
Answer:
Sorry, but it won't work. To do it effectively you need 50% of the square footage of pool surface in solar panels. You are way short of that. Plus you have to factor in elevation. Best advice, don't bother. Sorry.
In direct sunlight, they should be able to supply about 10-15 amps each. You will have a total supply of around 30-50 amps. If you tie them into a battery bank, you should have no problem running the heater. Just be sure to have A/C service for a backup. Good luck.
More Questions & Answers...
How much solar energy (kJ) would have to be transferred to a 186.0 foot?
Where can I buy solar pannels for my electric/hybrid car?
List of devices or vehicles that run on solar energy?
What is a solar keyboard?
What is the best brand/type of solar system for residential photovoltaic?
Who knows more about solar system?
Do the solar sun rings work as well as a traditional solar cover for heating an inground pool?
What do you think of David Cameron's new solar panels?