Zero Energy

Swimming Pool
Bruce L. Hesher
433-5779

Permitting

Before doing any electrical or roof work consult your local

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to determine the permitting
requirements. The AHJ is usually the permitting office or
municipal building department.
This project was done with no roof penetrations except the
mounting lag bolts for the PV mount rails.

As a home owner you can pull a permit to install PV and/or

solar pool heating equipment on your own home but, it still
must pass inspection. To pull a permit in a commercial
setting, you must be properly licensed!
To qualify for rebates and/or incentives the installation
may need to be done by a licensed person, check it out
before commencing.

Scope
This presentation describes a renewable energy approach to
maintaining a swimming pool without buying electricity. By
targeting a high electricity cost item like the swimming pool
pump, short payback periods can be seen.
The example in this presentation uses solar panels and
passive water heating techniques that can meet all the needs
of an in-ground swimming pool. It was done in 2005. Solar
power can be used to circulate, filter and heat a swimming
pool. By design, system only operates during the day.

While it did not make financial sense at the time to do a

whole house PV system; targeting a high use device (the
pool pump) gave a payback of less than 4 years in 2005!

Energy Survey
The first step to either reducing your energy bill or
producing your own energy consumption is to determine
where it occurs. Most utility companies, including FPL,
have on-line tools to help you identify where your electricity
dollars go.
An FPL energy survey of my home showed that 27% of my
electricity bill was going to power my swimming pool pump!
At 27%, or about $50/month, it was the single largest
contributor; even larger than the air conditioner.

Equipment and Possible Sources

Solar modules: 2 @ 170W (in series for 96V 3.5A)
DC disconnect switch:
Numerous on-line retailers

Controller: Lorentz PS600.

Motor and Pump:
Florida Solar Pump: www.floridasolarpump.com (888)282-2119

Wire and Conduit:

6 Copper ground rod:
Misc PVC pipe:
Home improvement store.

Equipment Details
Two 170W 48V DC modules in series provide 340W at 96V and 3.54Amps. One HP = 746Watts so, this system
is equivalent to about a HP motor.

Aluminum mounting rails are

mounted to the roof using 5/16
lag bolts that go into the trusses.
The panels are bolted to the rails.
The panels can easily be
removed in order to ride out a
storm in the garage.
Safety note: 96V at 3.5 Amps can be dangerous. Cover
the panels with cardboard or black plastic while assembling
or working on the system ! A sheet of cardboard cut from the
shipping box and duct tape work well.

Wiring and Electrical Conduit

Three wires are needed: positive and negative from the
modules and a ground wire. The gauge of the wire must meet
the requirements of the National Electrical Code (NEC). The
nameplate on the back of the modules states the short circuit
current (Isc) as 4A. As per section 690 of the NEC, the
current must be de-rated for 125% of the maximum Isc and for
roof temperatures. 90C rated wire on a roof at temps up to
50C must be de-rated to 82% of its ampacity as per table
310.16 of the 2008 NEC.
So:
(4A *1.25) / 0.82 = 6.1A
Consult the American Wire Gauge (AWG) table for the
minimum acceptable wire size and use at least one size
larger. Use stranded copper wire so that you can feed it
through conduit. Use metal or UV rated PVC conduit ! If the
conduit will penetrate the roof, most AHJs require metal
conduit.

Module Placement
Locate the modules on a south sloping roof at a tilt angle
close to the latitude. The roof slope is usually fine for the tilt
angle.

Controller
Electricity from the panels goes to a controller that interfaces
between the power source (modules) and the load (motor/pump).

Safety note: Make sure

the switch on the
controller box is turned
off while assembling.

Filter & Plumbing

Size the plumbing to the largest standard size that is practical
in order to reduce backpressure and move more water.
A continuous ground wire from
panels runs inside conduit to
the chassis of controller then
down to the pump and 6
copper ground rod driven into
the ground.
Valves in the return line to
the pool are used to divert
some of the water through a
passive solar collector in
order to warm the water.

Pump
A 6 Copper ground rod with wire to both pump and
controller.

Heating the Pool

It takes a lot of energy to raise the temperature of water! Passive solar
heating that does not involve any energy storage or conversion is desirable.

A solar blanket that prevents evaporative heat loss by the pool

and/or a solar collector on the return line to the pool are good
options.

Performance
The system moves more water daily than the original
HP motor connected to the electric utility. The exact
amount depends on the irradiance of the day. It has a flow
rate in full sun equal to the original motor/pump but runs
whenever the sun is shinning.
The system is significantly quieter than the original
motor/pump.
Cleaning the pool is done by a Hayward PoolVacXL
attached to the skimmer.

Financial Review (as built in 2005)

Cost breakdown
panels

$1,600.00

2 - 170W at $800 each

Controller

$700.00

Lorentz model PS600

DC Pump

$600.00

Speck Pumps

Filter

$200.00

Hayward

plumbing 2" PVC $150.00

Home Depot

wire & conduit

Home Depot

$150.00
$3,400.00

30% tax rebate

$1,200.00

cost after rebate

$2,200.00

monthly savings

$50.00

payback months

44

The total cost of this system in 2005 was $3,400. This yields a payback of 68
months, 44 after incentives. The system has a life expectancy of over 30 years
on the panels and 10-12 years on the controller and pump.
Reduced equipment costs since 2005 make the payback much better!

System Review in 2013

After 8 years of operation the system is still working
flawlessly. It has the side benefit of working when the
utility is down so that the swimming pool stays clean.
Equipment costs since 2005 have changed. 340W
of solar modules that originally cost $1,600 are now
about $400! The PS600 controller, motor and pump
can be purchased from Florida Solar Pump for about
$1,700. This lowers the total cost before rebates from
$3,400 in 2005 to about $2,500.

Useful Websites
www.fpl.com Florida Power and Light. Use to determine
where your energy dollars are going.
www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/ Florida Solar Energy Center . The
state of Floridas energy research institute,
www.easternflorida.edu Eastern Florida State College.
Offers an A.S. degree in Alternative Energy Systems.
www.builditsolar.com DIY site for solar projects.
www.dsireusa.org This is the website that details active
rebate and tax incentive programs for alternative energy.