Used solar water panel for hot tub pre warming

MakersMark

Any know where to get used solar water panels?

Would like to set one up to top up and help pre heat my wood fired hot tub.

Any alternative suggestions welcome too.

Thanks.

con747

Can get new ones cheap enough. https://midsummer.ie https://solartricity.ie

Jonathan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119158536#Comment_119158536

They only sell PV though. I understood OP was looking for Solar Thermal.

@MakersMark Have you looked on adverts? Used Solar Thermal kits show up from time to time. Don't forget you'll need the pump unit too.

MakersMark

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119158612#Comment_119158612

Will do.

Was going to have a small pump circulating water thru it prior to keep it warm over the weekend.

Hellrazer

I use an intex solar mat ( well 2 of them) to pre heat- my tub was recently switched over to gas.

The mats hold teh heat for a day or so in good weather but they wont heat it from cold.

Ubbquittious

U see them on DoneDeal the odd time. Not many though

the_amazing_raisin

Might be a good trick to get a couple of PV panels and a micro inverter to power one of those little pool immersion heaters

The advantage of PV is when you don't need it for the hot hub you could use it for other things like garden tools or charging batteries

Hellrazer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119160848#Comment_119160848

Ive tried that as an experiment. Biggest pool immersion heater is only 600 watts @ 48v - heater in hot tub (electric) is 2.2kw and that takes 14 hours to heat the tub to 40c. The immersion one made no difference.The heat loss from the tub of 1-3c a day depending on outside temperature was the same as the 1-3c a day that the immersion heater gave. Fine for a small insulated water tank but useless for 1100 litres.