On May 23, 6:12*pm, wrote:
On Thu, 23 May 2013 00:12:12 -0700 (PDT), harry

wrote:
On May 23, 2:46*am, wrote:
I'm thinking of installing a heat pump for my 15x30 pool.

I'm told that the correct unit for my needs (an Aquacal TropiCal) puts out 112,000 BTUs (40 amps/5.8 KW). *I'm thinking that a larger unit that puts out 141,000 BTUs (50 amps/6.4KW), would heat the pool quicker and require less time on, thus use, in theory, less electricity - but it's about $500 more expensive than the small

unit. *We'll probably only use the pool on the weekends. *Not sure how long it will take to break even on this with running it for only a couple days per week.











Anybody have any thoughts or opinions about this? *Is my thinking skewed? *Is it worth the extra cost?

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You would be better getting some sort of solar heater.

Running a swimming pool is always going to be expensive.
Gas would be far cheaper than electricity.
Electricity is the worst possible option.
If your pool is near the house you may be able to use the home
heating furnace if you have a wet system.
You need a good insulated pool cover. Ideally there should
be insulation between the pool and the ground too.

The economics of turning a pool heating off are very dodgy
as it takes days for the pool to reheat.
Reducing temperature may be an option.

Your incoming power supply may not be big enough in any event.
You may need a three phase supply.

Harry is right, solar is the way to go but if you are very far north,
that may still not be enough.

Most of the pools in my neighborhood (SW Fla) are solar heated. The
practical limit for an uncovered pool is really only about 10 degrees
above the average daily ambient temp. You may end up with 80 degree
water in the afternoon on a 70 degree day but by morning that will be
back down in the low 70s. A cover makes a huge difference in that.
My neighbor across the street has more collector area than pool
surface and they can hold 86 or higher most of the winter (45-50f at
night)
When it gets much colder than that, they don't do as well.

I have less collector than pool area and no cover. The only thing
solar does for me in knock the chill off in the spring and fall.
I changed the plumbing so I can switch over to the spa. THAT is a
heluva deal.
When the solars are useless on the pool, I can still get the spa up in
the high 80s or low 90s before I kick on the heater.
In the spring and fall, I can get all the heat I need from the solars
in the day and only need the heater to maintain the heat until I am
done with it
We do not heat the spa with the heater unless we are in it.

Typically the only controller on a solar pool heater is a timer on the
pump.
I am going to tie the spa solar into the thermostat tho because this
spring I caught it at 120 *;-)

Harry You virtually never see 3 phase at a residence but we do see 400
amp single phase service on a big house.

As gee whiz info, my wife's country club has 7 heated pools,
uncovered.
They can't hold the temp with 10 ton heat pumps on the small pools if
we have a cold snap. The big pool has 30 tons

I will try to get the cost, they are all on separate meters.

Most houses here have electricity here is at 230volts/single phase/
100A. There is no 120 volts except on construction sites when step
down transformers are used.

However if you have more than say 15Kw continuous heating, you will be
expected to get three phase (depending on location).

Electric heating of swimming pools is virtually unheard of due to
cost, there is a gas supply to 99% of places.

Outdoor pools are uncommon here, there's probably only ten days/year
warm enough to use one.