Using Radiant Alumipex for Solar Pool Heater

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  • fst2011
    Junior Member
    • Aug 2017
    • 12
    #1

    Using Radiant Alumipex for Solar Pool Heater

    Hello everyone,
    First time here, found lots of info but have question about using this type of piping. I've noticed most people use either black hose or irrigation pipe. I have extra black radiant heat hose and was thinking it would be much better. Its black hose shell with a thin aluminum shielding then thick white pipe inside. It says rated for 200F - 100psi and is 1/2 thick. Brand name caked Weil-Mclain Alumipex for Radiant 1/2nom 1216 PEX-AL-PEX.

    Can someone please let me know if this would work. Thanks.

    Brian

    I couldn't figure out how to post a pic of the roll I have, sorry guys.
    Tags: diy solar pool heater, solar heater
    • Mike90250
      Moderator
      • May 2009
      • 16020
      #2
      The PEX in the part name implies that it is PEX tube which is NOT usually UV resistant, and in fact, even a weeks worth of solar exposure will be damaging to the tube.
      Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
      || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
      || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

      solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
      gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

        Comment

        • SWFLA
          Junior Member
          • Jan 2017
          • 89
          #3
          You would be crazy to put that garbage in your walls let alone out in the sun.

            Comment

            • Mike90250
              Moderator
              • May 2009
              • 16020
              #4
              Originally posted by SWFLA
              You would be crazy to put that garbage in your walls let alone out in the sun.
              Why would you call dual wall PEX garbage ? The aluminum layer is likely for oxygen blocking for a closed circuit system .
              Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
              || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
              || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

              solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
              gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

                Comment

                • fst2011
                  Junior Member
                  • Aug 2017
                  • 12
                  #5
                  Thanks everyone for the info. I have a few questions. As for the pex part in the name, meaning it would be bad for the UV...what exactly or possibly do you think would happen to the tubing if used for this idea? As for being garbage, why would it be garbage? I have it installed as radiant heat for my house and it has been working great for over 15 years.

                  So if everyone agrees not to use this tubing, which to me seems like it would be better(cause the insulation of aluminum) then that reg irrigation tubing (by no means do I claim to know better). Then should I make the solar pool heater box out of a few feet of copper pipe or is the reg irrigation tubing really that much better then everything else.

                  Thanks everyone for taking the time to share your advice.

                    Comment

                    • J.P.M.
                      Solar Fanatic
                      • Aug 2013
                      • 14939
                      #6
                      Originally posted by fst2011
                      Thanks everyone for the info. I have a few questions. As for the pex part in the name, meaning it would be bad for the UV...what exactly or possibly do you think would happen to the tubing if used for this idea? As for being garbage, why would it be garbage? I have it installed as radiant heat for my house and it has been working great for over 15 years.

                      So if everyone agrees not to use this tubing, which to me seems like it would be better(cause the insulation of aluminum) then that reg irrigation tubing (by no means do I claim to know better). Then should I make the solar pool heater box out of a few feet of copper pipe or is the reg irrigation tubing really that much better then everything else.

                      Thanks everyone for taking the time to share your advice.
                      Not a plug, but see Fafco pool heaters. Better performance. Less hassle. More durability. Give it a snoop. You can't make as good as you can buy. Been there, done that.

                        Comment

                        • SWFLA
                          Junior Member
                          • Jan 2017
                          • 89
                          #7
                          Fafco is the "gold standard"

                            Comment

                            • SWFLA
                              Junior Member
                              • Jan 2017
                              • 89
                              #8
                              Originally posted by Mike90250

                              Why would you call dual wall PEX garbage ? The aluminum layer is likely for oxygen blocking for a closed circuit system .
                              People had great attitudes about polybutylene tubing. I believe there was almost a 1 billion dollar Superfund for that mess.

                              buried in concrete and running propylene glycol is okay with me at least when that fails you can switch to baseboard hydronic.

                              the aluminum is indeed used keep oxygen out. It corrodes really nice with the metal fittings. And then leaks. The Metallurgy of said fittings needs to be closely monitored. There was also a small fund set up for those failures as well.

                              I bet you'd have a hard time finding a plumber that would put any flexible plastic in his own domicile. Excluding braided stainless over Teflon.

                                Comment

                                • fst2011
                                  Junior Member
                                  • Aug 2017
                                  • 12
                                  #9
                                  Wow... Thanks again everyone for their advice. Truly appreciated. So to be clear, ditch the radiant heat tubing and just go with the copper? I know you can use irrigation pipe but if they were both same price... which would you choose?

                                  Thanks

                                    Comment

                                    • Mike90250
                                      Moderator
                                      • May 2009
                                      • 16020
                                      #10
                                      irrigation pipe is not rated for pressure at warm temps, but you are only running a couple PSI right, just enough to get it to circulate ? poly pipe is a lot cheaper than copper, but the thermal transfer in the plastic is not great.
                                      Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
                                      || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
                                      || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

                                      solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
                                      gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

                                        Comment

                                        • J.P.M.
                                          Solar Fanatic
                                          • Aug 2013
                                          • 14939
                                          #11
                                          Originally posted by fst2011
                                          Wow... Thanks again everyone for their advice. Truly appreciated. So to be clear, ditch the radiant heat tubing and just go with the copper? I know you can use irrigation pipe but if they were both same price... which would you choose?

                                          Thanks
                                          You'll go broke doing a copper system that's large enough to provide adequate heat.

                                          One more time: If you want a good method to supply heat to a pool using solar energy, get solar collectors made for pool heating applications. Better, more efficient, less maint., better looking.

                                          Before you do that however, get a pool cover and use it. If/when you do, you will find any remaining heat needs can be met with a smaller, less expensive solar pool heater. It's by far the least expensive way to reduce heat loss, thereby reducing the heat load.

                                            Comment

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