DIY solar pool cover reel-HELP!

[coachgrd]

Hello everyone! I've been pricing (followed by gagging) on the price of pool cover reels that appear to be junk. I think I've some up with a plan to fabricate my own with higher schedule PVC pipe. My only hang-up is attaching the reel spool to the solar pool cover. Anyone have an idea? I had thought about perhaps taking that material used in lawn chairs and using it but I'm at a loss how I would attach it to the actual cover without tearing it (it is similar to bubble wrap.)

Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Gary

 

[mbohuntr]

Try a strip of heavy velcro from the fabric store. Hope yours turns out better than mine, I tried to make one for a above ground round, and never got the kinks worked out....

 

[kenmac]

the reel that I purchased works well. It has plastic clamps that clamp to the solar cover / bubble wrap. Here's an attachment kit





http://www.pcpools.com/products/ingroundsolarreelattachmentkit.html?sku=NS916&id=117

 

[MossRoad]

How many feet long is it going to be? I think you will run into problems using PVC for any length. It will sag. Also, does the PVC have U.V. protection or will it rot in the sun?

Try finding someone else's plan and see how they did a D.I.Y install.

Our cover and reel uses a very similar clip and strap kit like the one that kenmac posted.

For a round pool, you fold your solar cover in half like a soft shelled taco. Then you attach plastic grommets along the fold every 12-18". Then another plastic clip is screwed into the reel roller with self tapping sheet metal screws (our roller is aluminum. those screws may strip out in plastic pipe) to correspond to the clips in the solar cover. The grommets and the clips on the roller have slots for you to attach a fabric strap between the two. You adjust the strap length for the difference in height between your roller when mounted over the pool and the water level that is floating the cover.

 

[MossRoad]

Everything you use has to be U.V. and chemical resistant. Otherwise, the roller will rot in the sun, the plastic clips will deteriorate and the fabric webbing that you choose will rot in the water.

After it is all said and done, you may be able to find a decent solar cover reel at a local pool store that is used, scratched or dented, open package, on clearance, etc... for about a hundred bucks. I think I payed even less than that for ours.

Also, do not forget Craig's list or your local paper. Many times people get rid of swimming pools. Lots of the time they are free if you take them away. That is a good source for free parts, accessories, etc...

 

[coachgrd]

Well, thank you for the thoughts.

As much as it pains me to pay for something I know I could probably make, I did. We had to purchase a new solar cover and I found a website that had a fairly decent discount on reels when purchasing a cover. The cover was a better too that I could find locally and it ships free. The reel comes with a 3-year warranty as well, and it's price wasn't too bad either.

Thanks!
Gary

 

[dodge man]

I wish you had lived closer, I'm trying to get rid of mine. We had troubles with algae growing in our pool with the solar cover on. Our pool supply guy said you can only leave it on for a couple of days, and then needs to be taken off to allow the pool to circulate. If you take it off every day or every other day, you probably won't have any trouble. The problem was that last summer was really cold around here so we left it on for days at a time.

 

[955er]

I wish you had lived closer, I'm trying to get rid of mine. We had troubles with algae growing in our pool with the solar cover on. Our pool supply guy said you can only leave it on for a couple of days, and then needs to be taken off to allow the pool to circulate. If you take it off every day or every other day, you probably won't have any trouble. The problem was that last summer was really cold around here so we left it on for days at a time.

That's right. Ours comes off every morning.

 

[MossRoad]

I wish you had lived closer, I'm trying to get rid of mine. We had troubles with algae growing in our pool with the solar cover on. Our pool supply guy said you can only leave it on for a couple of days, and then needs to be taken off to allow the pool to circulate. If you take it off every day or every other day, you probably won't have any trouble. The problem was that last summer was really cold around here so we left it on for days at a time.

Hogwash!

Just kidding...

Really, though, I have used a solar cover for 12 years or so on our 24' above ground. We keep the solar cover on any time we are not using it. Once the water hits 88-90, though, I take it off. High temps like that tend to deteriorate the cover, causing blisters and cracking. Then algae gets in those blisters and cracks and that's where it gets a foot hold.

 

[txdon]

I made a twenty foot one out of 2" PVC. It bent too much and did not work. I had it attached to poles outside of the pool. We ended up just pushing the cover to the side on the 23' oblong pool in early spring.