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Redneck Pool Heater...(You'll laugh, then say DAMN!)
shardian:
Ran my first test this evening. All of my soldering went great. The hose swivels leak like crazy. I guess that is because I used straight 3/4" pipe thread connections. Water hoses just don't attach well to those.
The pool pump did not appear to work. That was a crappy set back. After I put everything up though, I realized that the system just wasn't vented. That pump does not work with air in the system. I'll try again, and if need be, I'll just get a utility pump.
In the mean time, I just hooked up to the water line. The pool neede some water anyway. I didn't use a thermometer, so my results are just estimated.
At 2 gpm, I was getting an output of roughly 85 degrees. At 1 gpm, the temp was roughly 110. I would like to run somewhere around 5 gpm and 85-90 degrees.
Another thing I noticed is that I had my input coming in low, and the output coming out high inside the grill. I think it might be more efficient to have the output closest to the flame.
Well, until next time...
Ed_McCarron:
--- Quote from: shardian on August 16, 2008, 09:40:02 pm ---The hose swivels leak like crazy. I guess that is because I used straight 3/4" pipe thread connections. Water hoses just don't attach well to those.
--- End quote ---
The pipe fittings are NPT. Its a tapered thread.
Hose is straight thread. Needs a gasket.
shardian:
My female-female adapter has gaskets on both ends. That is where all of the water came from. The female water hose onto a npt 3/4" fitting barely leaked at all. I guess the adapter is just a piece of junk.
shardian:
Well, I was feeling particularly irritated, so I went out and tried again. The pool pump is a no-go for sure. It just can't overcome the cumulative head pressure created by adapting down to 3/4", raising up to the grill, and running thru 20' of hose and 30' of pipe. The pool pump is rated at 580 GPH, but based on testing, its head pressure rating is not much. I am looking at this pump right now:
Amazon water pump
I can get it for free with my amazon gift cards. It is rated to lift up to 15 feet. The same pump is at Home Depot for $78. If they would let me return it, I could bring it home to test out before ordering. I see no reason why it wouldn't give me what I want. I used to drain the hot tub with a similar pump thru 50' of hose.
Of course, I also want to solve the leaky fittings problem. Maybe an extra gasket in each end will help, along with some thread compound or teflon tape.
danny_galaga:
--- Quote from: shardian on August 16, 2008, 10:23:12 pm ---My female-female adapter has gaskets on both ends. That is where all of the water came from. The female water hose onto a npt 3/4" fitting barely leaked at all. I guess the adapter is just a piece of junk.
--- End quote ---
mmmmm, female-female adapter...
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