Water pressure, solar pool heating conundrum.

Factual Questions
1

Background: I have recently set up a 12’x24’x52’’ Initex pool inside a Morton building. The air temperature in the building is around 80-95 degrees recently…but the pool water temp has been 62-68 degrees. I need to raise the temp by 10 degrees to make me not shriek when I get in! SO! I am trying to set up solar heat for it. I found some Initex solar mats at Walmart for $15/piece and have 6 strung together.

Here’s my issue and what I need help with! I need to have the solar mats about 50 ft, out and back, from the pump/pool AND everything is plastic/proprietary to Initex.

I bought pool vacuum hose and it is near to impossible to get a good seal. Can I reduce the diameter from the hose inlets (about 1 1/4’’) down and use pex to cover the 50 ft distance, then go back to the original size? The solar panels are cheap plastic and I worry about increasing the pressure and rupturing them? (They warn not to exceed 2000 gal/hr rate)

Anyone have experience with this? Water pressure advice?

2

You may well have better luck with this over at Forum list | Trouble Free Pool

Some very knowledgeable people who are experts with pools.

Emphasis is mainly on in-ground, but the above-ground base is also strong.

I know nothing about above-ground, but suspect that what you are trying will push the stuff beyond capability.
What does the instruction with the solar panels recommend?

3

the pex won’t be the issue (typically rated at 16 bar). Pex is normally one of two sizes - 1/2" or 3/4" nominal as well. the weakness will be the solar cells or the connectionion between pex and tube.

So basically the pressure loss from friction due to the smaller pipe will be far greater than the larger 1-1/4" solar tubing. But pressure is only going to be an issue if you’re pump can generate sufficient pressure to overcome the weakest link. What pump are you using?