Solar Powered Swimming Pool Ionizer

thingiverse

7/21/20 - A fresh design is now available at: www.thingiverse.com/thing:4548210 7/17/20 - Intermittent usage with design 2 has proven successful. Still refining the concept with a filter bag in mind. Until then, I've uploaded design 2 for your use. The cage contains oxide, but daily emptying is still required to maintain effectiveness. For design 2, print two cages, inserts, bar4's, and an extender if desired for added stability and resistance. Cut two 3" lengths of copper pipe. Inserts keep the copper positioned in the cage, while snip-away supports inside the cage eliminate the need for support material. Cut two 1 inch pieces of pool noodle. Place inserts inside the cage bottoms, then stuff noodle sections into the tops of cages for flotation. Zip tie together as shown in the attached picture. I've reduced chlorine usage from four bottles per week to one bottle every two or three weeks. Water clarity has improved significantly. Consider using a smaller solar panel to slow oxidization speed and maintenance requirements. I've avoided adding circuitry, but may do so later. 7/6/20 - Redesign efforts continue. Until the new design is available, I recommend limited usage and regular oxide scraping to maintain effectiveness. 7/1/20 - The redesign has been completed and tested. While it works better, there's still room for improvement. I'm adding a cage and aquarium filter bags to keep oxide contained. The new model isn't uploaded yet, but stay tuned for updates. 6/25/20 - This device has proven too effective. If left in the water for an extended period, it rapidly consumes the anode and produces copper oxide flakes. I can only leave it in for a few hours at a time and regularly clean the anode to maintain effectiveness. If this works for you, that's great, but I'm aiming for a system I can install and forget about. We live in Arizona, where we previously rented a salt system for our in-ground pool. It failed, so we traded it for chlorine and self-service. Recently, we considered returning to salt before discovering mineral pools and ionizers. Based on positive reviews, YouTube videos, and the potential savings of $800 per year on chemicals, we purchased a $300 Ionizer from Amazon. Next came piping it into our system. However, I found DIY instructions for a solar ionizer with no structural modifications needed. The cost is between $20 to $40, including a 12V solar panel - about the price of one bottle of copper sulphate. If I'm not satisfied, I can return the solar panel. I built the prototype and connected it using a 12-volt adapter. It worked like a charm. Now my thrifty nature was willing to risk $30 and 30 miles to Harbor Freight to create a DIY solar ionizer. Here's what you'll need: 2 - 2 inch diameter pieces of pool noodle, cut into 2-inch lengths. 2 - 6 inch sections of 1/2 inch copper pipe (available at Home Depot or Lowe's). 2 - 1/2 inch hose clamps. 1 - 12-volt solar panel with leads. Print two brackets and one connecting bar in solid form. Assemble the pieces, then glue them into place using a glue gun, as I did. Attach one hose clamp to each copper pipe section and tighten it to prevent the pipes from slipping out of the unit over time. Carefully screw the pipe sections into the compressed noodle holes. Hook up the solar panel and drop the device into the water. Under direct sunlight, you should see rapid bubble formation. This is a low-voltage system, so you can touch the electrodes with wet hands without any issues. Clean the copper electrodes as needed using a wire brush. Water clarity has been excellent during testing, but I probably overdid it with a 7-watt panel - a cheaper 1.5 watt might have done just as well. Future improvements include eliminating cable clamps and adding a smooth cover to conceal the pipes and connectors. A basket around the anode could also help keep copper oxide from dropping into the pool. Replacement electrodes for commercial ionizers are about $100, supposedly lasting one to two seasons. If I need to rebuild the submersible component next year for a couple of dollars, I'm way ahead.