Heating A Hot Tub With Solar Panels | Complete Guide

We can all agree that there is nothing better than slipping into a hot tub on a warm day or in the evening to enjoy the start of the weekend. Hot tubs need a steady and substantial electricity supply to run the heating components and pumps.

By using the energy produced by your solar panels to power your hot tub rather than spending money on pricey energy from the electricity network, installing a solar panel and storage battery system can take the worry out of your downtime.

Your solar panels will produce electricity that may be utilized to power your home all day, including your hot tub, by utilizing the sun’s power while it is shining.

Can Solar Energy Power A Hot Tub?

You can definitely use solar energy to power a hot tub. It can be cost-effective and easy compared to other conventional methods.  

Depending on the amount of sunlight in many regions, you can run a hot tub on solar electricity. Hot tub solar heating can be done in two ways: first, by passing water through a heat-exchanging panel; second, by using more “conventional” solar panels coupled to energy-storing batteries.

In short, yes, you can power a hot tub with solar energy.

How Do You Solar Heat Your Hot Tub?

Utilizing a heat-exchanging panel is the best way to warm your hot tub with the sun. This basic technology will be effective if you live somewhere that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.

In a nutshell, the heat exchanger is accessed by cold water that has been drawn from the hot tub’s bottom. This huge panel is crisscrossed with tiny tubes to allow water to flow through. The tubes are placed against a dark background to absorb heat, and the front is frequently covered in glass or perspex to intensify the heat.

As the cold water flows through the little tubes, it is heated by the sun, exits the heat exchanger, and is fed into the hot tub’s upper section. As the water cools, it sinks down in the hot tub and is circulated through the system, where it is warmed again.

Pretty simple, right?

What Kind Of Solar Panel Is Best For The Hot Tub?

Solar power is quick, simple, and simple to install. On the other hand, it is inefficient; on average, only 20% of the sun’s energy is converted to useful power.

It may seem sensible to utilize electric, solar panels to power the hot tub if an electric heater heats the water; however, solar hot water is another option.

Solar thermal systems transform up to 75% of the sun’s energy into heat energy, making them significantly more efficient. Solar thermal systems are a little more difficult to install.

How Much Power Do Hot Tubs Use?

I’ll make the assumption that your hot tub uses an average of 300 kWh per month because I have no idea how much electricity it uses in kWh. It can vary depending on the type and size of your hot tub, although generally, it ranges from 100 to 600 kWh. Of course, the higher the volume, the more power it consumes.

Both solar thermal and electric PV panels can be sized using this number. According to polls, most individuals use their hot tub twice daily, which makes sense.

Regularly running the electric heater once the pool reaches the desired temperature (about 100 degrees F) will help you save money, especially if you have a really effective cover to retain the heat.

How Much Solar Energy Does A Hot Tub Need?

For a solar-powered hot tub, you’ll need a system that can support that energy production, so we’ll size the panels based on the average I estimated, which is 300kWh/month.

In order to avoid being caught off guard, I typically add up to 50% more capacity to solar systems because they experience losses just like any other electrical or mechanical system. Additionally, it considers the potential for cloud cover or days with little sunlight.

How To Heat A Hot Tub Using Solar Panels

1. Find A Location For Your Hot Tub

Note the frequency of use, voltage (120V or 240V), and wattage of your hot tub. Wattage information can be found in the product handbook or the manufacturer’s website. Calculate your required number of solar panels using this information.

Similar to a solar-powered gate opener, a solar-powered hot tub requires lots of sunlight. Place the tub in a new location where it will get as much sun as possible. 

When you’ve found the perfect spot, cover the tub with a translucent cover. As a result, less solar electricity is required because the hot tub can absorb the heat.

2. Install Solar Panels On A Hot Tub

The system must be installed once you have determined the necessary number of solar panels. You require 11 x 300W solar panels, a charge controller ( MPPT or PWM ), a battery, and an inverter if your hot tub consumes 3000W of power.

The charge controller controls the current flow, and the battery stores solar energy the solar panels capture. Finally, the inverter transforms the DC electricity from the solar panel into AC so you can utilize it to run your hot tub.

Your system as a whole needs a battery and inverter that are the proper sizes. Since you won’t be using the solar energy system only for the hot tub, figure out how many watts your appliances consume to get the proper specifications for both the battery and inverter.

Pros And Cons Of Solar Powered Hot Tub 

Pros Of Solar Powered Hot Tub

1. Spend Less Money

Running an electric hot tub might cost up to $50 per month or $600 per year. You won’t have to pay for that with a solar-powered hot tub. You only have to pay for the solar equipment; the rest is provided for free by the sun. Switching to solar can save you thousands of dollars per year.

2. Environmentally Friendly

Solar energy is both clean and renewable, making it an excellent option for reducing carbon impact. A clean environment is beneficial to everyone and requires no sacrifice.

3. Simple To Set Up

A solar heating system can be rapidly installed, provided you are familiar with solar panels and batteries. Alternatively, you might buy a kit for solar heating and hire a specialist to install it. No matter whatever option you pick, using solar power is quick and easy.

4. Always Accessible

There is no truth to the misconception that solar energy cannot be used at night. Solar-heated bathtubs can be used throughout the year and at any time of the day.

You can go swimming whenever you want as long as the battery is completely charged. You can use AC power if you’re connected to the grid, solar panels, batteries, or all three.

5. Reliability

The sun will always be present, even when the electricity fails. The solar panels may simply sit back and absorb the sun’s energy during the summer. Because this energy is free, there is no need to be concerned about how much you must pay the power provider.

Cons Of Solar Power Hot Tub

The one problem with this type of setup is the required space and the inability to store energy directly. Solar energy needs a fairly large area of solar panels to heat up a hot tub which might be a problem if you do not have a lot of open space or a garden.

Another problem is that this system cannot store energy, and it has to be hooked to a battery and an inverter which again consumes area and needs some extra investment.

Conclusion

Taking a hot bath in your hot bath is fun and relaxing. Seeing that fat bill to your energy provider at the end of the month is not fun. Switching to solar power hot tub, you will end up saving money in the long term and not worry about monthly power bills.

This is important because hot tubs are power-hungry and can eat a lot of power. Solar is basically free energy, so why not use it?I hope this article has helped you understand how to use solar panels on your hot tub.