Assembly Videos - Solar-Lakes

Solar powered blanket reel
User Manual (Operation / Installation / Safety Guide)
based on eco-friendly practices and goals.

FIRST WATCH THESE SHORT VIDEOS EXPLAINING HOW TO ASSEMBLE THE TUBES AND HOW TO UPGRADE YOUR MANUAL REEL TO OUR MOTORIZED PRODUCT. THEN PLEASE ALSO READ THE BRIEF IMPORTANT NOTES BELOW, TO SHORTEN YOUR LEARNING CURVE USING OUR PRODUCT:

VIDEO #1 – ROLLER TUBE ASSAMBLY :

VIDEO #2 – HOW TO MINIMISE SAGGING OF THE TUBE UNDER THE WATER LOGGED HEAVY BLANKTES – RECOMMENDED FOR 20-24 FT WIDE POOLS. (Requires 1/4×3.5″ screws)

VIDEO #3 – UPGRADE YOUR MANUAL ROLLER WITH THE MOTORIZED “L-SHAPE” REEL-ENDS:

VIDEO #4 – UPGRADE YOUR MANUAL ROLLER WITH THE “NEW DESIGN” MOTORZIED ROLLER:

BRIEF INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, PROCEED IN THIS ORDER:

Assemble the aluminum roller tubes than attach the solar blanket to the tube, (scroll down for the tube assembly video)
Attach first the non-motorized “leg” to one end of the tube, then attach the motorized “leg” to the opposite end of the tube.
STOP: if you did not buy the roller tubes from us and the motor shaft connector does not fit into your roller’s tube, please email or call us for help.
Finally attached the solar-panel-battery-unit to the top of the motorized leg.
Flip the white-capped-switch to turn on the power,

STAND CLEAR than start the motor with the remote controller

WARNING: ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD: do not operate with loose long hair, loose clothing, with long jewelry.

to start to motor, press momentarily a button on the remote to start the motor,
push any button to stop the motor,
push the other remote button to start the motor in reverse direction.
Push any button to stop the motor.
The black-capped-switch is a manual motor controller switch, to start and stop the motor without the remote or to override the remote in case of an emergency

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ:

For the best solar charging efficiency:

place the solar panel in a corner of your pool where it gets unobstructed sunshine between 10am and 3pm.
Rotate the solar panel to face due South for best charging efficiency.
Please note, the rising or the setting sun is not effective for solar charging.
If you have a lot of trees around your pool and the solar panel does not get 3-4 hours of direct sunshine daily, you may have to use the DC-charger periodically.
DURING THE POOL SEASON DO NOT TURN OFF THE SYSTEM WITH THE POWER SWITCH – THE SOLAR PANEL ONLY CHARGES THE BATTERY WHEN POWER BUTTON IS PUSHED, SYSTEM IS TURNED ON

WARNING: ELECRICUTION RISK: Do not use the DC-charger at the wet poolside. Chare the battery indoors.

IMPORTAN – PLEASE CONTINUE TO READ:

1., Please note, that to roll up the water soaked solar blanket is a heavy duty task. For such high torque and high amp application it is important not to reverse the rotation of the motor without first stopping it to prevent a power surge and to prevent a permanent damage of the motor and the electronics !

2., There is an over current safety limitation built in to protect the system and if it kicks in for any reason (like blanket is dragging against the side of the pool, or the blanket is too heavy, etc), this is the reset procedure to follow:

turn system off (=flip the white switch to the off position)
disconnect solar panel and place it face down on the pool deck (or cover solar panel with a dark T-shirt) make sure the DC-charger is also disconnected, so no power gets into the system by any means
count ten, than uncover or reconnect the solar panel, turn on the system (white switch), test if it works with 3-way switch and/or remote controller.
if still not working, take the solar panel inside into a darker area, and do the same reset procedure indoors.

3., The system is designed to work with solar charging only, without the need of AC/DC charging at all during the pool season, but it requires optimal sunny conditions for proper battery charging:

place the solar panel in a corner of your pool where it receives unobstructed direct sunshine 3-4 hours daily
rotate the solar panel to face due South
solar charging is most effective between 10am and 3pm
Rising or setting sun is ineffective for solar charging.
Please note, solar charging (and also DC-charging) only occurs, if the main system power is turned on (=white switch is in the ON position).

4., Please keep in mind, that the standby power consumption of the electronics (charge management, radio-frequency receiver, etc) will drain the battery empty in 3-4 days without sunshine. Therefore:

during overcast days, when there is no direct sunshine for at least 3 hours a day, please turn the system OFF with the white on-off switch at night and turn it back on next morning.
Once summer really arrives with lots of sunshine, then system power should stay on all times, day and night.

5., If weather is gloomy and overcast for many days in a row:

please turn on the system ONLY when opening or closing your pool and turn system off between use.
If you do that, then a fully charged battery should have enough energy stored for 20 open/close cycles without any re-charging required.
If you eventually need to use the AC/DC charger, please note, DC-charging only takes place if system power is turned on.

6., If for any reason your battery is drained significantly (= if battery voltage drops significantly below normal), then re-charging is very slow initially, only occurs at a 10% rate of normal charge rate. This is a battery protection feature. This extends battery life significantly. Once battery is 30% full, charge rate is normal/fast again untill full charge. In other words, a fully discharged battery needs 8-10 hours of AC/DC charging to become operational again.

7., Therefore keep in mind the above recommendations to prevent full discharge of the battery. Then you will have peace of mind during the whole pool season and you will not require DC-charging at all whatsoever.

8., To prevent tipping over of the stand, and to prevent solar panel damage:

When rolling up your solar blanket, the blanket should not be rubbing against the side of the pool to eliminate drag. Please cut your solar blanket slightly smaller to leave about an inch between the edge of the solar blanket and the side of the pool.
IMPORTANT: Rolling up the blanket evenly will prevent tipping over of the stand and damage of the solar panel.
to prevent the solar blanket “creeping” sideways along the reel, please ensure that the reel is an exact right angle to the side of your rectangular pool (or to the direction of cover travel if you have different shape of pool).
Tip: once you found the correct position for the powered-reel-ends, mark the position of the stands on the pool deck, so you can place it in same position again in case you incidentally move it .
ensure that the blanket kit strips are pulling the solar blanket evenly.
if the blanket is “creeping” sideways during roll up, stop the motor and gently tag on the rolled up blanket to straighten it, then start the motor again
The solar blanket should be always rolled in “under arm”, as you see it in the demo videos, so the blanket first goes under the aluminum tube before being lifted up by the powered reel.

Please note, our warranty policy is NOT covering solar panel damage under any circumstances. Such damage is considered to be abuse and misuse. Solar panel replacement will be provided fee for service and the round trip shipping cost will be the responsibility of the user.

9., Please note, we are not the manufacturer of the 3’ aluminum tubes. We are re-selling those to help ensure compatibility with our motorized-reel-ends, if you want to buy from us, but we encourage you to use or by your own tubes.

10., The recommended solar cover is maximum 1/4″ thick, like the common “12 mil” solar blanket.

11., Allow an extra 4″ on solar blanket length if installing the reel at mid-point or off center of the pool, because attaching the blanket kit straps will take off about that much from total solar blanket length.

12., The 3″ tubes have to extend beyond the widths of your pool on both sides by 8-9″ so your powered-reel-ends do not get too close to the side of the pool for safety.

13., If your own aluminum tubes do not fit with our powered-reel-stand motor shaft connector, please do not modify or alter our product to make it fit, because by doing that you will loose product warranty. Instead, please order the fitting 3″ tubes from us.

14., DO NOT FIRMLY MOUNT THE SYSTEM TO THE POOL SIDE CONCRETE OR TO THE POOL DECK. THIS IS A STAND-ALONE PRODUCT, NOT MOUNTABLE ! NOT TO BE MOUNTED ON A CASTER EITHER !

15., DO NOT PREVENT THE NORMAL SLIGHT “WOBBLING” MOTION OF THE REEL-ENDS. THIS IS SIMPLY A SELF-ADJUSTMENT, A SELF-ALIGNMENT OF THE STANDS UNDER SUCH HEAVY LOAD. BOTH ENDS HAVE TO MOVE AND TILT FREELY. YOU WILL SEE THAT BOTH ENDS ARE CONSTANTLY SELF-ADJUSTING TO THE FORCES OF THE ROTATING TUBES, AS LONG AS THE MOTOR IS ROTATING THE TUBES. THIS IS THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. DO NOT PREVENT THESE SELF-ADJUSTMENTS BY PERMANENTLY FIXING THE REEL-ENDS TO THE SIDE OF THE POOL OR TO THE POOL DECK. BY DOING THAT YOU WILL DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THE LIFESPAN OF YOUR POWERED SYSTEM AND WILL LOOSE WARRANTY COVERAGE.

16. DURING THE POOL SEASON DO NOT TURN OFF THE SYSTEM – THE SOLAR PANEL ONLY CHARGES THE BATTERY WHEN POWER BUTTON IS PUSHED, SYSTEM IS TURNED ON.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO READ THE WHOLE MANUAL BELOW

The Solar Powered Reel-ends are designed to reel in pool blankets before the use of a pool or to assist user in covering pool after using the pool. The purpose of the powered-reel-end is to reduce evaporation, maintain water temperature and extend the pool season for the user; can use on rectangular pools with or without ladder.

This device is not intended or permitted to use with safety pool covers.

SAFETY AND HAZARD WARNINGS:
This product is not intended for any use other than what is outlined in the introduction section of this manual. Review this manual regularly to ensure safe operation.

DO NOT plug in AC/DC wall charger in the powered-reel-end while reel is near water or in use. Using the AC/DC charger inappropriately may cause electrocution, bodily harm, interference/destruction of pacemakers, a fire, or death. The AC/DC charger is to be used only indoors. The AC/DC charger should never be used to power the motor. If you have plenty of sunshine at your pool, the AC/DC charger should not be required during the pool season.

Children under the age of 18 should not use or operate this product.
Stand at least 10 feet away from the reel when it is in use.
Do not allow children to hang from or play with the reel.
Loose fitting clothing should not be worn near the reel to prevent entanglement.
Long hair should not be let down near the reel to prevent entanglement.
Do not use a damaged or broken reel or cord.
Do not modify reel.
Do not adjust height of reel.
Do not permit children or adults to run near reel as water may splash onto pavement and create a slipping hazard.
Reel may have sharp edges and/or hard corners, stay clear of reel at all times especially when pavement is wet.
Do not use the AC/DC charger at the poolside.
Do not use the AC/DC charger with extension cord.
AC/DC charger must be used with a grounding type receptacle protected by a class Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFI)
Be sure no debris such as paper, wood, carpet, etc. are present around AC/DC charger and the powered-reel-end with its battery, as this may cause a fire hazard.
Solar blankets are not safety covers, stay off solar blankets.
Remove solar blanket entirely from the pool before use.
Do not splash salty pool water onto reel.
Do not use garden hose or pressure washer to clean the reel. The waterproof housing is designed to prevent rainwater entering into the unit, but it will not stop the high pressure water entering the housing and the resulting permanent damage to the electronics.
This reel is intended to be stationary and should not be mounted on a caster-equipped stand.
Inspect pool before use of reel; be certain it is free of occupants and items that may interfere with use.
This reel is for outdoor use only in sunny areas.
Store remote in secure area to prevent unauthorized use.
Do not attempt to repair or modify any of this product.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OR ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN DENIAL OF WARRANTY CLAIM.

Call Solar-Lakes® tech support at 740-274-0790 with any questions or email to : info@solar-lakes.com .

Contents of Package
Your powered reel package includes:

one Powered-Reel-Stand (end with motor and solar panel)
one Standard-Reel-stand (end without motor or solar panel)
two handheld remote controllers
one AC/DC charger
six screws to fix motor shaft connector to the 3″ diameter aluminum tubes (tubes an blanket attachment kit sold separately)
If you also ordered from us the 3″ diameter premium aluminum tubes suitable for pools up to 20×40′ size, your second package includes: five segments of 3″ diameter aluminum tubes
twelve screws to fix the tubes together
the Blanket attachment kit (straps, plastic grommets and plastic screws)

Assembly and installation
Some variations are expected due to ongoing product improvements, but the basic product features, the assembly and the installation will be very similar for our product line.

Step 1:

If required, charge battery overnight indoors with the provided AC/DC charger before assembly. IMPORTANT: charging only takes place if the system power is turned on. IMPORTANT: the charger is not intended for outdoors use for your safety and actually it is not necessary if you open your pool once or twice daily and your solar panel gets 4-5 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Step 2:

Tube assembly – Please note, we are not the manufacturer of the 3’x24″ aluminum tubes. We are re-selling those to help ensure compatibility with our motorized-reel-ends, if you want to buy from us, but we encourage you to use or by your own tubes. Our experience with most of the tubes marketed and sold in the States, that they are sagging in the middle to some extend from day one under the weight of the waterlogged solar blanket that can be 70 lbs+. For best performance of the motorized-system, it is important to minimize the sagging of the aluminum tube, so the solar blanket is not wrinkled when being rolled up. In order to do that, please use all supplied tube segments, even if your pool width is less than 24′ wide and secure the tubes with supplied screws to hold tube segments together firmly. If you do not plan to take apart the aluminum tube segments later, (most pool owners never disassemble the tube), in our experience it is best to permanently fix the tube segments to each other by replacing the supplied small screws with longer and heavier screws that actually go through the full diameter of the aluminum tubes fixed with nut and lock washer. This way you can make the tube segments into a rigid single 24′ long tube and the 30 minutes of your time spent on drilling 8 larger holes (2 at each junction of the tube segments) will turn out to be a good use of your time upfront to save lot of time later, to minimize the need of any adjustment of the blanket while the blanket is rolled up by the motor, because by eliminating the tube sagging, the blanket will not wrinkle and will not travel to the side of the tube during roll up.

Assemble and insert male end (wedge shape plastic tabs) of the blanket attachment kit straps into the female section (groves) of the aluminum tubes

Step 3:

This short video shows the tube assembly:

Slide all five (5) aluminum tubes together with at least 1 ft overlap between tube segments, thus creating one long tube. Set the total length of the tube system to allow an extra 8-9 inches hang over on both sides of your pool, so the Powered-Reel-Stand and the Standard-Reel-Stand both will have a safety clearance from the edges of the pool. Use all twelve (12) screws to fix the tube segments to each other permanently into position.

Step 4:

Weave strap through the holes on the plastic grommet. Attach solar blanket to grommet with screw. You may need to punch a hole in the solar blanket to attach the grommet and screw. WARNING! Since this kit does not include a solar blanket you will need to follow the blanket manufacturer’s instructions for attaching the solar blanket to the straps and to the tether (tether should be supplied by the blanket manufacturer). Always follow instructions as provided by your solar blanket manufacturer, or contact their customer support to avoid causing undue damage to your solar blanket.

Step 5:

Position one Standard-Reel-Stand at a time in an upright position, and insert rotating end into one end of the now combined aluminum tubes. Using three (3) screws supplied with the Reel-Stands, fasten Reel-Stand to the aluminum tube.

Step 6:

Repeat Step 5 with the Powered-Reel-Stand A. Be careful not to break the attached solar panel during the assembly, since there is no break warranty implied for the glass solar panel itself. IMPORTANT: Position the solar panel on reel stand A so that it faces direct sunlight, or the area of your pool that will receive the most consistent sunlight. It will not charge in partial shade.

Operation

IMPORTANT: Always keep the remotes indoors in a safe place to prevent unauthorized use.

Step 1:

To use pool. With solar blanket attached and flat on water surface press button A once to reel in blanket. Push same button again to stop. When reeling in the blanket, pay attention that it should roll up evenly, without “creeping” sideways, without dragging against the poolside, without forming wrinkles on the tube. This may require to stop the reel to gently adjust the solar blanket on the tubes. Ensure that the reel is at an exact right angle to the direction of cover travel. Tip: once correct, mark the position of the stands on the pool deck in case you move it away. Your goal is that after a few trials you will not need to adjust the blanket while it is reeled in smoothly in one minute, but you still have to carefully observe the process and be prepared to stop and adjust as the blanket as needed. Try to prevent sagging of the tubes by periodically re-tightening all the screws that are holding the tubes together and also those screws that are fixing the motor shaft and standard reel shaft to the tubes.

Step 2:

To reel back out, push button B once and gently assist reel by pulling the solar blanket with the rope provided with your solar blanket. Keep pace with the reel, this may require pushing button B again to stop the reel as needed. WARNING: Pulling too hard may cause the reel to flip causing solar panel damage.

WINTERIZING INSTRUCTIONS:

Turn off the power !

Unscrew all screw from Standard-Reel-Stand shaft and Powered-Reel-Stand shaft, remove both reel stands. Save screws. Take reels inside to prevent winter damage, store in dry environment (garage or basement). It is not recommended to plug in the DC-charger. This battery does not require trickle charge.

IMPROTANT: you have to turn off the system power if the product is stored for the winter and not in use. Keeping the power turned on for extended storage may irreversibly damage the battery due to deep discharge.

FCC statement
FCC Compliance and Advisory Statement.
The reel provided and the hardware within this device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following conditions: this device may not cause harmful interference, and must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. The product provided herein complies with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules in order to offer protection against harmful interference in residential use. This equipment generates, radiates, and uses radio frequency energy. If not installed, applied, or used in accordance with the instruction manual it may cause harmful or unintended interference to radio communications. There is no guarantee that interference will not occur from normal installation. An easy way to determine if interference is caused by this device is to power it on and off and to observe any changes in the observed interference. If interference does occur contact customer support for help in resolving the issue. It is the user’s responsibility to know if this device and its operation are legal in their area.

Customer Support:

info@Solar-Lakes.com

740-274-0790