"Solar" Power Assisted Cover Reel
"...big is best, but you must have a proper battery charger..."
With each electric pool reel we supply, we always include a full strap and towing kit.
Each kit comes with all the parts needed to connect your pool cover to the reel, and if needed, a towing line for the leading edge of the pool cover.
For some pool installations, the leading edge towing kit won't be needed, as the cover will naturally push out onto the water as the cover is unwound. If though you decide to set the pool roller a bit further back from the pool edge, or the cover doesn't push very well, then simply fit the towing kit and you can help guide the cover onto the water as the reel unwinds.
In the same way that the towing kit isn't always needed, the actual straps aren't always needed either. Some users will instead choose to fix the swimming pool cover directly to the roller. If you do this, you need to bear in mind that firstly, the pool cover usually needs to be that bit longer, and secondly, any gusts of wind could get under the cover where it reaches down from the reel to the water surface. For most applications, the straps are therefore used, hence we include them.
Each strap kit also includes 14 plastic snap in eyelets which can be pressed into most pool cover types. These don't require any tools other than a hammer just to give them a tap in.
Other types of eyelets/connections are available from most pool stores and some pool covers will come with eyelets already fitted.
Quick spec:
UV stable plastic parts and stainless steel screws.
UV stable 1" wide poly strap, approx 150 feet long
All parts bagged up with instructions on how to use.
The Vanguard Professional comes with straps and an optional towing line.
Although on many pools the Vanguard will happily push the pool cover out onto the water for you, for some pools, the user will need to help guide the cover while the pool cover unwinds.
Normally this is no harder than just holding one of the leading edge corners and guiding the cover out while the Vanguard does the physical hard work.
Alternatively, a tow line can be used, hence we include one in the kit in case its needed.
Having a glass item on a swimming pool deck might initially give cause for concern. But fear not. The solar panel on the Vanguard uses toughened glass more commonly found in skyscraper windows.
Although we do not recommend you try this, our own tests had a 14 stone man literally jumping up and down on a panel held between two bits of wood - needless to say, the panel refused to break!
The Vanguard pool reel uses top quality Polycrystalline cells rather than cheap Amorphous Silicon. Poly cells give about twice the output of Amorphous meaning we harvest the maximum amount of energy for a given space. This also enables the solar panel to be horizontal rather than having to tilt it towards the sun.
Lots of power needs lots of control.
The Vanguard uses an intelligent battery charger which compensates for available solar energy and temperature.
