Heaters, Chillers & Electrical

Swim Year-RoundHeaters & ChillersElectrical Guide

Heaters, Chillers
& Electrical

The right heater turns your Cowboy Pool into a year-round oasis — warm in January, icy-cool in August. Here's how to pick your unit, what electrical it needs, and who can help get it wired.

The Chooser

Which Heater Is Right for You?

Four ways to dial in your water temperature — from plug-in simple to gas-fired fast. Running costs are roughly $1–$4/day depending on unit, weather, and target temperature.

Easiest — Plugs Into 110v

TempTamer

Heats & chills · 2–3°/hr · 50–104°F

Heater/chiller that runs off a standard dedicated 110v outlet — no electrician needed in most homes. Control it from your phone with the Smart Life app.

  • Best for 6' and 8' pools (not recommended for 10ft)
  • 1-year manufacturer warranty
Most Popular — 240v

Crosswind 50-I

Heats & chills · 5–8°/hr

Powerful heat-pump heater/chiller with app control. Roughly twice the speed of the TempTamer, and efficient enough for year-round use on any size pool.

  • Requires 240v wiring (electrician)
  • 3-year manufacturer warranty — the longest in our lineup
Heat-Only Value — 240v

Raypak 11kW

Heats only · 5–8°/hr

Same heating speed as the Crosswind at a lower price — the pick if you want warm water and don't need summer chilling.

  • Requires 240v wiring (electrician)
Fastest — Gas

MasterTemp (Natural Gas / Propane)

Heats only · 6–10°/hr

Gas-fired speed — an 8' pool goes from cold to hot-tub-warm in 1–2 hours. The choice for spontaneous soakers.

  • Requires a plumber to connect the gas line
  • Needs its own dedicated 120v/15A outlet
🤠 Pro tip: every heater works less and costs less with a cover on the water. An inflatable hard cover is the single best upgrade for heater efficiency.
Power Requirements

What Electrical Does Each Unit Need?

Every Cowboy Pool needs one thing regardless of heater: a standard outdoor 110v 15A GFCI outlet for the filter pump. Here's what each heater adds on top.

TempTamer (110v)

A dedicated 110–120v 15A outlet with its own breaker, within 15–20 feet of the pump. Draws ~8.5 amps. Most homes have this or can add it easily — usually no electrician required if your outlets meet the load requirements.

Crosswind 50-I & Raypak 11kW (240v)

These require professional wiring: a 240v junction box within 6 feet of the pump location, run from your panel by a licensed electrician. Expect quotes to start around $1,000 and increase with trench distance and wire gauge — and have your electrician confirm your panel has capacity before you buy.

Sequencing: your electrician can come before or after pool install day. If before, they'll rough in the junction box and return to make the final heater connection once it's placed.

MasterTemp Gas Heaters (NG / Propane)

A dedicated 120v/15A outlet within 3 feet of the unit (no extension cords — ever), plus a licensed plumber to connect the gas line.

📍 Placement Rules

  • Heater sits within 10 feet of the filter pump.
  • Heat pumps (TempTamer, Crosswind) need a level 18" × 36" pad with at least 1 foot of clearance on all sides for airflow.
  • Never under a deck — heat pumps breathe, and the Crosswind especially cannot be enclosed.
Properties Raypak ELS 0011 11kW TempTamer 110v
(not recommended for 10ft pools) 		Raypak / Rheem Crosswind 50-I
Thermal Rate 5–8° per hour 2–3° per hour 5–8° per hour
Heats / Chills Heat only Both (50–104°F) Both
Voltage 240 V 115 V – 60Hz 240 V
Power Draw 11 kW 0.95 kW 1.3 kW avg · 3.7 kW max
Heating Output 11 kW 5 kW 13.1 kW
Amp Draw (nominal) 46 A 8.3 A 16 A
Breaker 60 A · Double pole 15 A · Single pole (dedicated outlet) 20 A · Double pole
Wire Gauge AWG 6 AWG 10–12 AWG 6 panel-to-subpanel · consult electrician
Notes Sub panel + fused disconnect recommended. GFCI breakers not recommended. Standard dedicated 15A 110–120v GFCI outlet. Smart Life app WiFi control. Sub panel + fused disconnect recommended. GFCI breakers not recommended. Smart Life app WiFi control.
Local Pros

Trusted Electricians & Plumbers

These pros know Cowboy Pools setups inside and out — tell them what heater you're wiring for and they'll take it from there.

Austin

Houston

Outside Austin or Houston? Any licensed electrician can work from the spec table above — and we're happy to talk directly with your pro at howdy@cowboypools.com.

Ready for Year-Round Swims?

Pick Your Heater

Warranty coverage: TempTamer carries 1 year, Crosswind 3 years — full details on our warranty page. Questions about your setup? We'll help you choose.

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