Plumbing The Solar Panels Into Your Swimming Pool
If you are generally a handy person, you will find that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to install a swimming pool solar heating system. It really doesn’t even require a professional installation tech, though there are advantages to having someone with experience handle the job for you. But if your one of those people that don’t mind getting your hands dirty then read on. I will describe exactly how to install your new solar system, from the panels to the automatic controller and everything in between.
What are we waiting for? Well, you’ve already sized your pool, got your panels, and chosen a solar controller. You know just where the panels are going to go, so lets get started. Some panels connect together with a rubber boot and pipe clamps, while others use a custom clip method. These are the main two types you will run across and they are both pretty straightforward as far as putting them together. I personally prefer the clips. Whichever panels you have the deal is pretty much the same.
You want to place each panel exactly where it will go. Then you can proceed connecting the headers of each individual panel together using either the clips or the clamps. That’s the easy part. Now on to the plumbing. It is generally recommended that you feed the panels at one corner and drain them at the furthest opposing corner, ie. Feed bottom left corner and drain top right. Or vice-versa. The other two corners will be capped. So now you have a feed side and a drain side.
Ok now lets leave the solar heating panels alone for a moment and we will get to work on installing your solar controller. The controller will fall inline somewhere after the filter in the line that heads to your pools return jets. This line will feed the controller. You can place it Anywhere along the line that is convenient for you, depending upon your current swimming pool filtration setup. Once you have decided the exact point where you will tap in, its time to shut down the pool if its running, make sure you unplug the pump so you don’t get any wet surprises. Now you may want to cap the returns and skimmers, so that you don’t drain your pool when you tap into the line. You should also set the multiport on your swimming pool filter to the closed position, if you have that option is available on your model.
Now simply cut the line at the desired point. Here you will glue in a T, or 3 way pvc fitting. Now you can connect the cut end of pipe closest to the returns, into the T. The cut end of pvc closest to the filter will feed the solar controller. Attach this line to the center port on your controller. Note you can add as much length as you need to this section of line in order to place the controller itself exactly where you want it.
The next step is to feed your solar panels. To do this you will simply run a new line from one of the open ports on the controller, all the way to the panels. You will attach this line to whatever corner of the panel array that you have decided will be the feed. Easy enough right. Ok, that’s all set, now lets run a line from the opposing corner, all the way back to that T we installed in the line going back to the pool. Before connecting into the T you will want to install a check or gate valve, to make sure the water can only flow out of your panels, and not back up. Now tie it in to the T. Finally you can run a line between the rmaining open port on the controller and the last open end of the T.
Sounds simple right? Thats cause it is. Obviosly there is a little work involved in running the lines, and gluing the fittings, but its not bad. Most systems can be completed from start to finish in one afternoon, even by someone with little expieience. If you do have any plumbing skills you will find this a breeze though. I reccomend laying out all your plumbing in advance, before you even think about gluing anything. You can even dry fit any pieces that require adding elbows and 45s for your particular setup. Once you have everything laid out, look over it to make sure it will work. Then you can just bang out the gluing portion of the job confidently and quickly. Just make sure you dont forget to glue anything. I have seen that happen before to. Well your Swimming pool solar heating system is installed, so whats next? Time to get it up and running. Lets fire this baby up and make sure it doesnt leak.