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SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM
INSTALLATION MANUAL

System Start-up and Checkout for Manual Systems To test collector operation, follow either the Flow Rate or Temperature Rise procedure described below. Divert water through the collectors. Turn on the pump and either observe flow rate or temperature rise. The flow rate or temperature rise would be the same as that specified in the “System Start-Up and Test’ section. If it is not, then check for the indicated probable causes and make necessary corrections.

Flow Rate Test Method The preferred system test method is flow rate. This is also the easiest and quickest method. To check flow rate, install a flow meter in the inlet line to the collector collectors (follow installation instructions provided with the flowmeter).

Temperature Rise Test Method An alternate test method is temperature rise. To prepare the system for testing, obtain two accurate thermometers. Dial thermometers are excellent for this application. One of these thermometers is installed in the outlet line from the collectors as shown in Figure 10. The other is used to check the temperature of the pool water, to compare it with that of the water leaving the solar collectors. Before installing the thermometer in the outlet line, immerse both thermometers in the pool water for several minutes to compare the temperature readings. If they are not identical, make a notation of the difference and add or subtract (as appropriate) this difference to or from the reading taken while you are testing. This is necessary in order to provide an accurate indication of the temperature rise of the water passing through the solar collectors. Turn the pump on and move the flow switch to the “COLL” position. Observe valve action...it should divert water through the collectors. After flow through the collectors has continued for a least fifteen minutes, compare the pool water temperature with the temperature of the water flowing through the outlet line. On an average sunny day, with the air temperature approximately 70F (21C) the water leaving the collectors should be 1 to 70F (1 to 40C) higher than that in the pool. If the water rise is greater than this, insufficient water is flowing through the collectors. This may be caused by a clogged filter, undersized piping, too many elbows in the piping or an inadequate pump. It is important that the temperature rise through the collectors be kept as low as possible in order to deliver the maximum amount of heat to the pool. In other words you want lots of moderately heated water flowing rather than a little super hot water.

Vacuum Relief Valve Test When the solar system is first turned on, air in the collectors will be expelled into the pool and bubbles will appear. The appearance of bubbles in the pool should stop after a few minutes. If, after a few minutes, bubbles continue to be discharged at the return to the pool, remove the vacuum relief valve(s) and replace it with and end cap. Relocate a vacuum relief valve to a position in the inlet piping which is at a height of approximately three-fourths of the elevation of the collectors above the pool. Refer to Figure 1. (A quicker alternate method is to first try to reverse the end cap and the vacuum relief valve on the collector array to see if this stops the bubbles in the return lines. Sometimes the end cap is about 3/4 of the elevation of the collectors and this is a lot quicker than cutting in a tee in the supply pipe.)