confused about solar panels (or mats)

[chem geek]

There are different kinds of solar panels for use with pools. Even with an above-ground pool, the panel design may be similar as with an in-ground pool except that they are usually longer (in-ground pool panels are usually roof mounted so are typically sized at 4 feet by 8, 10 or 12 feet while in-ground panels are typically mounted at ground-level and are frequently 4 feet by 20 feet. This link shows in-ground [EDIT] I mean above-ground [END-EDIT] pool solar panels from FAFCO. These are the "many small tubes" kind of panels and are the same, except for size, as their in-ground panels. The flow rates for each panel are the same as for their in-ground pool panels, namely a minimum of 3 GPM, recommended 4 GPM, maximum 8 GPM. So clearly if only two panels are used then there must be a diverter since the flow rates from typical pumps are much higher than 6-16 GPM (assuming two panels are used in parallel).

Do you know what brand of solar panel you are using? Perhaps we can find its specs on the web and figure this out. Also, when you were running water through your panels, if they were hot from the sun before the pump went on and then stayed hot, then water wasn't flowing through them with enough volume. If they cooled off (to ambient air temperature) when the pump went on, then they are working at least somewhat properly.

Richard

[farmgirl]

We have a total of four 2x20 panels, including the one that is missing the diverter in the header pipe. If we go ahead and hook it up, will it work ok? We were thinking of trying to following configuration:


return====||>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>l l
||<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<||
l l
||>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>||
||<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<====pump


According to everyting I have read, the more water flow you get going thru solar panels, the better. So why do they put in those diverters in the first place? Would you not get better water flow without them, if the panels were set up and plumbed correctly? As u can tell, science was NOT my best subject.....LOL!

[farmgirl]

well, my diagram screwed up when I sent it to the forum....let's see if i can try again:


pump=====ll>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ll
ll<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<ll
ll
ll
ll>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ll
ll<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<ll
ll
ll
ll>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ll
ll<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<ll
ll
ll
ll>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ll
return====ll<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<ll

We figure that this way, if we cap off the ends with the diverters, water will be forced to path of "least resistance", and just flow one way through each panel individually. What do you think?

[farmgirl]

i still cannot seem to get the diagram lined up correctly, but maybe you'll get the idea

[farmgirl]

last year i had 2 hot panels and two cold panels. The hot panels (not working properly) were the two on the inside, cooler ones were on both ends of parallel configuration. They are all the "sungrabber" models, a set of four 2x20 panels. my main concern is of cours maximum efficiency, but also whether or not i can use the panel that is missing the diverter (flow rate resrictor) in the header tube.

Last year i had this:
pump========
cold==================ll
warm=================ll
warm=================ll
cold==================ll
return========

I would like to repeat that all header pipes with diverter discs were at the return and pump side of this setup. We double checked that!

[farmgirl]

my diagrams are just making things worse. They are not going thru to the forum as i have typed them. Anyhow, we had standard parallel setup with return and pump on same end, and all panels capped off on the opposite end.

[farmgirl]

Code:
||>>>>>>>>>====return
||<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<||

||>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>||
||<<<<<<<<<====pump

Maybe this will be a little clearer....whew!!!