I bought Aquasol panels that I am planning on installing this weekend. I don't think their little packet does a great job explaining what the parts are and what they do. I have linked to a scan of the plumbing diagram that came with the panels.
Here are my questions.
1. I have two parts that are essentially large cylinders with a flapper part internal to the cylinder. What is this? THe diagram shows two different check valves. Is that what this is? What does it do?
2. Just downstream from the three way valve is a isolation ball valve. Why have another way to stop the water just inches past the 3-way valve? It's listed as optional.
3. They show a vacuum relief valuve just before the panels. Does this serve as a vent should you turn the panels off?
4. There is a what appears to be another ball valve that's not labeled just before the outlet tee followed immediately by the check valve. Again, why? I understand why they have 3 different places to turn the water off. Also, they list this particular check valve as optional.
5. Finally, even after reading the manul I still don't follow how you drain the panels. If I turn off the 3-way it'll prevent water from going in the panels, but won't it prevent them from draining too? I just don't follow how you can drain them while everything is under pressure? Do you have to take pressure off the system at the pump first?
I'm sure all of this is very elementary, but it just doesn't make sense to me. They do a decent job explaing what to do, they just don't explain why. Maybe the ball valves are so that you can shut off the water different places to do maintenance at others? If so, that makes sense, but what's up with the little flapper check valves. Maybe it's to prevent some sort of backwash condition?
I'm traveling today and thought I'd try to lay it all out there before I hit the road. I'll check back this evening.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85659721@N ... 5/sizes/l/
Here are my questions.
1. I have two parts that are essentially large cylinders with a flapper part internal to the cylinder. What is this? THe diagram shows two different check valves. Is that what this is? What does it do?
2. Just downstream from the three way valve is a isolation ball valve. Why have another way to stop the water just inches past the 3-way valve? It's listed as optional.
3. They show a vacuum relief valuve just before the panels. Does this serve as a vent should you turn the panels off?
4. There is a what appears to be another ball valve that's not labeled just before the outlet tee followed immediately by the check valve. Again, why? I understand why they have 3 different places to turn the water off. Also, they list this particular check valve as optional.
5. Finally, even after reading the manul I still don't follow how you drain the panels. If I turn off the 3-way it'll prevent water from going in the panels, but won't it prevent them from draining too? I just don't follow how you can drain them while everything is under pressure? Do you have to take pressure off the system at the pump first?
I'm sure all of this is very elementary, but it just doesn't make sense to me. They do a decent job explaing what to do, they just don't explain why. Maybe the ball valves are so that you can shut off the water different places to do maintenance at others? If so, that makes sense, but what's up with the little flapper check valves. Maybe it's to prevent some sort of backwash condition?
I'm traveling today and thought I'd try to lay it all out there before I hit the road. I'll check back this evening.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85659721@N ... 5/sizes/l/