I have absolutely lovely strips between the pool and side and rear fences. The rear is the South, and the fence is 6' opaque, so it would not get hit until about noon.
The side strip, OTOH, is just begging for a stand-alone sump-pump water from pool to collector. then a hose to return heated water.
It's just too narrow to have a 4' wide collector AND a footpath - hence the DIY question - I suppose I could put 3 of the 1' wide "patch panels" and string them together - but I suspect the flow would be erratic, and the "One kit required for each install" stuff would get out of hand.
Yes, I have a nice south-facing roof where the original collectors were installed - over a VERY cheap roof/ I have the remains of water stains to prove they left that roof on WAY too long.
Guess the quality of the current roof? (Hint: foreclosure).
If I do put up a roof-mount Heliocol or such, I'd use Al box beams and lag screws (have Stainless on hand) with Al angle to brace to upper.
At either 8' or 10' lengths, would it be possible to slavage them intact (there are no vents, flues, etc on this surface) when this roof is replaced? The pump size is the same as original, and rated for 80 gph - again, 40' from pool in PVC. I suspect the roof solar (would have been copper tubing in a glazed box in '88, right?) and distance (friction loss) is responsible for the over-sized pump.
Jason - do you have numbers on the temp rise you get under various sun conditions? I was a bit taken aback by 500 sq ft in Tucsan - I had no idea such area was required. Relieved to hear that it is personal preferences and not exactly required.