Help with my SWCG

[Rattus Suffocatus]

Ugh, I've been contemplating the need for a roof over my gear for years. Better give that some more thought... The only steps I've taken is to paint the PVC and cover all the wires with this stuff:

View attachment 395157

I am pretty certain I posted pictures of it on the board when I did it. I would take a new picture, but I'd have to clean up the area first! I'll try to remember and post it again. It wasn't difficult and it was relatively cheap. It'd be relatively less cheap now, but still should be an affordable project. You don't need it completely closed in (my equipment still probably 20% sun in the summer) but it will still help the equipment a lot. The SWCG control box is almost 100% shaded.... and yeah, 120F in the shade isn't out of the realm of possibility here.

As for painting PVC? Here if you don't do that, the PVC UV rots in a couple of years. It's completely amazing that what lasted 15 years in Iowa is toast after two here. It's not optional.

 

[Dirk]

Here if you don't do that, the PVC UV rots in a couple of years.

Interesting. I seem to remember some here debating the effectiveness of painting PVC. Something about how thick it is. But it seems prudent to me, especially since technically exposed PVC is not rated to be above ground (for this very reason). A manufacturer would know:

Westlake Pipe | Leading PVC Pipe & Fittings Manufacturer

From PVC pipe to fittings, Westlake Pipe is pioneering the piping industry, developing innovations that propel your business forward faster and more efficiently.

www.lascofittings.com

Also interesting was the part of that article that advised against using dark colors for painting PVC. And I was just complimenting someone here the other day about how great their all-black piping looks. Dark colors attract more heat, which can be bad for PVC. Mine is all "Pentair Tan," but it was sprayed on. Not sure that meets the manufacturer's recommendation to only use latex-based paint. Ah, the curse of my long-since-fired nincompoop of a pool guy lives on...

 

[Rattus Suffocatus]

Yeah, don't know. Painting is standard issue here in Tucson and they usually do it in one of the crud browns that seem to be the only colors allowed here in Tucson, usually dark browns. Luckily I figured out mine was a standard Rustoleum color (as I thought I saw them using Rustoleum) and I guessed the color correctly on the first try. When I put in the SWCG, hey! It matched!

As far as heat? Well pressure PVC is rated to 140F IIRC.. so who knows? I honestly don't think it will hurt the pipe. The big problem with painting PVC is unless you use the "fusion" type paints, paint doesn't stick well to it. So ideally you use a PVC rated paint in the right color, or paint it first with a PVC rated paint in a dark color and then recoat it in a matching color. Otherwise it scratches off very easily which may or may not be a problem depending on your setup.

Despite that: Covering the equipment, honestly, "is the way".

 

[Dirk]

Right, primer. Another step. I remember now, when painting a few elbows black to match my solar heater pipes, which are black, I did prime them first. The guy that sold me my panels had a source for UV black PVC pipe. I suppose that might be the better product for pad plumbing, but it's special order stuff, and considerably more expensive. It's since faded a bit to dark grey, but beats the paint peeling off up on the roof. So far my primed/painted elbows are holding up, as is the spray-painted pipes on my pad. Not really sure if Rustoeum is considered oil-based or not, or if it's any better or worse than latex house paint... I mostly use the primer-paint-in-one products that seem to have taken over the spray paint market for projects like this.

 

[Rattus Suffocatus]

The "Fusion" product I am referring to is actually Krylon brand. Rustoleum itself is average quality overall. Expensive for the quality level, IMHO. So far I am on year three and it seems fine, and my pipes weren't primed with the proper paint. I occasionally touch up a scratch on them, but that's once or twice a year-- 15 second job. If they were painted with that "Fusion" stuff first they wouldn't have scratched in the first place.

 

[Dirk]

Hmm, I go back and forth, my Lowes has both, so I grab whichever is in stock, or which color matches best. I'll pay more attention to the quality going forward...