Pipe Size for Solar roof panels

[formulaonenut]

I want to lay down some pipe for future installation of solar roof panels. Please can I have advice on whether these pipes should be 2" or 2 1/2" ?

The heated water will primarily be pumped into the spa with overflow into the pool when spa not in use.

The installation of the panels will be on the opposite side of the pool to the other equipment (Approx. 80 feet away). Should I plumb the solar separately with its own smaller pump ?

 

[bobodaclown]

You'll have less resistance in the larger pipe. If it's a nominal up charge with the larger pipe, I'd think that would be the way to go. Not sure of the pump size your planning to go with, but you'll need to take into account how high you're mounting the solar panels, and the flow rate you'll need through the panels.

Can you provide more specifics on the pool size? Are you planning on using a cover on the pool and/or spa? How long of a season do you want to use the pool for?

Some good info can be found here: Sizing Economics

 

[pooldv]

Please add your pool info to your signature as shown here, Pool School - Read This BEFORE You Post, so that we can better understand your pool and plumbing and help you better.

I would not use a separate pump for solar. Moving water horizontally has little impact on the hydraulics of water movement. It is vertical lift that causes head loss. Moving water horizontally 100' at 25gpm in a 2" pipe has the same head loss as moving water 1.2' vertically. 2" pipe is likely sufficient. Using a solar controller will greatly improve the efficiency of your solar setup by turning on solar when heat is available and turning it off when it is not. Solar panels can cool a pool just as fast as they can heat a pool when it rains or is cloudy. I use the Pentair Solartouch to control my solar.

There are pics and more info about my solar in the link in my signature.