SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on check sensor?

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on 3 way placement

Motors can be identical with same SF and HP.

Some pumps are louder than others ... especially when the bearing start to go ;)
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on 3 way placement

Well, the more i read on other threads here the more it seems there should be some sort of pressure difference with solar on vs off.. i cant understand why mine doesnt budge..

Maybe related, unsure.. and stupid question, but in the pic below, the vacuum breaker valve.. i didnt realize but it loosens and tightens pretty sure.. i think its in the "closed"/"tightened" position here .. is this how it should be for normal operation? I doubt related to the (non) pressure difference but double checking
solar4.jpg
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

You mean the black cap pops up and goes back down? That sounds right. I would assume pressure would raise it up and seal it, and it would drop back down and open up when water isn't going through the panels.
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

n240sxguy said:
You mean the black cap pops up and goes back down? That sounds right. I would assume pressure would raise it up and seal it, and it would drop back down and open up when water isn't going through the panels.
Click to expand...
Ah yeah thats right, it did move up and down, i thought for a minute maybe it had an inner thread aside from the thread going into the pipe, but i think its correct, so thats not why i have no change in psi i guess. Maybe my setup is just that efficient haha (or because i'm doing an even 50/50 split)

edit: i guess i really could adjust the cams so the valve position isnt exactly 50/50.. ie: i could adjust it so the arrow points a little towards the solar side (is this right).. thus closing off a little of the solar flow, reducing the flow rate (and maybe put one of those drill in pressure gauges on the solar return just after this, to monitor the actual flow rate).
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

theskyisthelimit99 said:
Ah yeah thats right, it did move up and down, i thought for a minute maybe it had an inner thread aside from the thread going into the pipe, but i think its correct, so thats not why i have no change in psi i guess. Maybe my setup is just that efficient haha (or because i'm doing an even 50/50 split)

edit: i guess i really could adjust the cams so the valve position isnt exactly 50/50.. ie: i could adjust it so the arrow points a little towards the solar side (is this right).. thus closing off a little of the solar flow, reducing the flow rate (and maybe put one of those drill in pressure gauges on the solar return just after this, to monitor the actual flow rate).
Click to expand...

Here is what i'm thinking, maybe adjusting the cams so the arrow points in the direction of the yellow arrow, so more of the 10 o'clock position.

actuator1bc.jpg
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

Correct you could make the valve be a little more turned CCW so that the solar is slightly closed if you want to lower the solar flow rate.

You could put a FlowVis in to that check valve and it would tell you the flow rate through the panels. Most of the drill-in flow meters have pretty bad accuracy, something line +/- 10GPM.
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on 3 way placement

theskyisthelimit99 said:
Should the psi be lower when solar is off. In both cases it's 18. No change
Click to expand...

I'm wondering if your pump will only put out 18psi, and it's maxed out either way. I suppose it doesn't matter either way, but I'm just trying to figure out why you wouldn't have any higher pressure with the solar on. Either the swg or the number of returns or the size of the openings in the returns may be the bottleneck so you don't see a difference with solar on. Do your returns have directional fittings that can be removed? If so, take them off and bypass solar to see how low you can get the pressure. If it drops, then switch to 100% solar and see if it goes up. I would think your overall pressure would be much lower since you don't have that much piping in an agp, but you do have a lot of pump for it.
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

jblizzle said:
Correct you could make the valve be a little more turned CCW so that the solar is slightly closed if you want to lower the solar flow rate.

You could put a FlowVis in to that check valve and it would tell you the flow rate through the panels. Most of the drill-in flow meters have pretty bad accuracy, something line +/- 10GPM.
Click to expand...
Makes me wish i had done a flowvis from the start though.. the addons are as much as the original. So the drill ins are that bad? I was considering this one (which seems to have good reviews on the amazon pages as well)
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on 3 way placement

n240sxguy said:
I'm wondering if your pump will only put out 18psi, and it's maxed out either way. I suppose it doesn't matter either way, but I'm just trying to figure out why you wouldn't have any higher pressure with the solar on. Either the swg or the number of returns or the size of the openings in the returns may be the bottleneck so you don't see a difference with solar on. Do your returns have directional fittings that can be removed? If so, take them off and bypass solar to see how low you can get the pressure. If it drops, then switch to 100% solar and see if it goes up. I would think your overall pressure would be much lower since you don't have that much piping in an agp, but you do have a lot of pump for it.
Click to expand...
Maybe it is some weird combination of factors... i can say that before doing the solar, it was 17psi, now its 18.. but "turning off" the solar on the 3 way results in no change from 18.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

Try to search for discussions about the BlueWhite flow meters. I seem to recall they are +/-10% of the maximum rate. The one you posted appears to only go to 35GPM, so maybe it is good to +/- 3.5 GPM? You should be able to find spec sheets on them.
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

jblizzle said:
Try to search for discussions about the BlueWhite flow meters. I seem to recall they are +/-10% of the maximum rate. The one you posted appears to only go to 35GPM, so maybe it is good to +/- 3.5 GPM? You should be able to find spec sheets on them.
Click to expand...
Yeah it appears they are 10%.. i did find a jandy 2-2.5 retro fit flowvis for $90 shipped, so not a bad deal and easy to swap out. Edit: went ahead and ordered it.. it will be worth it just to see some real stats on the return flow :)
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

tftestkits.net has them too ... not sure how the price compares.

Oh, just checked, they are a good bit more $ ... those things are expensive :D I can't remember what I paid the for the full flowvis check valve.
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

So i know i'm being super nerdy here, but, is there some sort of low impact thermometer or thermometer lead you can safely put in the return check valve to monitor return temp (aside from the meat thermometer on the return nozzle, which doesnt seem to show much)? Wondering as i have that flowvis coming and it will be apart for a brief time anyway? Maybe something semi remote/long wire to read the values too

EDIT: looks like this would do the trick? unclear, if this just is another cut a hole and stick it in sort of thing or not?
https://www.amazon.com/Pentair-SL1DW-130-Degree-Thermometer-Applications/dp/B0002RG212 (eh, i think it needs a 2" to 1/2" threaded tee or similar, or at least the 1/2" is threaded, so more cutting involved, either before or after the jandy check valve/flow vis) $44 slightly steep but appears to get the job done
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

Update from todays solar heating.. started off at 56F this morning (down 3 due to no solar cover again).. rose to 62.. so 6F increase (day like this before was about 3-4F before solar, pretty sure).. so both days 6-6.5F increase, one a much cooler day though. Tomorrow will be the real test.. solar cover is on.. hopefully the temp holds.. its the blue type.. ill leave on during the day and see if there is still a 6F rise.. i guess ideally i should remove it, but maybe this will help narrow down what degree increase the solar alone is giving it, before i add the pressure and temperature gauges this weekend.
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

Todays update (so far), still 410pm, 2 hours of good solar left..

put the cover on last nite.. 62 became 61 (instead of a 3-4F loss overnight, only 1, if that)...

So start of day 61..

Temp at 3pm with cover still ON, is now at 68.. thats a 7F raise.. outside temp is at 87F.. its more cloudy today though.

I'd be willing to bet, if i could go back in time, take cover off for daylight, it would be even higher.. very good results (i think). And all this before tweaking the cam to the 10 oclock position which i may or may not try (depending on the numbers i get from putting the meter/temp gauge into the system on saturday coming up)
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

So i tried for a few nights using the solar cover (see pic below).. unsure if its just a bad one or the way it goes.. but, i always lost about 1-2F (usually 2) overnight despite the cover.. i guess thats not much, however, without the cover on, i was losing 2F anyways, so its seems like a wasted effort.

May 18th in the AM the water at 8" deep read 66F.. it was a bit cloudy, 86F max.. by days end it was at 70F in the water.

Friday 19th, morning lost another 2F, cover on etc.. started at 68, ended at 72.. another gain of 4F (with cover on in the day still).. a bit of clouds and 77F outside..

Brings me to today, saturday.. cooler day.. started off in the low to mid 60s outside, with lots of clouds.. the actuator moved to "solar off" frequently as i was outside a bit.. by 3 or 4pm the sun became more than the clouds, though a mixture.. it maxed out at 70F air temp on the day.. Water temp read 69F (lost 3 despite cover) early in the day..
***I installed the thermometer on the return line.. when i first put it on and opened the flood gates, it showed the inbound from solar water temp of only 63F.. something seemed wrong here.. i waited about 10 minutes, it leveled out to around 69F, then once the sun became more common the temp gauge on the inbound read 75F.. so it was feeding 69, resulting at 75F, air temp at that point 70 with partly to half cloudy skies too, i guess not bad.

The pressure flowvis didnt arrive yet.. ill wait to see what the reading is before adjusting the actuator.

gauge1.jpg

The line coming in on the right is for the robot which i generally leaving running/in 24/7
cover.jpg
 
SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

70 air temp and solar taking the water from 69 to 75 sounds like a success to me. I can't help with the solar cover as I've never had one on my pool. There was one in the garage when we moved in that I promptly gave away because I will not be messing with that after having put one on my mom's pool a few times. I may change my tune on the shoulder months of the season once I get solar though.
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

n240sxguy said:
70 air temp and solar taking the water from 69 to 75 sounds like a success to me. I can't help with the solar cover as I've never had one on my pool. There was one in the garage when we moved in that I promptly gave away because I will not be messing with that after having put one on my mom's pool a few times. I may change my tune on the shoulder months of the season once I get solar though.
Click to expand...
Yeah, though the 75 is the heated water temp, not the pool temp.. the input was 69, output was 75.. thats about 6F raise on a mostly cloudy day.. however.. despite this and getting maybe 3 hours of solid run time at this temperature.. the water in the pool was still 69F at days end.. there was NO change in pool temp today, despite the input of 75F heated water, oddly. First time no change this week, but then again, it was pretty cloudy/cool mostly.
 
Re: SmartPool/Fafco Solar panel install.. build notes/questions on lack of psi change

theskyisthelimit99 said:
Yeah, though the 75 is the heated water temp, not the pool temp.. the input was 69, output was 75.. thats about 6F raise on a mostly cloudy day.. however.. despite this and getting maybe 3 hours of solid run time at this temperature.. the water in the pool was still 69F at days end.. there was NO change in pool temp today, despite the input of 75F heated water, oddly. First time no change this week, but then again, it was pretty cloudy/cool mostly.
Click to expand...

Well that puts a damper on it.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply