just my 2 cents. rj
From what I've read on a number of solar heating sites, your idea of a long run coils is not recomended. Though easier to build, the water wants to adhere or stick to the sides of the tubing. On long runs this makes the pump work harder, useing more elec. power and posibly shortening the pumps life. Also the long runs will give you higher output temps but lower output flow rates of water.
What they recomend is the cross flow design, with the cross tubes hoked up in paralel NOT in series. Picture it like a car radiator, with the cross tubes hooked into the end tanks (manifolds).
It sounds like your going to pump pool water through your collector. The cross flow design will be alot easier to drain, when shut down for winter (in freezing climates). Especialy if the cross tubes are mounted verticaly and the manifolds are slanted 5 to 10 degreas to help drian all of the water out.
Good luck, Gordy[ Parent ]
I figured I would be able to get twelve pieces out of this window, that was till the three of us picked it up and as we were carrying it to the truck the damn thing broke.
You ever seen the trucks in town or on the highway that carry glass? They always carry the glass in a near vertical (on edge) position with flat supports along one face. That's to keep most of the forces on the glass in the stronger dimension. Carrying large pieces of glass, even (especially?) when it take several people to move it, should be done on-edge too. If you get 4 guys, one on each corner, carrying a large window, it'll want to flex (which glass doesn't do too well) and increase the likelihood of breaking.
It's best to cart, carry and store glass on its long edge.
-RatOmeter
