Solar Southwest Florida

Fafco Solar Video on Pentair Variable Speed Pump

Fafco Solar just released a short promotional video on the Pentair Variable Speed pool pump.

The variable speed pump is a perfect match for solar pool heating systems, especially when an automatic controller is used. Without a controller the pump can be scheduled to run at optimum solar circulation speed when solar energy is most likely to be available. Adding a controller adds the capability of changing the pump speed based on the availability and demand for solar heating.

With or without solar energy, the variable speed pump will pay for itself with energy savings. You can cut pumping costs up to 90% with this great technology while getting a far quieter and longer lasting pool pump.

SunPower is just getting ready to ship the first E20 series panels to dealers in about a week. There is a lot of hype around the most efficient and best performing solar module in the industry for residential and commercial applications. The new E20 Series modules are currently rated at 327W and boast a 20.1% efficiency, an improvement from the 19& efficient E19 series.

My first 3D computer model just came out with the new SunPower modules. They look great!

SunPower E20 327W Photovoltaic Module 3D Drawing

It’s pretty obvious that longer days and the sun higher in the sky would make solar energy production better. Did you know that March typically shows the best improvement over the previous month in Southwest Florida?

Here is an example of an energy production report from a solar photovoltaic (electric) system in Fort Myers:

March solar electric performance is typically 30% higher than February output in Southwest Florida.

If you are looking at your solar output comparison for the last two months, you might be surprised at how much better March was. This is normal, and you will continue to see increases as we approach summer, especially for solar panels with low tilt angles.

If you have questions about your solar energy system’s performance, contact Fafco Solar or me directly!

There are lots of Spanish tile roofs in Southwest Florida. There are lots of hip roofs and broken up roof surfaces, too. These present some challenges, but as this picture shows, pretty much anything is possible.

With three different panel lengths in two banks of panels, there is complex plumbing, but it gets the job done – the pool is warm!

Solar pool heaters work better with variable speed pumps because the optimum flow rate can be achieved to maximize solar performance. A single speed pump is typically fine to use with solar pool heating, but if you want maximum pool heating, a variable speed pump can both save you a tremendous amount of money and provide the proper flow rate.

Typical efficiency vs. flow curve for solar pool heating panels (FAFCO Sunsaver shown).

Most solar pool heating panel manufacturers recommend a flow rate of 4 gallons per minute per panel. If you have seven panels, you need a flow rate of 28 gallons per minute. Anything less and the efficiency drops off quite rapidly. Anything more and you are wasting money on  your pumping costs, pumping water at a rate higher than required for solar pool heating to be efficient.

When we have a solar pool heater installed, we insist that every job gets a flow meter installed (at least temporarily).  The pump can be programmed to operate at the proper speed when solar pool heating is likely to be required. With an automatic controller, the pump can be set to go to optimum speed whenever solar pool heating is required, but reduce the speed when heating is not active.

There are lots of other variable speed pump resources on my Solar Southwest Florida blog. I have also assembled some Pentair variable speed pump marketing videos below. Enjoy!

I recently set up a Wattvision meter on my Fort Myers, FL home to evaluate its effectiveness. I have to say, I love it! It definitely clues you in to how much energy you are using, when you are using it, and what appliances cost to operate. The device pays for itself by identifying power hogs. For example, I cut down the time my pool lights come on each night because they were consuming 600 watts! On the other hand, I decided to run my fountain longer each day because it uses next to no energy.

The charts on the Wattvision website are excellent. You can view real time, hourly, daily, and monthly data, and can download raw data to use in spreadsheets for further analysis. Take a look at this chart from last Monday.

What can you learn from the chart? Here is my analysis of what happened on Monday (list numbers correspond to numbers on the chart):

1. The baseline load for my home is around 400W at night when we are sleeping. This energy goes to digital video recorders, chargers, TVs, coffee maker, and other appliances that draw a small amount of energy constantly, plus some outdoor landscape and security lighting. The little bumps show the times when the refrigerator is running.
2. The water heater starts up about 4-5 times a day just to keep the water in the tank hot. Around 6:00 am we got up, took showers, and got ready for work. We used a substantial amount of hot water, and the water heater ran for a long period of time, costing us about 50 cents per hour of operation. Around dinner time the water heater worked during cooking and dish washing, and came back on as we got ready for bed.
3. My variable speed pool pump is scheduled to run at low speed from 9:00 am to noon, and again from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
4. The pool pump ramps up speed from noon to 2:30 pm to give the automatic cleaner time to work and get adequate pool filtration.
5. The baseline during the evening increases as we use lights, watch TV, and use computers. The fountain and outdoor lighting also comes on at dusk.

One of our solar installers, Cory, took these great pictures of a Solar PV (Electric) System that Fafco Solar is installing in Fort Myers. on a new home in Town & River. This is a super looking system using Canadian Solar CS6P-235P solar modules at 235W each, Enphase microinverters, Unirac mounting system, and non-penetrating S-5! clamps on a standing seam metal roof.

This customer will enjoy the best product installed by the best company installing solar energy products in Fort Myers. Call Fafco Solar for your solar energy needs today!

Every day our solar advisors are in homes comparing FAFCO solar pool heating panels to Heliocol. Both brands have been around a very long time (FAFCO invented the polymer solar pool heating collector). Let me make this simple – FAFCO is the quality, value, and performance leader. Heliocol is sometimes the low cost leader. That about sums it up.

But you probably expect a bit more information, so I’ll break down the numbers.

In SW Florida, the most popular Heliocol panel is the 4′x10′ HC-38 solar collector. All manufacturers list a nominal size for their panels, and the closest FAFCO panel is also a 4′x10′ collector, however, FAFCO has three different brand options in this size: the Revolution, Sunsaver, and Sunsaver ST (split tube).

The Fafco Revolution is the top-of-the-line solar panel on the market, and beats all competitors when it comes to the most important metric, BTU output. The Revolution’s 1,064 BTU per square foot, as rated by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), leads the industry. That’s easy information to find on FSEC’s website. On a cost and performance basis, the closest FAFCO option to the HC-38 is the Sunsaver ST. FAFCO’s lowest performance option still wins the performance battle!

Fafco vs Heliocol Comparison (Click for larger Image)

There are little games played in the industry to try to make manufacturers’ panels sound better performing, or at least equal. Here are the facts:

• A FAFCO Sunsaver ST has a larger surface area than the Heliocol panel of the same nominal size (4′x10′).
• If you are comparing the same number of panels, regardless of type, a FAFCO system will have a higher BTU rating at the FSEC 95°F rating, which is the most appropriate rating based on typical operating temperatures of solar pool heating panels.
• Heliocol has a smaller header pipe (1-1/2″ inside pipe size). They list a 2″ manifold on their specification sheet, but this is the outside diameter, which is irrelevant to the performance.
• All FAFCO Revolution, Sunsaver, and Sunsaver ST panels have 2″ inside pipe diameters. Because the outside diameter is irrelevant, FAFCO does not list the size, but it measures 2-3/8″ if you are interested. Note that 2″ inside diameter means 78% more water volume!
• FAFCO panels employ a subheader that balances flow through the collector system, ensuring that the system fills up completely with water and the entire surface area is “wetted.” Heliocol collectors have tubes connected directly to the header, and no way to balance the flow through a collector system. As a result, some collectors may not fill completely with water, and may provide no heating capacity. This is especially true on larger or multi-bank systems.
• The FAFCO subheader does result in additional pressure loss and back pressure on the pump, but this is more than compensated by the 2″ plumbing throughout the collector loop. The Heliocol system uses 1-1/2″ PVC pipe throughout the system, including fittings, isolation valves, check valves, and diverters. A typical Heliocol system results in more back pressure on the pump than a FAFCO system, but they want you to think that the panels are all that counts.

I’ve heard just about every myth out there about FAFCO panels. If you hear something that doesn’t sound right, it probably isn’t. Let me know and I’ll give you the real scoop.

The bottom line is that FAFCO panels are the highest rated in the industry by independent and trusted authorities, the results are published and readily available, and even FAFCO’s lowest rated panel beats the competition.

FAFCO Collector Layout Strategies

It has long been the basis of solar pool heat design to have an opposite end feed and return. In fact, it’s published in several books and manuals about solar pool heating. This is not the case with FAFCO solar pool heating panels, which can be installed with same side feed and return!

Opposite end feed and return simply means that the plumbing that brings up to the solar panels and connects to the lower header is connected at the opposite end of the bank of solar panels from where the plumbing connects to the return line to the pool. Conceptually, this is done to ensure that all solar panels get filled with water and the flow rate is even throughout the bank of panels.

The FAFCO system is a bit different, mainly because FAFCO’s panels have a 2 inch header, 78% more volume than the competition’s 1-1/2″ header, and a subheader that helps to balance the flow among all panels in a solar array/bank. This ensures that all panels have the same flow rate.

It is important to note that you cannot exceed 12 panels in a row with same side feed and return (see Figure 4). Also, split feed and multi-bank systems with varying heights must use opposite end feed and return lines (see Figure 5). The FAFCO manual is very clear about the layouts that are permitted.

Same Side Feed Return Example for Solar Pool Heat Plumbing

Fafco Revolution Solar Water Heating System with 48 square feet collector area (3 panels @ 2'x8')

In Southwest Florida’s upscale communities, you find homes with lots of small, broken up, hip roof surfaces. Roof layouts can be very challenging for solar energy systems, especially because we are targeting the south facing roofs to maximize performance.

Solar water heating systems come in various sizes, but are all generally rectangular in shape. The Fafco Revolution system is flexible, offering 2′ wide panels in lengths of 8′ and 12′. On almost any roof we can find a suitable location for a solar water heating (SDHW) system.

Some roofs are simply not suitable for larger solar pool heating panels, but can accommodate solar water heating or solar photovoltaic systems. While installation can be more challenging on smaller roofs, it’s absolutely possible to “go solar” no matter how your roof is constructed. All I need is your address, and I can look at aerial imagery to determine what will fit!

Some complex hip roofs have limited options for solar energy products and present challenges to solar contractors.

Fafco Solar’s next solar water heating project for the Southwest Florida Affordable Housing Choice Foundation is in Cape Coral at the Coconut Apartments. Each of the two multi-tenant buildings have four dwelling units with three 2′x8′ solar water heating collectors per unit. Installation of the solar panels just started, and here’s the day one picture of the first building. Like the Broadway Apartments project, the panels are mounted on rails attached to the standing seam metal roof with non-penetrating S-5 clamps.

This construction site is just a stone’s throw from the Fafco Solar office and warehouse, making this one of the most convenient solar water heating jobs we’ve worked on!

Solar Panels on South Roof

Can you spot anything wrong with this photo?

This is my 100th blog post since I started Solar Southwest Florida in August 2011. It’s my first blog, although I have been a frequent contributor to online forums for years. I like to write and share insights, but hope my technical style doesn’t bore you to tears. I feel the content has been useful and informative, and would love your feedback!

This also marks approximately two years employed by Fafco Solar (my first day was December 29, 2009).

Solar is more than a career and an interest for me. For a decade of my life prior to my time at Fafco Solar, it was a necessity. My business, my life, and my sanity depended on solar electricity. I lived much of that part of my life off-grid in the Caribbean, and solar energy gave me many luxuries that seemed to put me light years ahead of the neighbors’ standards of living. For me, price was no object. Solar was a practical solution to a serious problem – maintaining my standard of living.

When I returned to living full time in Florida, my interest in solar energy eventually brought me to the best solar company in Southwest Florida, Fafco Solar of Cape Coral. It’s hard to pin down exactly what I do here, because I have the luxury of shaping my own position. Operations Manager doesn’t really describe what I do. A more appropriate title based on what I  do on a day-to-day basis, make decisions and recommend courses of action to the owner, would be VP of Operations or COO, but some days I look more like a CFO, Project Manager, IT guy, or Engineer. I’ve even shoveled some dirt in my time here. Welcome to the world of small business! Every day brings a new task and a new challenge, and I get to be involved with solar energy, a product for which I have a great affinity.

As my role at the company continues to evolve, so will the purpose of the Solar Southwest Florida blog. Expect to see more pictures, more projects, and more tips and tricks to maximize your solar energy investment. I hope to get out in the field more and document the “little things” we do that ensure success. Finally, I’ll keep you up to date on legislative matters, financial incentives available to Southwest Florida homeowners, and news that is related to solar energy.

Fafco Solar’s Naples Botanical Garden Photovoltaic System was chosen as the Array of the Week by Enphase Energy, manufacturer of the Enphase microinverter. Information on this accolade can be found at this link:

http://community.enphaseenergy.com/enphase_energy_community/topics/array_of_the_week_fafco_solar

I am proud to have been Project Manager on this job, which was completed on budget and ahead of schedule. Our team of professional solar installers did amazing work on this great looking solar energy system.

Installed at Florida Gulf Coast University owned Naples Botanical Garden, this system will put a nice dent into the facility’s operating costs. It was eligible for an FPL utility rebate, further reducing the installed cost.

Enphase Microinverter at Naples Botanical Garden

This is a picture of a house in Cape Coral that has long been used as a showpiece for Fafco Solar. It’s a solar photovoltaic (PV) job that was done before my time with the company, but I am very proud of it, nonetheless. Until now we didn’t have any great photos of this home because it is right along the Caloosahatchee River. This weekend I was on a boat and had the opportunity to get some great pictures.

This home is seen by thousands of people every day as they travel west over the Cape Coral Bridge into Cape Coral from Fort Myers. If you’ve every wondered about it, your curiosity is about to be satisfied!

Cape Coral PV System Seen from the Caloosahatchee River

This system contains 30 Evergreen 195 watt solar modules for a total system rating of 5.85kW. It converts sunlight to AC power using a SMA Sunny Boy 6000 inverter. The system is oriented toward the southeast with a roof pitch of 30 degrees. At this orientation, the system can be expected to produce over 8 megawatt-hours of electricity per year, or nearly 1/3 of a gigawatt-hour over its lifetime!

If you are coming over the Cape Coral bridge into Cape Coral, take a look to your right as you come down the bridge. If you catch this in the early morning, the sun’s reflection off the panels can be spectacular, especially in the spring and fall.

The answer is – it doesn’t really matter – if you are using a Fafco Revolution 500 series Domestic Solar Water Heating System. These featherweight panels are just 8 pounds each empty, and 22 pounds filled. The additional dead load imposed on your roof is totally inconsequential.

Fafco Revolution 500 Solar Water Heating System

A traditional 40 square foot glass/copper solar collector system weighs over 180 pounds when filled!

The pictured collector system is a 96 square foot Fafco Revolution system with four 2′x12′ solar panels, a photovoltaic panel for circulation, and an expansion tank. This low profile system is mounted on the roof and UV rated cross-linked polyethylene tubing (similar to PEX) is run to an integrated circulation module located next to your hot water tank. The system is simple – and simply amazing!