Solar Southwest Florida

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 a common question. “How many solar panels do I need to power my ### square foot house?”

The answer is not so simple. In fact, I can’t even give you a rule of thumb. Some industries can tell people a reasonable range for sizing equipment, and often building codes dictate sizing of appliances. For example, an A/C company might tell you that on average you need one ton of air conditioning for every 600 square feet of living area for a Southwest Florida home. A plumber might tell you that you need a minimum 50 gallon water heater for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. There is no such approximation with solar energy.

The energy used by a home, and more specifically a homeowner, can vary tremendously (note: homes don’t use energy – people do). My 3,000 square foot home uses about 2,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each month. I’ve been at a customer’s 2,500 square foot home that uses 3,500 kWh of energy! That would be a range of 0.67 – 1.4 kWh per square foot per month – hardly a useful range to use as a rule of thumb.

Energy use is complicated. People have very different habits, standards of living, and luxuries.

I was at a customer’s home where they had two refrigerators in the garage. That is the worst place to put a refrigerator in Florida (because of the ambient temperature). But two?! They were wondering why their electric bill was so high despite the installation of solar products. I think I have an idea…

Pool homes consume more energy generally. Old air conditioners and poor insulation cause poor efficiency for cooling. Some people run incandescent lights in their yard 12 hours a day. And many times, habits are the cause.

Even the utility company averages have little value. LCEC and FPL report about 1,100 kWh per residential account. However, that includes small condos, separately metered buildings, manufactured homes, and seasonal residents. It’s not a good metric to use – just about every customer we visit consumes more than the “average.”

What we need to know is how much energy you use. Fortunately, that’s easy to find out. Both utilities in Southwest Florida have online account history that shows you energy use by month. Fafco Solar’s solar advisers can help you figure out how much energy you are using and how many solar panels you need to power your house!

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!

The Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) reported that Florida dropped from #8 in 2010 to #17 in 2011 for the amount of solar electricity capacity installed. In addition, total installations decreased by 60% from 35 megawatts to 14 megawatts.

Why the big decrease? It’s my contention that the FPL rebate program is stifling the market. That’s right – a rebate intended to encourage solar energy installation had the opposite effect!

The interesting thing is that solar prices have never been lower, even without a rebate involved. The perception about solar needing rebates to be successful is an outdated notion. Getting this message out is on the shoulders of the solar industry, but our reliance on rebates over the years has misplaced our focus.

Let’s hope that we can make a better showing in 2012!

For those of you who don’t know, the largest utility in Southwest Florida, FPL, is giving away money – lots of money! If you ever had an interest in solar panels, NOW is the time to act. There is money available for solar electric systems and solar water heating systems, and combined with record low prices on solar panels, this is an amazing opportunity. The program is a huge success, but I want to talk about how FPL can improve the Solar Rebate Program, especially the rebate for solar electric panels.

FPL is offering $2 per watt of installed system rating with a residential limit of $20,000 (for a 10 kilowatt system). Smaller systems qualify for the same $2 per watt rebate amount. Most homeowners install around 5kW and receive a $10,000 rebate. How can this be improved? REDUCE the rebate amount!

What?! Huh?! No – don’t say that!!! You’re in the solar business!

Stay with me here as I explain. The first round of rebate funding ran out in under 15 minutes. That’s how much demand there was. That’s how unbelievable this deal is. That’s great, but there are some serious downsides to the program as it stands:

• Only 310 lucky people received a rebate reservation in the first round of funding.
• The first-come first-served system isn’t really fair – it benefits mainly people who can type their application fast on the FPL website. With this level of demand, a lottery would be a more fair distribution of funds. (Note: a lottery could have negative consequences for solar dealers who would not be able to predict future business.)
• Solar contractors must race to get all of their sold systems installed in a 90 day window to have the rebate paid, then there is almost no work for the next 9 months. Who is going to buy solar without a rebate if they know one is right around the corner. This makes it very difficult for qualified solar installers to stay in business and employee people year-round.

If the rebate program can “sell out” in under 15 minutes to 310 customers, how long would it take to sell out at $1 per watt? 50 cents? 25 cents? How many more people would install systems?

If FPL’s goal is truly to get more installed solar capacity in Florida, they would get the best bang for their buck by reducing the rebate amount to maximize the amount of solar electricity installed! Under the current scenario, FPL actually reduces the amount of solar energy installed in Florida, and essentially controls the market. They can predict quite well how much solar will be installed in a given year, and maybe that is their intention. The math is quite simple – if they devote half of the $15.5M annual program budget to photovoltaics, somewhere around 3.75 megawatts per year would be installed and interconnected to the utility.

Imagine the impact if the rebate amount were reduced. I’m willing to bet that if the rebate amount were cut to 50 cents per watt, 1/4 of the current amount, that four times the number of systems would be installed, especially if the installation window were increased to 9-12 months. This would help bring much more solar power to the utility’s system, and would keep solar dealers humming along installing systems year-round, employing more people and creating a greener future for everyone in Florida.

What is FPL’s motivation? What constraints exist from the Public Service Commission approved program? I don’t know all of the answers, but I’d sure like to hear from FPL about my proposal!

I was just notified that some solar photovoltaic (electric) panels were stolen from a doctor’s office in Naples, FL yesterday. NBC 2 News asked me to comment on the story. Although we did not install the panels, I appeared on the evening news giving my take on stolen solar panels.

NBC-2 Story Here

Here is what you need to know:

Homeowners and Business Owners

• Your homeowners insurance normally covers solar panels that are properly permitted and installed on your home or business. They become part of the structure and property, and are every bit as insurable as the air conditioning unit and other parts of your home.
• It isn’t easy to steal solar panels. While basic hand tools or battery operated tools are all that’s required, the panels weigh almost 50 pounds, and maneuvering them on the roof is not for the faint of heart.
• This is the first incident of solar photovoltaic panel theft that I have heard of in Southwest Florida.
• There are theft mitigation options like security bolts and cables, but these are easily thwarted with cutting tools. I would generally not recommend these options unless there is a serious risk of theft due to location or the location is unattended and isolated.
• The solar panels represent a small fraction of the total cost of the system in today’s market. The other components, services, and labor represent a far greater share of the cost.
• In most solar electric systems, a suitable replacement panel must be found. Because the industry changes quickly, this can be a challenge. Not only is the same size solar module important, but the electrical characteristics must match. If you are lucky, the same module is still available. If not, there are options. You will need an experienced solar dealer to help you through the replacement.

Thieves

• You are nuts. You risk electrocution by up to 600V exposed electrical wires on the roof.
• If the electricity does not kill you, the fall probably will.
• The value of a solar panel is about 1/4 what it was just a few years ago. It only represents 25%-33% of the total cost of a solar energy system. It is silly to steal the panels, because without “everything else,” you aren’t going to be able to use it in your home. You can’t steal “everything else.”
• There is essentially no scrap value for the panel.

The risk of solar panel theft is low based on the historical record. If you do experience a loss, call your insurance carrier immediately, then call Fafco Solar to get a replacement quote!

A Bonita Springs, FL home with BIPV

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) describes solar panels that are integrated with a roof. The solar panels replace roofing tiles, and create a seamless appearance with the roof, other than the color, which is typically dark blue or black.

The benefit of BIPV is the appearance. That’s generally where the benefits end. The downsides are numerous:

• In most cases, it’s more expensive to integrate BIPV, even though the solar panels replace roof tiles.
• The energy produced is about one-fourth what is attainable using traditional solar modules (crystalline-silicon) in the given area.
• The return on investment is typically far lower.
• The 2010 Florida Building Code that goes into effect 3/15/12 places increased requirements on BIPV products, which may significantly increase the cost of a BIPV installation.
• BIPV installation requires special training that your average solar installer may not possess.

If your primary consideration is aesthetics and you prefer the look of BIPV, you might be a candidate for this technology. Hopefully the technology will advance to the point that it is economically competitive. For now, I do not recommend or sell the product, and I am not aware of any major local solar installer that does.

My colleagues will tell you that I am rarely wrong, and my wife will tell you that I rarely admit to being wrong. Well, here it goes. I was wrong!

A while back I wrote that all that matters for making a solar electric purchase decision is dollars per watt. I recently attended a Sunpower sales meeting. Fafco Solar is becoming a Sunpower authorized dealer through Abacus Energy Partners. I was very surprised and excited about what I learned. Sunpower offers some unique technologies that make the total output of its solar modules greater over their lifetime then competitive technologies. Sun power modules result in lower degradation over time and produce more kilowatt hours then competitive modules.

Although sun power modules cost more than lower-priced competitors the increase in total lifetime energy output makes up for the increase in power/energy.

What really matters is dollars per kilowatt-hour not dollars per watt.

My previous article was somewhat accurate, in that dollars per watt is all that matters in a class of module where deficiencies are generally the same and manufacturing methods are similar. In the case of similar solar module manufacturing technologies, dollars per watt is in fact a good indicator of what you should purchase because generally speaking all module manufacturers use a similar process, similar materials, and have similar energy densities per unit of area.

I was pleasantly surprised that the premium for the Sunpower brand is only around 20% in today’s retail solar market. Between the extra energy produced over the lifetime of a Sunpower panel and the peace of mind gained by having a superior product, I can now recommend this brand despite the higher dollar per watt price of the PV module.

Take a look at these videos from Sunpower that demonstrate the Sunpower Advantage. Once you see the quality and technology that goes into this manufacturer’s products you will understand the rationale for the premium price.

NOTE: See UPDATE at the bottom of this post.

Southwest Florida is starting to see all Lamar Advertising’s Billboards getting solar panel upgrades. My frustration level with this project is quite high already, first because I believe it was ill-conceived greenwashing, but also because it was poorly implemented. Here is a picture of a billboard in Fort Myers (which thankfully does not host Fafco Solar’s advertisement). Can you spot anything wrong?

Lamar Advertising Solar Billboard in Fort Myers on US41

Lamar used cookie-cutter prefabricated steel racks on their billboards. It would have been far more efficient to install all of these 12 solar panels on a single rack system, purpose-built for the billboard. But that is not the main problem here.

This system was installed by an electrician, whose name I will not mention. Electricians are authorized by Florida Statute to install solar electric systems. That does not make them experts, and here is a prime example. Still looking for the reason that this was done wrong?

A rack mounted solar array at optimal tilt and orientation has all solar panels facing the same direction.

There is only one ideal tilt angle and compass orientation for grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems in Southwest Florida. This tilt angle and orientation will harness the maximum amount of solar energy over the course of a year. Unless there are other cost, aesthetic, or technical reasons for an alternate orientation, solar panels should always be installed in manner that maximizes solar output. All six of the solar arrays are installed with different tilt angles and different compass directions. Although they are generally pointing south, and at a reasonable tilt angle, there is no physical constraint that would cause someone to design the system this way. Plus, it looks terrible.

The optimum tilt and orientation for solar modules can be found using publicly available resources that use a long history of local weather and solar radiation. It’s no secret where to find this information. The National Renewable Energy Labs is the preeminent source used in the U.S. to help solar installers maximize performance under given circumstances.

I would love to give Lamar and the installer the benefit of the doubt, thinking that this would be a test system to see what orientation works out best. After all, each of the six arrays features it’s own microinverter (the now obsolete Enphase D380). It would be easy to monitor each array to determine which produces the most energy over time. However, I can’t imagine this was the intention. I believe it is just a sloppy installation, bordering on complete incompetence.

The lesson: hire a solar professional, preferably someone local.

UPDATE February 29, 2012:

I have been having a lively discussion with Lamar’s Director of Sustainability and Product Research both in the comments below and by email. I am happy to report that the solar panels were askew in the picture above at the time of an upgrade to a digital billboard. It certainly makes sense that more solar capacity is present on this billboard than others, as the electrical draw will by significantly greater. I’m not sure how “sustainable” it is to use an electronic billboard, but it does look great and at least it is powered in part by solar energy.

It’s clear to me now that Lamar does take this project very seriously. After all, just having a Director of Sustainability shows significant commitment. We have a legitimate and passionate disagreement about how the money was spent on this project, and that’s fine with me. My position is borne out of financial reason. His position is that I am being short-sighted.

To be clear, I acknowledge that Lamar is vigorously and sincerely trying to encourage people to use solar energy, and that they are dedicated to a prominent sustainability program. I also appreciate the Director of Sustainability’s passion in defending the program.

There’s no perfect way to spend money to encourage people to “go solar.” Case in point is FPL’s $15.5M per year funding of its solar rebate program. Of this money, $5.6M was allocated to residential solar electric projects in the first round of financing for 2011, resulting in 2.8 megawatts of solar electric capacity (estimated based on the $2/w rebate amount). That’s a much better bang-for-the-buck than Lamar got with it’s spending to encourage solar energy. By the way – the funds for the rebate were exhausted in about 15 minutes after the rebate windows was opened. But, there have been negative consequences of the program. Primarily, the funding strategy limits the number of  ”lucky winners” in a very short window and discourages adoption of solar energy by those that cannot access a rebate because of the perception that solar energy needs rebates to be viable.

I have to ask – how much solar capacity has been installed in Florida as a result of the $2.5M of Federal grant money and $10.0M investment made by Lamar? Unfortunately, unlike the FPL rebate program, Lamar’s advertising campaign does not have people banging down the doors of solar dealers in Florida. I should probably be saying “thank you” for the free advertising, but I still contend that it’s solar done wrong.

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!

The law is clear in Florida. A homeowner association cannot prevent you from installing solar energy products. This is governed by Section 163.04, Florida Statutes. You have a right to obtain energy from renewable resources on your property

Condo associations similarly cannot prevent you from installing solar energy products on your property. Unfortunately, the roof of a condo and the areas outside your walls are rarely considered your property.

Courts have upheld this law in favor of homeowners to a great extent. The law event extends to clotheslines that use the sun and wind to dry clothing, again, as long as it is on your property. The railing of your porch is not generally considered your property.

3D Model for Homeowner Association

Homeowner associations can tell you where to put solar panels as long as it does not impede the function of the panels. Typically you will want your panels to be on the south side of your home, and there is little a homeowner association can do to stop you.

Most homeowners want to maintain a good relationship with their association, management company, and neighbors. What I do to help smooth things out is prepare a 3D model of the home on a Google Earth map to show the association board of directors how the finished product will look. Our solar advisers discuss options with the homeowner and quantify the effects of suboptimal panel placement on roof faces. In just about every case we can come to a suitable resolution that makes all parties happy.

If push comes to shove, a strongly worded letter citing Florida Statute 163.04 is the ace up our sleeve.

If your homeowner association is giving you a hard time about installing solar panels on your Florida home, let me know!

Here is the full text of FS 163.04:

Energy devices based on renewable resources.-

(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or other provision of general or special law, the adoption of an ordinance by a governing body, as those terms are defined in this chapter, which prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources is expressly prohibited.

(2) No deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements running with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources from being installed on buildings erected on the lots or parcels covered by the deed restrictions, covenants, or binding agreements. A property owner may not be denied permission to install solar collectors or other energy devices based on renewable resources by any entity granted the power or right in any deed restriction, covenant, or similar binding agreement to approve, forbid, control, or direct alteration of property with respect to residential dwellings not exceeding three stories in height. For purposes of this subsection, such entity may determine the specific location where solar collectors may be installed on the roof within an orientation to the south or within 45 ° east or west of due south provided that such determination does not impair the effective operation of the solar collectors.

(3) In any litigation arising under the provisions of this section, the prevailing party shall be entitled to costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.

(4) The legislative intent in enacting these provisions is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by encouraging the development and use of renewable resources in order to conserve and protect the value of land, buildings, and resources by preventing the adoption of measures which will have the ultimate effect, however unintended, of driving the costs of owning and operating commercial or residential property beyond the capacity of private owners to maintain. This section shall not apply to patio railings in condominiums, cooperatives, or apartments.

History.-s. 8, ch. 80-163; s. 1, ch. 92-89; s. 14, ch. 93-249.

Should you do-it-yourself (DIY) for a solar panel installation in Florida? While is is completely permissible and possible to install solar on your home or business, it is not recommended.

I’m a self-taught guy in many disciplines, and I love to do home maintenance myself. Learning new skills is part of who I am. Learning the solar energy trade was not easy. Here are some reasons why you may not want to do-it-yourself:

Solar Electric (PV or Photovoltaic Systems)

1. PV Systems involve dangerous DC voltage and AC voltage electricity. You may be able to wire a ceiling fan or a light. That does not qualify you to perform complex wiring for a solar electric system. Grounding is a special concern for PV systems and can be quite complex.
2. Requirements vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The City of Fort Myers’ and Lee County’s building departments have very different interpretations for some key code sections. Navigating this maze will cause you serious frustration and cost.
3. The larger solar panels popular today are heavy. Working with solar panels on your roof is not an easy task.
4. There is no such thing as a cookie-cutter or plug-and-play solar electric system. Even newly introduced microinverters require careful electrical design considerations. You will need both a structural engineer and an electrical engineer to draw up plans for you.
5. Solar energy systems can be monitored by your dealer, ensuring that you have a second set of eyes on the system to maximize performance and identify problems.

1. Roof mounted solar energy systems usually require roof penetrations. Do you know how to maintain your roof warranty? Who are you going to call if you get a roof leak? Amateur roof attachments are the #1 reason that DIY solar installations fail.
2. The labor to install solar energy systems is a relatively small fraction of the price of a system. This can easily be recouped by a trouble-free installation. The competition in the Southwest Florida market is robust, so dealer prices (and profits) are held to a minimum.
3. Design wind speeds required in Southwest Florida range from 120 mph – 150 mph. Do you know how to ensure proper roof attachments?
4. Solar dealers have relationships with building departments that enable smoother inspections. Knowing the requirements (idiosyncrasies) of particular jurisdictions is very valuable.

If you choose to proceed with a do-it-yourself installation, plan to be mostly on your own. Your local solar dealer can’t compete with online retail pricing, so you are better off getting solar products online for DIY projects (except solar pool heating). That means you are probably going to be on your own. Make sure you understand the job ahead of you fully, because dealers are hesitant to work with equipment purchased from another source. These products are often incompatible with the dealer’s typical brands, and specialized knowledge in the product may not be readily available locally. And assisting with DIY projects may open a solar dealer up to liability risk they are not willing to take on.

It’s not that your local solar dealer doesn’t want to help you with a DIY project. It’s just not cost feasible. If I could stock solar panels and sell them to you for a DIY project at a price you would find acceptable, I certainly would!

I obviously have a dog in the hunt here. I want you to use Fafco Solar for all of your solar needs. With the labor being a relatively small fraction of the cost to install solar, you are honestly best off leaving it to the professionals. It’s not rocket science, but you will save yourself a lot of headaches, and probably money in the long run.

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 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.

If you have a solar pool heating system, your dealer may mention the manifold. This is just a set of valves that control the flow of water in your solar pool heating system. The function of the solar pool heat manifold is to turn you solar on or off by bypassing the solar panels when necessary. Your manifold may or may not include isolation valves to isolate the solar panels in the event that the system must be serviced.

Let’s take a look at an example manifold. The one pictured below includes two high quality Jandy brand isolation valves, a Jandy brand bypass valve, and a motorized actuator that is controlled by a pool automation system, in this case, an Aqualink system. Note that the bypass valve is also known as a diverter valve, a 3-way valve, or generically as a Jandy valve, which can be confusing.

Solar Pool Heat Manifold (Click for Larger Image)

Your solar pool heat manifold may look significantly different from this, but the concept is the same. We need to be able to control whether the water from the pool pump goes up to the solar panels, or bypasses the solar panels and returns directly to the pool. In the current configuration, the solar pool heating system is on, and water is able to flow through the panels on the roof. The red “X” is the bypass plumbing. When the bypass valve is in the other position, the solar panels are bypassed, and the water flows directly back to the pool.

The isolation valves should NEVER be closed when the bypass valve is in the solar-on position. This “dead-heads” the pump, meaning that the pump is running, but there is nowhere for the water to go.

It should be noted that the bypass valve is typically a “non-positive” valve. That means that it does not actually stop all of the water from going one way or the other. This is important so the water in the panels can drain back into the pool when the solar pool heating system is off. Draining water from the panels helps prevent freeze damage to the panels. This can be accomplished several ways, which are beyond the scope of this article, but note that it may not be readily apparent how your valve is made to be non-positive. Some systems, due to plumbing configurations, are manually draining. They must be drained manually or using a drain valve if installed.

Some common parts of the pool heating system plumbing are not shown here, like check valves that only allow water to flow in one direction. I’ll get to that concept in another article!

There are several ways to make a solar pool heat manifold, and some features may not be present in yours. If you have a question about your manifold, take a picture and email it to me at jason (at) facosolar.com and I can help you make sense of it!