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100 - 200 sq-ft solar and pipe question.

Last Post 18 Oct 2009 06:59 AM by jongig. 7 Replies.

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jongig

New Member

Posts:45

09 Oct 2009 02:30 PM
I am installing 3 solar panels with about 100 sq-ft total and if I need more heat I will install another 100 sq-ft. I can't believe the prices for the lines to connect the panels and so I am proposing to use my own. I don't see a problem with using soft L-1/2 inch roll copper with a run of about 80ft but I thought I'd post this in case anyone has anything to offer. A 60ft roll of 1/2 inch L copper is about $90 and I'll need to purchase three. Of course I need to insulate it but that's not much and doesn't come close to the dollars the solar panel company wants. Thanks...

Eric Anderson User is Offline

Basic Member

Posts:441

09 Oct 2009 02:58 PM
John, Be carefull with the insulation. What you want is the armaflex high temp insulation. The lower temp stuff can't handle the peak temps from the system. It is not cheap. Still, it is probably cheaper then buying the premade tubing sets. Good Luck Eric

Think Energy CT, LLC Comprehensive Home Performance Energy Auditing

jbaron

Basic Member

Posts:122

10 Oct 2009 04:24 PM
Why do you not know how much heat you need? What will you be using the heat for? Jeff

jongig

New Member

Posts:45

11 Oct 2009 07:44 AM
The 100 sq-ft is enough but we are considering a pool and with the pool we could use the extra. The heat will be used for DHW and for heating the 2,400 sq-ft basement. The basement is heated by the geothermal system but I only have it set at 65 degrees. Maybe the solar system can heat it up a little more and take some of the heat off the geothermal system. Sorry for the bad pun… John

fortunat

New Member

Posts:11

12 Oct 2009 09:37 PM
Assuming you are installing flat plates, and that they are designed for conventional (not low flow), then 100 sqaure feet of collector wants about 1.6 to 3 GPM of flow. That keeps the dT to about 20 degrees in the middle of a bright sunny day. At that flow rate, 1/2 inch ID tubing results in a flow velocity of 2.6 to 5 ft per second. That's a reasonable range. We typically try to keep flow velocity below 4 ft/second to minimize flow noise, pumping power and material abrasion. If you double the collector area, you'll definitely want to install a larger line set. ~Fortunat

kultamine

New Member

Posts:1

16 Oct 2009 12:24 PM
My thoughts were along the same lines - wanting to save on the solar panel to mechanical room connection after seeing the high price for engineered lineset. Though the price was more than double of running my own soft copper plus adding installation, I went with a flex 316SS pre-insulated 3/4" x 50' set with an integral sensor wire. My reasoning? Savings from the labor 1)having to make a couple bends (which also means possible kinks) and 2)adding insulation, plus this is running in interior walls and I simply want the best. The pre-fab, proven system gives me the most assurance in this regard. I even passed on another brand that was 304 SS for half the price.

jongig

New Member

Posts:45

17 Oct 2009 07:34 AM
Posted By kultamine on 10/16/2009 12:24 PM My thoughts were along the same lines - wanting to save on the solar panel to mechanical room connection after seeing the high price for engineered lineset. Though the price was more than double of running my own soft copper plus adding installation, I went with a flex 316SS pre-insulated 3/4" x 50' set with an integral sensor wire. My reasoning? Savings from the labor 1)having to make a couple bends (which also means possible kinks) and 2)adding insulation, plus this is running in interior walls and I simply want the best. The pre-fab, proven system gives me the most assurance in this regard. I even passed on another brand that was 304 SS for half the price. I have to run nearly 100 ft to the solar panels and unless I can find a less expensive option with the pre made I'll go with the roll copper. I do have a really easy run just a long one.

jongig

New Member

Posts:45

18 Oct 2009 06:59 AM
Posted By kultamine on 10/16/2009 12:24 PM My thoughts were along the same lines - wanting to save on the solar panel to mechanical room connection after seeing the high price for engineered lineset. Though the price was more than double of running my own soft copper plus adding installation, I went with a flex 316SS pre-insulated 3/4" x 50' set with an integral sensor wire. My reasoning? Savings from the labor 1)having to make a couple bends (which also means possible kinks) and 2)adding insulation, plus this is running in interior walls and I simply want the best. The pre-fab, proven system gives me the most assurance in this regard. I even passed on another brand that was 304 SS for half the price. Just for the heck of it would you please tell me where you purchased your line sets? Thanks...