Adding Solar Panels to PVC plumbing

[CarlD]

If you have a small power miter box (ie, one you can carry) you can get clean cuts with that. But, not, of course, for in-place plumbing.

[tphaggerty]

One thing I would add, use at least the Medium strength PVC glue (normally comes in a BLACK can), not the all purpose (in a Red can). The black definitely holds better, but it does weld faster. Also, use the clear cleaner/primer, not the purple stuff (that can make for some really "pretty" installations).

For cutting very tight connections, you can buy a wire PVC saw, only about 5 bucks. It is very difficult to do real straight cuts with, but it can get in places that a normal saw won't. You can also buy fine toothed and/or masonary blades if you have a power mitre saw, these work very well. Clean the edges real well, sand paper works fine.

Clean, clean and clean again before using the glue!

I normally test all my connections (for length and fit, not for pressure) by coating the ends with the same silicone goop you use for fittings. This lets you try everything out before the final weld. BUT, you have to really clean the connections with the PVC cleaner before gluing.

On solar, if your panels don't include a bypass valve, you should plan on adding one. It makes fine tuning the flow through the panels much easier and also will allow you to do maintenance on the panels while the pool is running.

[CarlD]

And I ALWAYS use the purple primer...Because I want to be CERTAIN I have primed everything. Plus, if you need to have your plumbing inspected, you need the purple so the inspector sees it is fully primed.

Plus I use the blue flexible glue because it's supposed to be better for TigerFlex. I don't mind the colors. Besides, you can always paint the pipes.

Each to his/her own.

[Poconos]

What? Inspectors looking at the solvents? I guess I do have a definite advantage by living in Podunkville, PA. Inspectors need to GET A LIFE.
Al

[cleancloths]

Yes inspectors look for the purple - you could probably get away with using no cement, just purple primer - as far as the inspectors are concerned

[CarlD]

Yes inspectors look for the purple - you could probably get away with using no cement, just purple primer - as far as the inspectors are concerned

Never thought of that! But I'll bet you're right!

Up where Al lives, they send a black bear and a wild turkey in lieu of a building inspector! But where I live they send a pit bull! (at least the electrical inspector acts like one--bless him!)

[tphaggerty]

Purple isn't required here for pool piping, good thing as it is ugly (IMHO). In our area of NY, there was no piping inspection, just structural and electrical.

When you use the purple though, that is 3 steps, right? (Clean, prime, glue). My PB just cleaned and glued and that is what I have done since. No problems so far, even with flex.

[cleancloths]

Never thought of that! But I'll bet you're right!

Up where Al lives, they send a black bear and a wild turkey in lieu of a building inspector! But where I live they send a pit bull! (at least the electrical inspector acts like one--bless him!)

YUP, the electrical inspectors are ass#$%*&holes where I live too. When my pool was built we had a couple of electrical boxes and timers on the mounting board. The electrician decided to drop the conduit from one box below grade and then come up to the next box to make the runs look nice and vertical rather than looping them in mid-air below the boxes. The inspector failed him saying anything that is under ground must be 18" deep. The idiot inspector did not grasp that it was more sound to go slightly in the ground with the loop than having it just dangle below the mounting board.

[LindaGL]

Thanks guys -

I have to laugh, though, at the comments about inspectors.

I live in an unincorporated part of Harris County, TX and around here, the chance of an inspector arriving to look at ANYTHING for ANY REASON is close to zero. I could tell you horror stories about the construction of my house...

I've studied the plumbing layout, and think I know where I am going with it. I checked out the apporpriate fittings at Lowes, but I'd like to find a local source for the flexible pipe (to run a short distance above ground - MUCH easier to go around a curved area, I suspect!)

Anybody know anyone in the Houston area that carries the flex stuff?

Linda
near NW Houston