Solar Panels - Spring Leaking/Winterizing Problem

[CarlD]

Dang! I just lost my nearly completed reply on plastic welding!

Here's the kit I have:

http://devildogtools.com/mimo6plwekit.html

I don't remember where I bought it, though.

This is as cheap as it gets--like a fancy soldering iron.

Better ones use hot air. Plastic welding is a complete craft, similar too but different from metal welding. I'm really lousy at it and just a beginner.

If there's an auto body shop you like, talk to them. Plastic welding came to their industy many years ago--with plastic bumpers and panels to reduce weight and maintenance.

[Poconos]

Donya,
When you drain and blow them out for the winter you need a lot of air volume such as a shop vac. Air compressors are designed for higher pressure, lower volume. My 4x20 mat has been laying out for quite a few winters now simply because it's a dog to roll it up. Shop vacs are usually designed to primarily suck so if you jury rig to the lowest point with duct tape or something that should work. You need to get all the water out of the tubes and side tanks. Don't know how yours are configured but you do need to somehow drain the lowest point.
Hope this helps.
Al

[cleancloths]

Rather than drain them why not fill them with RV type anti-freeze. Just pump them up full of the stuff and then they won't freeze.