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Solar Pool Heating System -- Installation & User Manual
© Copyright 2020 Optex Solar Pty Ltd. All rights strictly reserved.
Page 41
23
Seasoning Panels and Minimizing Contraction Issues
Please be aware, collectors will
naturally age and contract by up to 10mm in length (and proportionally in width)
per panel
in the first 1-4 years. Collectors will also
thermally contract on a daily basis
from a hot panel (80˚) to a
cold panel (~0
˚) by up to 12mm
in length (and proportionally in width) per panel
. No special care need be taken for
single row array with 6 or less panels in one row as the straps supplied can accommodate these thermal changes, for
other arrays please follow the below procedures.
23.1
Mounting Procedure for Arrays 10 or Less Panels per Row
We recommend you
“Seaso
n
”
the panels by placing them in the hot sun for half a day on one side and half a day on
the other side to minimize any age contraction issues later. Then follow this mounting procedure:
Apply and tighten hose clamps and fixing straps to cool panels only
(and/or with cool water
running at low pressures, see Pressure Optimization section below) and never hot panels.
Why?
Applying straps/clamps to hot panels can cause issues for large arrays when the
collector array contracts significantly in the cool of the night and over time.