Phase Ii - System Installation Detail; Mounting Panels - FAFCO Connected Tube CT Series Installation Manual

PHASE II — System Installation Detail

Mounting Panels

Be mindful when handling Panels. Rough handling
can cause unnecessary body damage which will like-
ly result in premature failure or leaking.
CAUTION: Before installing Panels, check roof and
racking for protruding hardware that may damage
the Panels.
Panels should be installed insert to insert with the
coupler pushed all the way up to the edge of the Panel
body and insert dam.
Panels can increase up to 1" in length as they heat
up on hot summer days. Ensure there is roughly 2" of
extra space at the end of the Panel for growth with
temperature.
Because of this movement, it's advisable to put some
material under the couplers to prevent any unwanted
abrasion to the roof or mounting structures.
When installing the Panels, pay careful attention to
install the couplers all the way up against the Panel
insert and to position the coupler clamps as indi-
cated in Figure 9 below. This greatly reduces the
need for Panel adjustments later on.
Coupler
Figure 9 Panel Coupling
Initial Panel alignment can be done while installing the Coupler connections.
Note that the Panel Coupler Clamps must be installed all the way up against
the Insert Barb and positioned to clamp over the Insert Landing. The Coupler
Clamps must be positioned as depicted. Incorrect placement of these compo-
nents can lead to excessive expansion of the Panel bank and cause damage
and leaking. Placement should be checked when the system is up and running,
by making sure all couplers haven't moved more than 1/8".
Insert
Barb
Coupler
clamp
Coupler is Flush
Against sheet edge
Note: It is crucial that the Panel couplers and cou-
pler clamps are installed properly. If improperly
positioned, the coupler clamps and couplers can
move and the entire bank of Panels can expand
severely under pressure, causing the Panel body to
collide with roof-mounted obstacles.
When installing mounting hardware, it is best practice
to use the premeasured method mentioned in Panel
Layout of PHASE I—Site Preparations and Planning.
It can be easier to place penetrations after all plumb-
ing is installed. Therefore, it is also acceptable to use
the Circulation Method when placing mid-bank pene-
trations as described below.
Note: The Circulation Method can only be used if
the pool can be circulated to the solar system such
that the Panels have an approximate surface tem-
perature of 70-90°F. The surface of the Panels can
be measured with an irradiance meter or similar
surface temperature measuring device. If needed,
adjust the flow rates to the solar system to achieve
an acceptable reading for the procedure.
Note: Use caution if employing this method and do
not perform in high wind conditions since Panels
aren't fully mounted.
Follow these steps to mount Panels using the
Insert
lation Method:
Landing
1. Lay Panels in desired locations and plumb them
together.
2. Determine the centermost Panel (or a Panel which
the bank needs to move about) and fix-mount it by
the upper headers (described in Figure 11a) or by
another means of limiting bank movement.
3. Mount upper headers of remaining Panels.
4. Route and connect all plumbing to the system.
5. Let pool water circulate through the Panels until
all air is purged out and the Panels have reached
an operating temperature of 70-90°F.
6. While the solar system is running, mount hard-
ware by centering penetrations between each Pan-
el.
7. Once all mounting has been completed, turn the
system off and ensure that the bank doesn't move
into mounting hardware. If it does, address as
needed.
®
Circu-
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