Congratulations with your purchase of these Harmo Pool solar collectors. This product is of high quality and fully developed in Belgium. Please read the instructions so the installation can go smoothly.
The box contains:
- 3 assembled EPDM solar collectors (33cm wide)
- 2 connectors to connect the collectors on the filter installation (50mm, 38mm and 32mm) (input, output))
- 2 end caps to close the collectors
- 10 cable ties to connect the collectors with each other
- 8m strap in case you want to attach the collectors to a roof (screws not included)
The solar collectors are composed of small channels of extruded EPDM rubber. EPDM has following advantages :
- frost-proof
- UV resistant
- Insensitive to chemical products that are added to the water in normal amounts
- High elasticity
The collectors are made of ASA (stronger than ABS and better UV resistant) and are connected to each other by means of simple cable ties. An O-ring guarantees perfect impermeability. Our solar collectors exist in lengths of 3 – 4- 5- 6 m or are available on 60m roll for custom-made projects. Width rubber 15cm, collector 33cm.
The input and output are located diagonally from each other. In this way the most efficient heat exchange is obtained. By placing the output higher than the input air bubbles will be pushed out of the collector due to the water flow. The best efficiency is obtained by orientating the collectors to the south 45° (France) and 37° (Belgium). If the collectors are placed horizontally 15% additional collectors have to be placed to obtain the same efficiency.
In addition you can see the pool calculations of a pool with a depth of 1,5m (per 10cm deeper you need 10% additional solar collectors):
- Uncovered swimming pool: 125% of the pool surface
- Swimming pool with solar bubble cover: 75% of the pool surface
- Swimming pool with solar cover reel: 50% of the pool surface
The temperature of the swimming pool can rise up to 6° a day.
Installation of the solar collectors
Important remarks:
1. If the solar collectors are to be installed on a roof or at a height please use safety material or make sure a professional installer or roofer completes the installation.
2. The Harmo Pool solar collectors are covered by a degressive guarantee against manufacturing defects that lasts 10 years. The guarantee doesn’t cover faults due to a bad installation or damage to the solar collectors caused by external factors like weather conditions / animals. The transportation costs and working hours don’t belong to the guarantee.
3. Always choose a sunny place. The water must always enter the collectors at the bottom and the output of the water must always be situated at the top. In this way all air will be pushed out of the collectors.
4. If the solar collectors are placed higher than 6meters it is to be recommended to set up a breather vent. This breather vent will take care that the collectors become empty when the circulation pump is turned off. In this way underpressure through the water column can’t arise. In warm regions (Southern Europe) a breather vent can be set up to avoid that the water in the collectors and pool inlet gets too hot.
Assembly:
1. Roll out the collectors and set them up in a way that they can be shifted into each other.
2. Shift the collectors in each other by making use of a small amount of soap and click the cable ties into place.
3. Cut the collectors in such a way that you have the same diameter as your connecting hose (32 – 38 – 50mm)
4. Put the caps in the female ends and the connectors (32 – 38 – 50mm) over the male caps. The caps delivered with the Harmo Pool heating system are made in such a way that it is possible to pierce a hole in the cap. The heating system can become empty in winter via this hole. The hole can be closed with a 1 ¼ stop.
.JPG)
4. The collectors are made in such a way that the inlet and outlet are placed diagonally over each other.
5. Fix your connecting hose onto the input and output of the collectors.
The collectors can be connected to your filter system with or without a By-pass. The kit includes no By-pass and will operate as soon as your filter operates. If you want your collectors to be more effective it is recommended to install a By-pass. By doing this your collectors will only operate when the weather is fine. (see further).
Attachment to the roof:
You can attach the collectors both horizontally or vertically/on a slope.
You can attach the collectors with the « nylon strap » which you can order here.
A. Vertical/slop placement for the collectors
The «strap» serves for:
1. attaching the collectors
2. It is possible to attach the heating system by weaving the strap through the rubber in the width (alternating above and below the EPDM). You can also attach the EPDM to the roof by making use of silicone (Versabond, Fix-all…).
B. Horizontal placement solar collectors
You can also attach the straps underneath the tiles by screwing them on the tile laths. In this case you must make sure to have one fixing per collector.
1. Collectors – horizontally placed
2. EPDM heating
3. Screw in tile lath (not included)
4. Strap (1m)
As an alternative you can attach a galvanized net made of concrete to the roof structure and subsequently attach the collectors to the net.
Attachment to a flat roof:
You can use the same system as for pitched roofs by attaching the collectors to a wooden, metal under structure (net made out of concrete) or by using silicone (Versabond, Fix all…).
Attachment to the ground:
You must avoid that plants can grow under the heating system because this can damage the heating system / can decrease the efficiency. Sharp objects aren't allowed under the heating system. It is forbidden to walk on the heating system.
Maintenance:
1. During a chlorine shock treatment you have to turn off the heating system (By-pass) in order to prevent damage of the collectors.
2. In order to make sure your collectors overwinter you let clean water run into the collectors and subsequently you make sure the solar heating becomes empty.
3. To achieve a maximum efficiency you must make sure your collectors are clean.
4. Concerning the accessories (3-way valve, pump...) you have to consult the instructions supplied with these accessories.
Examples of connections of solar collectors
1. Scheme of a connection with manual 3-way valve:
Depending on the number of hours the sun shines you have to open the 3-way valve manually in order to let the water flow through the collectors so the water can heat up. This system can also be applied to cool the water down at night in case the temperature of the water is too high. The manual 3-way valve requires a daily control of the outdoor temperature and the temperature of the pool.
2. Scheme of a connection with automatic 2-way valve:
The electric 2-way valve coupled to a Minisol controller (measures the outdoor temperature and the temperature of the pool) makes an automatic opening/closing of the valve possible. So the pool water is/isn’t sent through the solar heating. As soon as the outdoor temperature is higher than the temperature of the water the valve closes automatically so the water flows automatically through the collectors. The disadvantage of this setting is that, if the valve is opened, there will always flow a small amount of water through the collectors.
3. Scheme of a connection with automatic 3-way valve:
The electric 2-way valve coupled to a Minisol controller (measures the outdoor temperature and the temperature of the pool) turns the automatic 3-way valve automatically so that the pool water is/isn’t sent through the solar heating. As soon as the outdoor temperature is higher than the temperature of the water the valve turns automatically so the water flows automatically through the collectors. If the temperature falls the opposite happens. But it is still possible to activate the valve manually to cool the pool down at night.
4. Scheme of a connection with 2 water pumps:
A second pump is installed on the way towards the solar collectors. As soon as the outdoor temperature is higher than the temperature of the water the Minisol controller will activate the solar collector pump. As a consequence the water will be sent through the collectors. You must have a pump with pre-filter to avoid that large impurities are sent to the collectors. This configuration makes it possible to heat the pool regardless of the hours the filter is activated. In this way the collectors achieve a maximum efficiency. The inlet of both the filter pump and the solar collector pump is completed with a check valve.
Products