Half the pipe fittings for the pool solar water heater have been purchased. No doubt the children will cry over their reduced inheritance. I’ve opted for PEX push fittings. I don’t know why Australia has brass fittings when the UK has plastic?
The conundrum I’m currently facing is water temperature. If the system is to work effectively the water needs to be heated in the panels before being discharged to the pool. If the pump works continuously then the water may not have sufficient time in the panels to heat. What I think I need is a thermostatic valve on the outlet pipe. The ideas being this valve will only open when the water in the panels reaches the set temperature and the hot will be replaced in the panels with cold. The valve will then close until the water again heats. The pump will have a pressure switch which will only activate the pump when the water pressure reduces in the panels on the opening of the outlet valve.
My problem is finding a suitable thermostatic valve. All the valves I’ve been able to find are mixing valves which have a hot AND cold inlet.
On a more positive note this morning the postie delivered a couple of packages from China. The first was a water resistant case for the Xiaomi 4K action camera.
The idea is the case will protect the camera from the rain. RAIN.. WHAT’s RAIN!!!! West Australia has just set a new temperature record. Six consecutive days above 40C. Today we get a respite with a cool 38C. However it’s only temporary and we’ll be back above 40 in two days.
The action camera was fitted to the bike handlebars using the gimbal. I wanted to see if the gimbal would stabilise the camera image.
It was quickly apparent the gimbal wasn’t stable. When the camera is mounted to the helmet the captured video is clear but I hadn’t realised how much my head moves. The next idea was to fit the camera directly to the handlebar mount,
After a test ride I’ve identified the bike bounces around so much that the video isn’t worth watching. That’s not quite true. The captured footage whilst on smooth cycling paths was OK.
The other delivery was the handlebar mount for the mobile phone.
It’s made of a “stretchy”rubbery silicon material and was advertised on Aliexpress for $1.04 including shipping.
Hopefully this will prevent me from getting lost temporarily geographically embarrassed
5 comments :
I don't think I understand why you need a valve. A heat sensor on the radiator to turn on a pump when it's hot enough sounds much simpler. A friend with a similar system also had to fit a heat sensor to turn off the pump when things got too hot or or his mermaid complained.
We have both types of PEX fitting but the plastic are cheaper. The brass is used where it will be seen or needs a fitting supported eg a tap
https://www.screwfix.com/c/heating-plumbing/pipe-fittings/cat831504#category=cat831504&pipefittingmaterial=brass&pipefittingsystem=push_fit
Have a look at https://topgimbals.com/gopro-bicycle/
Going back to 1978 a chap I worked with got sold solar water heating. The control was very simple with a little bit of electronics and two temperature sensors. one sensor up on the panel attached to the outlet pipe and one on the hot water cylinder. If the panel outlet was hotter than the cylinder the pump ran.
Paul, I have to confess I didn't think of that solution. Time to do more research.
Dave, An interesting read on gimbals. My existing gimbal is obviously too big.
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