11.0.
Charging the Solar Loop With Propylene Glycol
Items Needed: 2 - 5 gallon buckets, 2 or 3 gallons of glycol, charging pump, 3 laundry hoses.
1. You will need 2 or 3 gallons of
Propylene Glycol. Sierra brand
or equal, can be picked up at most
Auto Parts Stores and Other
brands are available at Camping
centers where it is used to freeze
protect plumbing.
2. Check the Pressure in the
Expansion tank to be sure it is
14 pounds, of not, fill to 14
pounds. (the system will be
charged to 24 pounds)
4. The first step (not shown) is to
hook a laundry hose from the
bottom of the storage tank to the
top charging port hose bib
V1,
connect a hose to the bottom hose
bib
V2, close the ball valve V3
between, and run full pressure
water through the system to flush
any debris out of the solar loop.
Close V2, build to 40 pounds,
close the V1, and check for leaks
at all connections.
Caution: In cold weather, only
do this if Glycol is immediately
going to be put in system!
3. You can use a low cost hand drill
pump like the above. Be sure to use
it with a high speed drill, usually a
110 Volt drill is best to get to 24
pounds of pressure. A more
powerful 110 Volt pump like the
one shown in the pictures below is
recommended.
5. With 3 laundry hoses, connect V1
to the pump outlet, the second hose
from the glycol bucket to the pump
inlet and the third hose from V2 into
the 2nd bucket as shown. Fill the
glycol bucket with 4 gallons 50/50
water / glycol mixture. V3 must be
closed. Open V1 and let water out to
clear all air out of the hoses into the
glycol bucket. This also primes the
pump if needed. Turn on the pump,
holding onto the hose in the 2
nd
bucket (so it doesn’t fly around!) open
V2. Watch for either the glycol to
come out of V2 hose or for the glycol
to be within 3 inches of the bottom of
the glycol bucket and quickly switch
the V2 hose into the glycol bucket.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT
NO AIR GET INTO THE SOLAR
LOOP!
If needed, add more glycol to
maintain a good mixture.
V1
V3
V2
6. We want to be sure all air is out
of the solar loop so when you
switch the V2 hose into the Glycol
bucket, the “Purge Cycle” is
started. Run the pump for about 5
minutes to be sure all air is clear
from the solar loop. Close V2 and
build pressure to about 24 pounds.
We want about 10 pounds more
pressure in the loop than the
Expansion tank is set for. Close
V1 and open V3. Run the solar
pump to see if hot glycol is
coming down the lines,
C
AUTION, it could be VERY
HOT!
7. Finally, pressurize Expansion
tank to 50 pounds of pressure to
increase the boiling point of the
system – Your Loop is Charged!
Summary of Contents for SkyLine 200152C80EX
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