FILL THE SOLAR LOOP WITH FLUID

WARNING !!! Do not do this work in strong sunlight unless the solar collectors are covered!!!
If you feed water to a stagnating solar collector, the water can flash to steam and cause
considerable damage to the collectors and even present a safety hazard. Serious burns
and even death could result.
With that warning noted, attach a garden hose to the fill valve of the Plumbing Mechanical
Package (PMP). To make the connection, you will need to find or make a short length of hose with
two female ends on it (a washing machine hose is ideal).
Then, attach one end of another length of garden hose to the drain valve, and take the other end
outside to an appropriate place.
Close the ball valve between the fill and drain valve so that the water is forced through the whole
system. Close the air vent in the PMP so that it will not function (it could become plugged up).
Flush the system thoroughly with water to get out any flux, solder, air, dirt, and anything else that
is not wanted in the system.
Then close the drain valve and allow the system to pressurize. You can open the air vent after the
system has been flushed.
Get the system running well with water. Fix any leaks before you add antifreeze.
Then add a predetermined amount of pure anti freeze based upon a calculation of the total
amount of fluid in the system
EXAMPLE: If you want the final solution to be 30% antifreeze, and the system calculates to be
60 gallons total, add 19 gallons of pure antifreeze and take out 18 gallons of water, and you will
have it.
Let the system run for a while and then test with a hydrometer or test strip to make sure of the
concentration.
Consult the appendix to find typical amounts of fluid per linear ft of tubing and typical fluid
capacity for Radiantec solar collectors, so that you can calculate total fluid volume.