Solar water panel repair on roof

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Cort

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I have a pinhole leak at one of the risers coming off the header in the silver solder joint-topside on a 4x8 panel on roof. I'm going to take off the glass clean it well with emory cloth flux it then silver solder with my acetylene B tank prestolite torch small tip
I have not silver soldered in many years-what type of flux and solder???-I was ordering some from my welding store as our local plumbing wholesaler does not carry anything like this
Any other tips would be helpful. Mark
 

Master Plumber Mark

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that is nothing but fun

I cant think of anything I would rather try doing....

is the system glycol, or water ??

If I had to do that job, I think it would be wise to
drain down the whole system.... that will certianly build up pressure while you are attempting to close the pin hole....

Perhaps try doing the silver soldering once it gets below the point of the leak...

as far as fluxes needed to silver solder, you got me stumped..

 

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Its a direct heat water system and its drained and dry now and I have marked the pinhole. I do know that silver solder needs a special flux but do not have it yet or know exactly what it is as well as what exact solder to use? This system has been functioning well since the early 80's. Mark
 

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clean it well....

like I already stated, that will probably be fun....

If I had to fool with one, I would probably consider getting a drill and a grinder attachment of some sort and attempt to smooth off some of the old brazeing
to clean it off down to the copper as good as possible...


I really dont know if you can silver solder over a 30
year old silver solder joint and expect it to work....


all we ever did was braze those joints together,
and usually when a braze fails from my experience
you have to cut it out...



I would consider paying someone unless you are very , very ...good at it..


some of those one inch coupling joints were pretty mean, between the panels
and I would be very careful not to move aything,

I hope that you have plenty of rooom to do this
or you will surely be burning up some insulation.
you certainaly ought to have some heat sheilds against
the panels nearest to this event......

perhaps you ought to ask some other "more wizer dummies " on
this site wether you can re-braze or re-silver something 30 years old.

ask HJ, he is one of the wizer dummies here.....

good luck
 
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