<em><span style="color: #ff0000;">UPDATED 6/8/12:  Download links now include side-by-side SRCC summary sheet slide.</span></em>

<em><span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span></em>

In March, Heliocol (UMA) released a "fact" sheet comparing their HC-50 collector to a number of other popular solar pool heaters, Aquatherm's Ecosun included.  Much of the information provided for competitive collectors - including ours - was false and misleading.  We quickly responded with a counter-comparison sheet in an attempt to separate fact from fiction <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001K8ndcb8iXbCCiS0WxkkOZ2vSiVP_CC3LnkLl5FDvLHgNHaA1Ngyqznv3sTfwrILylq1x9Ke6MuHsJpiG0NRbW5T54-VEGDJ4OlFoTQgSZgt8pR6VB9RRqODN0Ala5-3PnGsRbL6sVgDadJvrc2ngPzdD6MvreZHLJDwX2WrosFQe6IC4w5FEII5JNZ0K9IF27IZ3be2nfk-Bi25YQ5C4pUyBg32GUIDr" target="_blank">(view/download both comparison sheets here)</a>.

It soon became clear why Heliocol was 1) so eager to push our the piece to their Dealers, and 2) why they chose to base their performance comparisons exclusively on SRCC Category A.  After a long overdue retesting, performance ratings for the Heliocol collector dropped dramatically in Categories B and C.<!--more-->

Immediately, we set to work breaking down exactly what the new numbers meant for you and your potential customer.  Our hopes was to explain it to you, in a manner that allowed you to explain it to the pool owner, until we could put together a more "consumer-friendly" set of charts for inclusion in the Sales Presentations and web sites.

We have just completed these charts and are eager to get them in your hands.

<span style="color: #ff0000;">Download links:</span>

<a href="http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/SI-HC-BTU-Charts.pdf" target="_blank">Heliocol vs Solar Industries BTU Performance Sales Presentation Slides</a> (12.2mb)

<a href="http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/AI-BTU-Charts.pdf">Heliocol vs Ecosun BTU Performance Sales Presentation Slides</a> (12.2mb)

Clearly, it would make sense to want to focus on Category B and C, however we recommend you keep Category A somewhere close by just in case the landmine has been laid by a HC Dealer that "said they have a better rating than you."

With Heliocol (and their dealers) choosing to hang their hat on SRCC Category A (while disregarding the two categories/conditions most pools really need heat) they are misleading the homeowner and giving you an opportunity to expose them.

<strong>Tom Lane gave me an analogy that I personally fell in love with...</strong>

"It's (Category A) like buying a car because of its great gas mileage, only to find out it's only getting that mileage when you're driving downhill." Tom went on to equate Category B with the same car driving on level ground, and Category C with it trying to drive uphill. "At Category C, Heliocol can't even make it up the hill."

As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions on any areas of improvement.