Solar Energy Direct

GUIDELINES FOR RETROFITTING EVACUATED SOLAR HOT WATER COLLECTORS TO EXISTING ELECTRIC OR GAS HOT WATER SYSTEMS.

It is a little known fact that any existing hot water system can be adapted to connect directly to a solar Collector. The retrofit option can save a huge amount on an installation by cutting out the need to replace an existing hot water cylinder.

This simple solution offers the same benefits, sometimes at half the cost of totally replacing a perfectly good hot water cylinder for no reason.

Our companies main motivation for importing SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEMS directly to public, is to offer high quality solar solutions at an affordable price.

Retrofitting your existing system can be a very economical and a sensible way to save money, both on buying and after its installation, on heating your daily hot water needs.

Evacuated tube systems are up to and over 50% more efficient than many traditional flat plate collectors.

The tubes can be easily mounted and replaced, There is no need for heavy lifting equipment which means extra savings on the installation.

With the addition of a simple four way connector, any hot water cylinder can become solar compatible. By fitting the system with a retrofit collector and controller, the system is just as effective as any of the more expensive solar systems on the market, in fact evacuated tubes systems are far more efficient.

How the system works

A low amperage pump controlled by a electronic controller sensors the temperature differential between the cylinder hot water temperature and solar collector temperature. The pump then circulates the colder water from the cylinder up to the collector, where it is heated, hot water is then returned back down to the hot water system for storage.

The controller switches the pump on and off, as it registers the water in the solar collector has heated up or cooled down, stopping the flow to allow time for the collector to heat the newly arrived cooler water. The system cycles repeatedly throughout the day to heat the water in the cylinder. Even in cloudy and overcast day the system will continue to operate at the level of intensity of sunlight available on each day.

The normal cut in time for the pump to switch is set at 6 degrees C above the cylinder temperature, but this can be adjusted from 6 to 15 degrees C.

The control system will turn off the pump when the temperature in the collector is within 3 degrees of the cylinder temperature, ensuring that the pump does not cycle if the water temp is not yet hot enough to heat the cylinder.

The system also comes fitted with a freeze safety control ensuring water in pipes never freezes, which is set to cut in at the collector at 2 degrees C. The actual collector itself is frost protected up to and beyond -7 degrees C.

The system also has a hight temperature control safeguarding the cylinder from overheating. This can be adjusted form 75 to 90 degrees C.

The controller has a hot water circulation option for connection within the hot water line, This control function used with an axillary circulation pump, can keep the water hot right at the tap for instant hot water. The great advantage of this option by offering instant hot water at the tap, saves litres of water running down the sink waiting for it to get hot.

This wasted water let run before the hot water arrives is only half the lost water. Once the tap is turned off the remaining unused hot water left in the pipes will also cool down and needs to be replaced with new cold water into the system, meaning the loss of hot water out of the cylinder is twice the volume of the pipes from the cylinder to the tap each time a tap is used. This can equate to a huge loss of energy used to heat the water never even used as well as the needless waste of the water.

The hot water circulation option can be time or temperature controlled, ensuring no water is wasted( this option required a second circulation pump and a return pipe from the last hot water tap back to the cylinder.

We recommend anyone looking to maximise the home efficiency to use solar hot water, it is a great energy saving solution.

If you have any question on this, or other aspects of retrofitting a SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEM please email or contact us through our contact details.