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Post by cye on Jan 15, 2011 8:42:30 GMT -5
Here's a few pics of my own installation on our SW-facing garage roof. 40 X 47mm evacuated tubes (Sunstar Solar brand) plumbed using 10mm copper pipe into a standard 170L twin coil solar hot water tank. With the long pipe run I used 2 X 12vdc pumps plumbed in series to achieve a satisfactory flow rate, max pump consumption still less than 14W. Attachments:
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Post by cye on Jan 15, 2011 8:51:49 GMT -5
Pics of installed panels.... Note the panels are fixed to the rafters/noggins using standard galvanised batten straps. 15mm copper pipe passes thru a 18mm hole drilled in the roof tile, well sealed with RTV silicon, insulated with 25mm of HT armaflex, and finally, to keep birds off, a rainwater drainpipe elbow was fitted over the insulated pipe. A slot was first sawn in the elbow to allow it to slip over the pipe insulation. On the underside of the roof the pipe then reduces to 10mm for journey back to the tank. Attachments:
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Post by cye on Jan 15, 2011 9:08:20 GMT -5
Some details of the tank and plumbing... (In hindsight I should have fitted the expansion vessel the other way up, but at the time I just followed the manufacturer's instructions!) Attachments:
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Post by cye on Jan 15, 2011 9:19:27 GMT -5
Here's one way of minimizing the cost of insulating the solar loop. I used armaflex HT insulation (the really expensive stuff) for the first/inner layer, then used a less expensive Class O rated elastomeric foam insulation for the outer layer. Class O is still rated for >100 degrees C and I think HT is rated for >150 degrees. Cheap grey pipe insulation should never be used on the solar loop as it will melt! The inner layer can be slipped onto the 10mm pipe when you're doing the plumbing to avoid slitting the insulation. The outer layer must unfortunately be slit and slipped over. I used the basic armaflex insulation glue for a neat (and airtight) job. Attachments:
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