My DIY Solar Thermal with Heat Dump & Installation of PV - Ringwood, Hampshire

[asorton]

Having my PV fitted next week which will be:

3.84 kWp
16 Phonosolar PS240M monocrystalline panels
Sunnyboy 4000TL
Sunny Beam Display

Roof Dead South at 30 degrees in Ringwood on South Coast (10miles north Bournemouth).


Thought I would start with my current setup of Solar Thermal and my heath Robinson heat dump then post pics next week of the PV going in.


Solar is DIY instal (fitted summer 2010)
Cylinder (not shown): vaillant 250L unvented twin coil solar aurostor with TMV mixing valve

Hottest tank temp: 90 (stagnation at 120) before heat dump / 81 since heat dump (never stagnated since)

Right now I'm very excited at the though of the PV going in  
 

Here is my 30 tube 57mm tube panel on the roof:


DSCF3093 by kudos1uk, on Flickr

Here is my pump station


DSCF3147 by kudos1uk, on Flickr

My heath Robinson Heat dump (runs in parallel with cylinder and opens at 60, allowing the cylinder to continue heating but with reduced energy)
its a combination boiler heat exchanger with home made hood and bathroom ceiling fan to blow air through it.


DSCF3150 by kudos1uk, on Flickr

SR868C8Q Controller - really good controller with holiday function which cools cylinder overnight by pumping hot heat to panel

Instruction Manual HERE


DSCF3154 by kudos1uk, on Flickr

Controller


DSCF3153 by kudos1uk, on Flickr

Features:
Dimensions: 120mm x 120mm x 18mm
Power supply: AC230V±10%
Power consumption: <3W
Temp reading accuracy: ±2 degrees C
Range of collector temperature measurement: -10 to +220 degrees C
Range of tank temperature measurement: 0 to +110 degrees C
Suitable power of pump(s): up to 600W (3 pumps)
Suitable power of electrical heater: up to 1500W
Inputs: 2 x Pt1000 sensor (for collector)
           3 x NTC10K, B3950 sensor (for tank)
Outputs: 3 relays for circulation pumps or 3-way electromagnetic valves
             1 relay for electrical heater
Sensors included: 2 x Pt1000 sensor (for collector - can withstand up to 500°C)
                          3 x NTC10K sensor (for tank - can withstand up to 135°C)
(note: sensor cables can be extended up to ~50m using bell-wire)
Ambient operating temperature range: -10 to +50 degrees C
Water proof grade: IP40
Thermal energy measuring
High temperature by-pass function
Holiday function (night cooling recirculation)
Circulation pump variable speed control features


Finally, this is how I hope my PV will look


Capture by kudos1uk, on Flickr

Scaffolding should be going up tomorrow, more Pics to follow  

[asorton]

a weeks delay due to injury but scaffold is up and PV goes up in one day Friday 12th August

One last picture of my current setup.


DSCF3157 by kudos1uk, on Flickr

[asorton]

D-1, look what just arrived.....

All ready to be installed tomorrow, more pics as they go up in the morning.

Thankfully tomorrow is 12th not 13th


DSCF3158 by kudos1uk, on Flickr

[Moxi]

looking good, you will love the PV  I remember mine being installed and the smile at watching the meter start to record my generation.  Hope it all goes well tomorrow and looking forward to the pictures.

Moxi

[asorton]

Thanks Moxi.

Work started this morning at 7.30, rails are all going in place nicely. Got to go to work for a couple of hours now but this is where they are now at 11.00am.


DSCF3159 by kudos1uk, on Flickr

[asorton]

Got back at 2pm and it was nearly done so I don't have any more installation pics.

They have gone for the day, I'm currently generating 800w and my meter is going backward 

They have to come back next week to add a couple of brackets they were short.

So here it is:


DSCF3160 by kudos1uk, on Flickr



DSCF3161 by kudos1uk, on Flickr

[rondurrans]

asorton this is a genuine question – a schematic in my inverter (Power One 3.6) manual shows that there should be at least 150mm gap all around – I take it that this is not the case with your inverter?

[asorton]

asorton this is a genuine question – a schematic in my inverter (Power One 3.6) manual shows that there should be at least 150mm gap all around – I take it that this is not the case with your inverter?

They have met the clearances all around except at the top but it's not as close to the ceiling as it look in the picture, it was due to space constraints.

I wanted it on the back wall of the cupboard, they would not put it there due to the left right space.

[rondurrans]

asorton I would request something in writing confirming that this none compliance with the manufacturer’s installation requirements does not make the warranty invalid…..a lot of heat comes out of the top of my inverter……I would not want to reduce the life of inverter due to this; whole life cost would be affected if you need to replace the inverter earlier than was necessary due to running too warm/hot.   

[acresswell]

Could you fit a small air vent in the panel above the door? It's likely that there are gaps at the bottom/sides of the door, so allowing a route for convestion should reduce the risk of the inverter overheating in a small space... and possibly get the heat somewhere more useful...

[asorton]

Thanks for your thoughts on this, in could have been fitted lower though I would have lost more cupboard but I was not asked.

I guess the controls could have been fitted above not below making it the right distance.

You have me worried about the warranty now.

I was going to fit a vent in the top panel just in case the door gets closed, normally we don't close it as there is a small fridge in the bottom of the cupboard.

I do have a couple of other concerns and have posted them in the PV section: http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,14654.0.html

I'm not sure what to do now.