Use Antifreeze...................

[2807]

Hello List

Down here in SW France it was minus 11 last night - no problem - the TDC3 frost settings are set turn the circulation pump on for a minute an hour at 5 deg & on constantly at 2 deg.

Buuuuttt we had a power cut overnight & now I have a 200 X 47mm tube & 96 x 58mm tube system that is frozen solid apart from the manifolds where it is currently 110 deg.

Bummer.

2807

[Drawmer]

oh damn. Anxious wait I guess....

[Drawmer]

and...what happened?

[2807]

Hello Drawmer

and...what happened?

Thursday, I re-plumbed the system so that the majority of the south facing tubes (100X47mm & 60X58mm) could be cooled.  Radiators at 62 degrees....

Friday, I took the insulation off the above ground pipework thawed it with a blowtorch & got the other 36X58mm tubes in the solar loop. Radiators at 65 degrees....

All good so far - only 60X47mm west facing tubes left to their own devices.

Then - overnight last night - EDF decided to cut our power for an hour or so - so the whole lot is re-frozen this morning.

I'm now just going to leave it until it thaws & light the woodburners.

2807

[rt29781]

We are in SW France and so far the solar circuit is fine (has antifreeze) but the underfloor circuit froze in the heat pump loop (plastic pipe).  Got it going now...very cold still and snowing....Woodburner on constant...

[ecogeorge]

Hello Drawmer

and...what happened?

Thursday, I re-plumbed the system so that the majority of the south facing tubes (100X47mm & 60X58mm) could be cooled.  Radiators at 62 degrees....

Friday, I took the insulation off the above ground pipework thawed it with a blowtorch & got the other 36X58mm tubes in the solar loop. Radiators at 65 degrees....

All good so far - only 60X47mm west facing tubes left to their own devices.

Then - overnight last night - EDF decided to cut our power for an hour or so - so the whole lot is re-frozen this morning.

I'm now just going to leave it until it thaws & light the woodburners.

2807

That's why I installed a dc circulation pump fed from its own pv panel and 2 x 7.5Ah 6v Yuasa batteries in the airing cupboard (charge regulator). Did not want the power cut in mid summer scenario.

[rogeriko]

2807 just buy a APC ups on E-Bay 50/80 pounds 1000va and up is pure sine wave they will run your pump for 2 hours add some extra batteries for longer.

[GavinA]

this'd be why I'd never contemplate not using a glycol mix in a system we install.

eta sorry, not much help I know.

[2807]

Hello ecogeorge

Then - overnight last night - EDF decided to cut our power for an hour or so - so the whole lot is re-frozen this morning.

I'm now just going to leave it until it thaws & light the woodburners.

2807

That's why I installed a dc circulation pump fed from its own pv panel and 2 x 7.5Ah 6v Yuasa batteries in the airing cupboard (charge regulator). Did not want the power cut in mid summer scenario.
[/quote]

Good idea, unfortunately, no airing cupboard here & the pump is in a shed 25 meters away from the house.

Hello rogerico

2807 just buy a APC ups on E-Bay 50/80 pounds 1000va and up is pure sine wave they will run your pump for 2 hours add some extra batteries for longer.

Tried that – too cold in the shed for the UPS – spoke to the vendor of the UPS & they advised to build a celotex “house” for the UPS & let it keep itself warm.

Hello GavinA

this'd be why I'd never contemplate not using a glycol mix in a system we install.

When I finally finish the system, I will add some antifreeze, I bought 5 litres of it from Navitron a few years ago.  However, I calculate that there is probably 30/35 liters of water in my solar loop, so I will need a bit more of it in due course.

2807