|
manwithtool
|
 |
« on: January 29, 2007, 05:53:32 PM » |
|
Thought I'd post my pictures...I'll post a few so apologies for boring everyone !
I finished the install just after Christmas, and it all seems to be working a treat.
This forum made the install so much easier, I would have really struggled to get advise any other way.
I have kept a careful track of money and I reckon this install has cost me £1100 including everything, although that price is for the normal 47mm tubes not the 70mm tubes shown....(long story !)
I used the Resol BS4 controller, which on setting Arr1 is ready to go. My install used a second Hot water cylinder heated by the panel. This then means my boiler starts with water that is already warm in winter....and hopefully in summer the tubes will provide all my hot water....It also means I can see exactly what difference the panel is making to water temp. So far with a clear cold day I can get 140 litres from 15 deg to 32 deg. I get a shadow on the panel at about 3:30 -4 pm in the eveneing. This shadow won't be there in summer as the sun gets higher.
I would recommend that anyone planning this install draws themselves a plan of how to plumb it all in. Trying to get all the pipes in place and then discovering you've missed something is a real pain.
On the roof I joined the two panels using normal copper pipe 15mm with ther Armaflex HT lagging...then covered that in Drain pipe. I figure that the drain pipe plastic must be UV resistant. Also allows a bit more lagging to be stuffed in. corners were made using normal pipe cut at 45 deg. any joins I covered by taking more pipe and cutting a slit over it to force it over existing pipe....I think it looks quite neat...very simple to do.
Drilling thru the roof tiles was a pain. I purchased a cheap B&Q diamond hole cutter...it lasted one tile..I then use smaller masonry drills to make a hole.... very time consuming. Fitting the framework was easy. I used the stainless straps from Navitron...Took up plenty of tiles above where the frame goes and screwed it in 3 battons to spread the load. I also had some lead laying around to put over the pipes going thru the roof. I made sure the uper part of the lead sheet went under the tile above...and used loads of silicone sealer....No leaks !
I just have to figure out some sort of heat dump...My favourite plan at the moment is simply to open a valve and dump hot water outside into a water butt. It's a bit crude, but will ensure that the very hot water in the solar tank is moved into the bolier heated tank ready for use...Other wise I could find myself drawing cold water fromt he bolier heated tank while the solar tank is piping hot.
I've waffled on a fair bit...Please remember I'm not a plumber...Just a keen DIY'er
since the pictures were taken I have of course lagged all of the pipes shown in the pictures of the tank....the boiler tank is just to the left of the tan k in the picture.
|
|
|
« Last Edit: January 29, 2007, 09:03:50 PM by manwithtool »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
manwithtool
|
|
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2007, 05:54:52 PM » |
|
another picture
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
manwithtool
|
|
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2007, 05:55:41 PM » |
|
another..
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Ivan
Guest
|
|
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2007, 01:57:19 PM » |
|
That looks really nice!
By the way, don't forget to disconnect the filling loop once the system has been filled and comissioned!
Ivan
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
manwithtool
|
|
« Reply #4 on: February 03, 2007, 11:36:42 PM » |
|
Ivan,
Well spotted....I was in the process of flushing the system at that time. Been having a few teething problems with air in the system....I guess I'll keep bleeding it...
Got the 140 litre tank upto 35 deg today ! In January !!
It just gets better and better...
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
solaluvva
Newbie
 Offline
Posts: 30
|
|
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2007, 12:59:46 AM » |
|
That's nice manwithtool, really nice. Pleasing aesthetics, good description and a capable looking job. You did all the connecting pipe work as well? Brilliant. Show no fear! Nice.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
manwithtool
|
|
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2007, 09:32:29 PM » |
|
Thanks Solaluvva,
I had done some plumbing before but not with a pressurised system. With some advice from this forum it was quite painless. Drawing a plan prompted lots of questions about where to put the various components. If I hadn't bothered with the plan the project would have drawn out alot longer.
Even in Jan and Feb I have had the 140 litre tank go from 15 deg to 37deg.
I just have to install some sort of heat dump yet. But I think the BS4 controller onseting Arr2 (from memory) might allow me to just dump hot water into an external water butt. Bit of a waste of water but obviously no energy lost. Plus if it does become a regular occurance I can coverup part of the solar panel, (handy having the Velux right there !)
As for the Aesthetics....I really just put them where they fitted !
Thanks again !
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Riselaw
Jr. Member
Offline
Posts: 72
|
|
« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2007, 06:38:16 PM » |
|
Hi - It looks to me as if you have the same kind of rooftiles as I have( called rosemary tiles I think?) Were they easy to drill through? Mine look quite sold and I've been told they might be a bit brittle. What kind of hole cutter did you use?
Thanks
Stewart
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
manwithtool
|
|
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2007, 12:33:03 PM » |
|
Hi Riselaw,
Tiles are Redland Red tiles. I bought a cutter from B&Q and it lasted 1 tile ! I then used a small masonory drill to drill lots of small holes in a circle pattern. The tiles are also not quite flat so becarful when you press down as they break very easily. I covered the mess up with plenty of Lead flashing.
I also managed to pick one place with 3 tiles to drill thru...other side was only two...!
Good luck....well worth it !!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
cornishben
|
|
« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2007, 01:58:55 PM » |
|
Any chance you could post up your 'plan'. Am trying to work out my schematic and examples of existing ones will be really helpful!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
manwithtool
|
|
« Reply #10 on: June 07, 2007, 12:53:40 PM » |
|
Cornishben,
There you go...
I think this was the final plan....
Just a couple of things...the pressure vessel had teh gauge and pressurerelief valve in one fitting.
Fit a drain valve in the solar circuit at the lowest point. Filling loop goes in ajust above the one way valve.
Make sure you flush the system before you fill it properly....(I had muck get into the pressure gauge and give false readings)
Ignore the filling loop "T" before the one way valve....or treat this as the drain...
I didn't fit the part of the plumbing that enabled me to take water directly from the solar tank...so I am limited to only drawing hot water from the boiler heated tank...
One other good peice of advice given on this website was to possibly fit a pump that would circulate the water in the two tanks in the event of the solar tank getting too hot....this is a great way of getting even more hot water from the panel...but is not really a heat dump, as it will only work once...and will eventually overheat anyway.
Bound to have forgotten a few things...but this plan should be ok if ou are using a twin tank setup...Whch I still think has advantages over a dual coil tank....But it does have some draw backs as well....namely you draw water from the tank you're not heating !
Good luck...PM me if you need any other info....Please remember I am just a DIYer not a professional....
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
O MidKnight
|
|
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2007, 06:55:59 PM » |
|
manwithtool You did a good job - well done
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Solar heating - makes you feel good when you open the hot tap and when you look at your heating bill
|
|
|
|
