The Solar Collector
The solar collector
The main component of the solar water heating panel is the manifold. The manifold is comprised of a stainless steel box section that contains an insulated copper pipe with heat tube sockets braised into it. This is where the condenser, (covered in conductive paste), in the heat pump of the evacuated tube slots in and transfers the heat to the system fluid that will heat the new coil in your new hot water cylinder.
You will notice a sensor in the hot end or output of the manifold, this is used by the resol solar controller to detect the difference in temperature between the hot water cylinder and the solar water heating panel manifold and turn on the grunfoss pump on the Aztec solar water heating pumping station. It is also used to switch off the solar water heating circuit when the temperature on the roof exceeds one hundred and forty Celsius. The end caps of the solar heating manifold are plastic to insulate the copper from the stainless steel and the rest of the solar panel frame is stainless steel to prevent corrosion. To fit or replace a solar tube you need to cover the condenser at the top of the tube in conductive paste then slot the evacuated tube into the brazed heat tube socket. You will place a rubber boot over the other end of the tube and then gently tighten a jubilee clip around the rubber boot using a screw driver or allen key driver.
The installation of the solar panel is done on the second day after the new hot water cylinder has been already installed.
The solar panel is secured to the roof using a diamond core drill to drill through the roof tiles, then to attach a piece of wood between the rafters inside the roof.
Then go back out onto the roof and drill through the new piece of wood with an auga bit and then bolt the solar water heating panel to the roof.
The hot and cold pipes (flow and return) and the sensor to the solar collector will also use a diamond core drill to make the holes in the roof tiles. Once this is completed all the holes will be sealed up using a high temperature sealant. Normal sealants will not withstand the high temperatures reached on the hot end or output of the solar water heating panel manifold.