Owner’s Guide and Installation Instructions Solar Premier Loline

INSTALLATION – SOLAR COLLECTORS

SOLAR COLLECTOR LOCATION

Consideration must be given to the position of the solar collectors in relation to the solar storage tank. There are limitations on both the maximum length of the solar hot and solar cold pipes and the maximum height

between the solar storage tank and the solar collectors. Refer to “Solar Storage Tank Location” on page 17 and to “Pipe Lengths”

on page 26.

The solar collectors must be installed in a shade free position.

The solar collectors should be installed facing toward the equator (i.e. north facing in the southern hemisphere and south facing in the northern hemisphere). Where this orientation is not practical, a system facing up to 45° from the equator will have its efficiency reduced by approximately 4%.

Inclination of the solar collectors should be approximately equal to 90% of the local latitude angle.

The

latitudes of some Australian cities are listed on page 26. Solar collectors may be installed at the roof

angle for simplicity of installation and appearance, but must never be less than 10°. If the roof angle varies by

15° from the correct angle, efficiency will be reduced by

10%.

For an installation on a roof with a pitch less than 10°, a

Variable Pitch stand is required. Refer to your local Solar

Distributor for details.

For an installation at either right angles to (across) or opposite to (against) the roof pitch, a Flat Roof stand and a Side / Reverse kit are both required. Refer to your local Solar Distributor for details.

For an installation of collectors on a pitched roof in a cyclonic or high wind area, a suitable With Pitch frame is required. Refer to your local Solar Distributor for details.

The installation of these solar collectors on a suitable frame, subject to the frame‟s design criteria not being exceeded:

 is suitable for installation in geographic locations up to and within Wind Region D (With Pitch frame) or up to and within Wind Region C (Variable Pitch frame), as defined in the Building Code of

Australia, Australian / New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1170.2:2002 and the Australian Standard

AS 4055-2006, and

 also provides an acceptable method of installation where it is necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Building Code of Australia and AS/NZS 3500.4 Clause 6.5.3.4 for high wind areas.

The collector kit is suitable for installations with an inclination of up to 45°. Where the solar collectors are installed at inclinations greater than 45°, a With Pitch frame is necessary. Refer to your local Solar

Distributor for details.

The installer must ensure the structural integrity of the building is not compromised by the solar water heater installation and the roof structure is suitable to carry the full weight of the solar collector(s). If in doubt the roof structure should be suitably strengthened. Consult a structural engineer.

Each solar collector and its fittings weighs approximately 54 kg when full of water.

The installation must comply with the requirements of AS/NZS 3500.4 and all local codes and regulatory authority requirements.

Refer to the installation instructions supplied with the collector kit for details on the installation of the solar collectors.

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INSTALLATION – SOLAR COLLECTORS

LATITUDE OF SOME AUSTRALIAN CITIES

Adelaide 35°S Cairns 17°S

Alice Springs

Brisbane

24°S

27°S

Canberra

Darwin

35°S

12°S

Hobart

Mildura

Melbourne

42°S

34°S

38°S

Port Hedland 20°S

Rockhampton 24°S

Sydney

Broken Hill 31°S Geraldton 28°S Perth 32°S Townsville

PIPE LENGTHS

The solar hot and solar cold pipes between the solar storage tank and the solar collectors shall:

34°S

19°S be of DN15 bendable grade or hard drawn copper tube.

Annealed or soft copper shall not be used. have a continuous fall from the solar collectors to the solar storage tank of a minimum 5° (1 in 10 grade). not exceed the maximum recommended lengths as specified in the table.

Notes:

Pipe Size

Maximum recommended total combined pipe length (solar cold + solar hot) and number of 90° bends

1 or 2 Collectors 3 Collectors

DN15

Pipe Length

40 metres

90° Bends

20

Pipe Length

30 metres

90° Bends

20

For each additional 90° bend, reduce the maximum total pipe length by 0.5 metres.

For each additional metre of pipe length, reduce the number of 90° bends by two.

Note: One 90° elbow is equal to two 90° bends.

It is important not to cross connect the solar cold and solar hot pipes to the incorrect connections at the solar collectors and at the solar storage tank.

The solar cold pipe connects to the bottom of the solar collectors and the solar hot pipe connects to the top of the solar collectors diagonally opposite to the solar cold pipe connection.

The lowest corner of the solar collector installation, which is where the solar cold pipe connects to the collector array, should be the corner closest to the solar storage tank. This will maximise the gradient for the continuous fall of the solar cold pipe, by providing a shorter horizontal run of pipe work for the vertical fall.

The hot sensor connection is at the top of the solar collector, directly above the solar cold inlet connection.

Refer to “Warning: Plumber – Be Aware” on page 27.

It is essential for these requirements to be followed for the system to operate correctly and efficiently. Solar pipe work which is oversized, or does not have the correct fall, or is too long can result in the drain back system not operating effectively.

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INSTALLATION – SOLAR COLLECTORS

WARNING: Plumber – Be Aware

The solar hot and solar cold pipes between the solar storage tank and the solar collectors MUST BE of copper. All compression fittings must use brass or copper olives.

The full length of the solar hot and solar cold pipes MUST BE insulated.

The insulation must:

 be of a closed cell type or equivalent, suitable for a solar water heating application and capable of withstanding the temperature of the closed circuit fluid generated by the solar collectors under stagnation conditions

The specification of the chosen insulation material should be checked with the insulation manufacturer prior to installation as different materials may vary in temperature tolerance.

 be at least 13 mm thick, however thicker insulation may be required to comply with the requirements of AS/NZS 3500.4

 be weatherproof and UV resistant if exposed

 extend through any penetrations in the eaves, ceiling and roof

 cover valves and fittings in the solar hot and solar cold pipe work

 be fitted up to and cover the connections on both the solar storage tank and the solar collectors.

The insulation will offer corrosion protection to a metal roof against water runoff over the copper pipe, assist in avoiding accidental contact with the solar pipe work as high temperature closed circuit fluid can flow from the solar collectors to the solar storage tank and also reduce pipe heat losses.

There MUST BE a continuous fall of a minimum 5° (1 in 10 grade) in the pipe work between the solar collector and solar storage tank for efficient and effective drain back to occur. The highest point of the solar cold pipe and solar hot pipe must be where they connect to the solar collector.

The system has NO WARRANTY for freeze damage if there is not a continuous fall in the solar hot and solar cold pipes, or they are not insulated in accordance with the installation instructions, or the closed circuit fluid has been incorrectly mixed.

Plastic pipe MUST NOT be used, as it will not withstand the temperature of the closed circuit fluid generated by the solar collectors under stagnation conditions. The solar collectors can generate extremely high closed circuit fluid temperatures of up to 150°C. Plastic pipe cannot withstand these temperatures and MUST NOT be used. Failure of plastic pipe can lead to the release of high temperature closed circuit fluid and cause severe water damage and flooding.

The pressure applied to the solar circuit and solar collectors during a pressure test of an indirect closed circuit system MUST NOT exceed 200 kPa, otherwise damage may result to the solar

collectors. Refer to “Pressure Testing” on page 29.

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INSTALLATION – SOLAR COLLECTORS

Maximum Height To Collectors

The solar collectors must be the highest point of the system. The maximum height of the solar installation, from the base of the solar storage tank to the top of the solar collectors, is 9 m. The pump supplied with the solar storage tank will not circulate closed circuit fluid through heights greater than 9 m and solar gain will not be achieved.

For heights greater than 9 m, an auxiliary pump (kit PN 299914) must be installed above and within 1 m of the solar storage tank. The installation of an auxiliary pump will enable a maximum height of 18 m to be

achieved. Refer to “Auxiliary Pump” on page 38.

Note: The top of the solar storage tank must be a minimum of 500 mm below the bottom of the solar collectors for the system to operate correctly.

Closed Circuit Drain Back Solar Pipe Work Installation Requirements

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INSTALLATION – SOLAR COLLECTORS

Pressure Testing

The solar water heater, including the collector circuit and solar collectors, is to be isolated during the testing and commissioning of the heated water reticulation system in a building, in accordance with Clause 11.1 and 11.3 (a) of AS/NZS 3500.4.

It may be necessary to pressure test the collector circuit to comply with codes and regulatory authority requirements or on other occasions where the solar collectors and solar cold and solar hot pipe work are installed prior to the solar storage tank, such as on a building site.

Indirect Closed Collector Circuit

Warning: The pressure applied to the solar circuit and solar collectors during a pressure test of an indirect closed circuit system MUST NOT exceed 200 kPa, otherwise damage may result to the solar collectors. The solar circuit and solar collectors are to be isolated from the solar storage tank for the duration of the pressure test.

S200 and T200 Solar Collector Installations

If water is used as the pressure testing medium and if the collector circuit is not to be connected to the solar storage tank and the system commissioned on the same day, then any excess moisture needs to be blown out and the collector circuit and solar collectors dried using dry compressed air.

It is necessary to cap off the ends of the solar cold and solar hot pipes if they are not connected to the solar storage tank at the time of installation and at the time of testing the solar circuit.

Indirect Closed System

If the solar collectors, solar pipe work and solar storage tank are installed and commissioned together, then the flooding of the collector circuit with closed circuit fluid for an indirect closed circuit system or water under mains pressure for a direct open circuit system and checking for the pipe work for leaks during the commissioning procedure can be substituted for the pressure testing of the collector circuit.

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