User`s manual

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PV Pressurized Solar Water Heater

featuring Rheem Solaraide integral heat exchanger tank, and a

photovoltaic-powered circulator

User's Manual

The pressurized solar water heater has the following characteristics:

• Sealed solar fluid loop containing a solution of propylene glycol antifreeze

and water.

• Heat exchanger is wrapped around the tank, so only one pump is needed.

• 12V DC circulator (pump) matched to a photovoltaic (PV) panel provides

water heating even during AC electricity outage.

1. Components

The solar storage and backup water heating can be accommodated in one

tank -- the Rheem Solaraide HE. (This Rheem-manufactured water heater is also

sold under the Richmond and Eagle Solar brands and yours may have any one

of those labels, but it is referred to in this manual as a Rheem.) The unit comes

with an electric element to provide backup heating to the upper portion. [This

element may be replaced by an external gas-fired heater, or a separate water

heater may provide the backup in some installations.]

The solar loop of the system consists of a two drain/fill valves with a

check valve between them, pressure gauge, pressure relief valve, expansion

tank, 12 V DC circulator (typically a March 809 or Laing bronze pump) to move

the fluid through the collectors and the Rheem water heater's heat exchanger.

The solar fluid is water and propylene glycol. [It would be safe to use ethylene

glycol in the system instead if desired.]

Pump

Collector(s)

❏ Laing D2 (w/ capacitor)

❏ SolarHot Silver

❏ Laing D5

❏ SolarHot Platinum

❏ March 809

❏ SolarGenix Winston

❏ ________________

❏ AET

Summary of content (9 pages)

PAGE 1
PV Pressurized Solar Water Heater featuring Rheem Solaraide integral heat exchanger tank, and a photovoltaic-powered circulator User's Manual The pressurized solar water heater has the following characteristics: • Sealed solar fluid loop containing a solution of propylene glycol antifreeze and water. • Heat exchanger is wrapped around the tank, so only one pump is needed. • 12V DC circulator (pump) matched to a photovoltaic (PV) panel provides water heating even during AC electricity outage. 1.
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. Description of Operation The pump is controlled by the current generated by the PV panel. In strong sunshine, when the collectors are absorbing lots of heat and the PV panel is generating its peak current, the pump runs fast. At times of lesser sunshine, the pump runs proportionally slower. The solar fluid circulates through the collectors and the heat exchanger, thereby warming the water in the lower half of the tank. As it warms, this water rises into the upper half until all the tank is heated.
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By the end of a sunny day when little domestic hot water had been used the water could easily reach 130 to 150°. At times when solar heating has not brought the top of the tank to full temperature, the backup heating thermostat will turn on the electric element or gas burner. This thermostat is behind the access panel on the water heater. [The diagram above shows the electric element as a backup. Your system may use a separate burner or tank as backup.] 3.
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deposits that will prevent it being able to start without being taken apart and freed up. Some older March brand pump motors require a few drops of oil -usually 20W, sewing machine, or light-duty motor oil -- every six months. Laing and newer March pumps use ball bearings and require no oil. Look for holes with small black tubes at the motor ends (marked "OIL") to see if your pump should be oiled. It may also be marked on the name plate, or call the pump manufacturer for details.
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are not disturbed. This allows the system to relieve some of its heat into the heat exchanger. If for any reason the solar loop is taken out of service, i.e., the pump will not be running or the pipes will be cut for renovations, the glycol should be drained into a clean bucket and the collectors flushed thoroughly with water. 6.
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Symptom: 1) Pump never runs. 2) Pump hums and/or gets warm but does not circulate fluid. 3) Noises Likely Causes: 1a) Check for voltage from PV panel while sun is on the collectors. If none is present, check at PV panel to determine if the fault is in the panel, the junction box, or in the wire. 1b) If voltage is present at pump, try substituting a 20W 12V DC power supply. If that starts pump running, some change has caused the PV to be insufficient to run the pump.
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4) Water not hot enough 7. Determine the events that cause this.
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9. Warranty Parts and workmanship for a complete system installed and maintained by Solar Consultants are warranted by Solar Consultants for one year from the installation date. Individual parts, especially tanks, pumps, collectors, and controls, may be covered by additional manufacturers’ warranties. Solar Consultants expands those warranties to include labor for replacement of manufacturer warranted parts.
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Glossary Ball Valve an in-line valve that controls fluid flow. They are preferable to other types in that they do not restrict flow when open and never need a washer or seal replacement. Check Valve an in-line valve that allows fluid to pass in only one direction. Expansion Tank a small tank containing an air-filled bladder surrounded by fluid. As the fluid expands it compresses the air. This evens out pressure fluctuations that would be caused by temperature change.