Is an AC or DC Solar Thermal Installation Better?
Like most questions in the solar thermal arena, the choice of an AC or DC system is subjective, depending on your needs and your system type. Let's start with the unavoidable limitations:
Like most questions in the solar thermal arena, the choice of an AC or DC system is subjective, depending on your needs and your system type. Let's start with the unavoidable limitations:
Although the collectors are installed, the tank in place, the heat exchanger piped in and the plumbing done, there is no guarantee that your solar thermal system has no leaks. You need to test it before you fill the solar loop or allow water into the storage tank. You can check the system for leaks using air or liquids.
Radiant floor installations rarely need more than seasonal adjustment. Typically, they are set up at the time of installation and just need to be switched on or off depending on the time of year.
At installation, the ball valve on the heat exchanger bypass stays about 1/3 closed at all times, forcing some of the hot solar fluid through the heat exchanger, but allowing most of it to go to the radiant floor heating (or shunt loop in the off-season).
Solar collectors are big, heavy pieces of equipment which are both very tough and very fragile at the same time. They weigh 85-140 pounds per collector (38-64 kilos) and are usually shipped on a pallet carried by a big rig truck.
So how are you going to get them safely onto the roof of your house? Carefully, that's how!
Solar thermal systems for pool heating are so common and mainstream that most manufacturers provide very detailed installation instructions. It is important to follow these instructions as they outline the most efficient way to install the equipment.
Although you may be (or think you are) an accomplished DIY expert, don't ignore the documentation – it often includes many useful hints and tips gathered from years of installation experience!
All types of solar thermal system need maintenance, though a well-planned installation using high-quality equipment needs very little compared to most active mechanical systems.
Almost all residential solar installations mount the collector on the roof or a ground frame. Once you've done your research and figured out where the best location for your solar collectors is, you'll need to work out the optimum tilt angle – the angle the collector array surface makes with the horizon.
When you opt for radiant floor heating, you opt for the most efficient, cheapest and most comfortable heating available, especially when you combine it with a solar thermal installation. The big question for radiant floor installation is how to lay out the piping that carries the hot solar fluid through the high-mass heating medium.
Controller maintenance is the same for many types of AC-based solar thermal system. Some of the tests require a multimeter.
Almost all controllers have two lights on the front: one that indicates the power is on and the other indicating that the pump is on. If the system isn't working, check the lights and follow these steps:
Before you get down to the nitty-gritty of actually mounting your solar collectors, take a few minutes to understand some basic essentials. Collectors are expensive, so you need to consider the basics of mounting them safely.