Despite their impressive size these devices are so easy to install, that you can just do it with the help of your regular Handyman. Typically our customers bring their Handyman along, when they pick up a unit.
We will then take the time to show and even practice the setup procedure.
As you can see in the picture the heater sits on a aluminum bracket. The bracket is initially designed for a flat roof, but you can cut the hind legs as needed, to adapt it to diagonal roofs. The minimum angle is 26 degrees.
For the roof installation, we usually just open a few of the existing tec-screws and use these to attach the bracket to the roof, no drilling needed – the roof stays as it is.
Then the tank is fastened to the bracket and the 15 glass tubes can be inserted. As a lubricant you should use water, or some diluted dishwashing soap. Once you are done installing the pipes, it is recommended to cover them with a canvas from the sun, until they will be filled with water.
The small autofeeding tank is installed with the nipple onto the top inlet of the tank. On the side of the autofeeder tank you connect the water line coming from the city.
The easiest way is to run it on the outside of your house and “T” into your existing water line, or you can hide it in the walls, which is a good option especially when you are still building your house.
The warm water outlet is in color red on the main tank, just connect a pipe here and run it into your bathroom. The most comfortable is to use a mixing armature, or the simple Pinoy way would be to mix the water in a bucket for tabo use.
For the hot water pipe you may want to consider PPR pipes (heat proof plastic) as GI might have a reduced life expectancy given the high temperatures. PPR can be found in the hardware stores of large cities – they might also borrow the needed welding tool that you need to connect the pipes. If your pipes are already in place, GI is ok, too – we are using GI ourselves.
CAUTION: Be careful not to twist any of the pipes at the solar heater tank. You have to hold them with a wise grip and prevent them from twisting, when you attach pipes to it.
Once you are done, make sure the glass pipes are still covered by canvas (otherwise they would be extremely hot) and then allow the water to enter. The feeder tank will act like a float valve and close the water supply once the tank is full.
During strong sunshine you might see water dripping down from the feeder tank, this due to the expansion of the water and the boiling. A mild hint that you should use more hot water 🙂
Highland-Solar 