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SOLAR WATER
HEATING
Water Heating Solar Panels
With many different
types of thermal solar, available in the UK today, Eco Build offers
independent advice on ONLY the latest in water heating solar panels
technology including DIY solar panel kits.
This supersedes old solar how?
'Direct' solar
heats the ACTUAL water you use directly, by NOT using antifreeze
mixtures, thus creating the best performing solar panel system on
the UK market today.
'Direct' Evacuated
Tubes
Very simply,
this NEW solar technology combines the 'proven' performance (Dept
of Trade and Industry testing) and quality of 'Evacuated Tubes'
with the obvious advantages of 'direct' water heating, which improves
the performance and efficiency even further.
The clever drawback
system means the tubes are empty when not in operation, meaning
no freeze prevention, or heat exchangers are needed.
We recommend 'direct' solar because:
* Direct solar
systems are the most 'efficient' and eco friendly in implementation.
They look more aesthetically pleasing on the eye, when in place
on the roof, as only a single panel is needed in most cases.
* Direct solar technology is less problematic after installation,
and with little or no maintenance needed, you can simply fit and
forget.
* In most cases, you can use your existing hot water cylinder tank
producing less waste. No antifreeze or heat exchangers needed.
* In most cases, a single panel of tubes can provide for a family
of 4-5 persons. The tubes heat up the water, and returns it to your
hot water tank. Simple!
* It is a more simplistic system to install which means more people
can DIY it 'Do it Yourself'.
How does it
work ?
- Evacuated
tubing lets the sun's heat in
- A 'solar
controller' with variable speed electric pump.
- This pumps
cold water, via an insulated pipe, from the bottom of your 'existing'
hot cylinder into the tubes.
- Here the
water heats up.
- Water then
delivers itself, 'direct', to the cylinder.
Is it OK for
my property?
- If you can
face the tubes mainly unshaded roughly towards the sun. South,
southwest or southeast roofs are ideal. Even east or west roofs
usually offer 85% of peak performance.
- Easily, if
you have a hot water cylinder, with its cold tank above, usually
in the attic. Thermal stores are an easy fit, too.
- Yes, if your
hot water cylinder holds over 100 litres (waist height)
- Listed buildings,
conservation area, national parks etc, may need consent.
Please consult
with your local planning officer.
Do you have
a Combi Boiler?
Combi's, especially
systems older than 3 years, are notoriously in-efficient systems.
Because of the nature of combi boilers (ie, no hot water tank),
we will need to replace the combi with a high efficiency condensing
boiler and tank combination.
Specifications
22 tubes
Length: 1680mm x Width: 1636mm x Height: 156mm
Aperture Area: 2.07 m2
Fluid Capacity: 550ml
- 40% better
heat output
- Developed
for the UK climate
- Direct heat,
type solar panel
- Best performance
of all solar
- Variable'
speed intelligent pump
- Latest solar
panel technology
- DIY kits
available
- No maintenance
required
- High durability
and reliable
- Eco friendly
implementation
- Installs
to an existing water tank
- Freeze tolerent
drain back system
- Adds value
to your property
- 40% MORE
output than 'Flat Panel' Collectors
Direct solar can
be installed to 'existing homes' or 'new build developments', with
a single panel system. Two people can fit a standard system in under
a day, with so few components, it halves the workload and disruption
of traditional solar. DIY or ask us to install either way, you save
Frequently asked
Questions
How much will
my system cost?
£3,995.00, inclusive of everything. Absolutely no hidden costs.
How long will it take you to install my system?
One day, with very little or no disruption.
How long will I be without water during installation?
Just a few hours
Will you need to change my hot-water cylinder?
No, the 'unique valve' is designed to work with all vented hot water
systems avoiding the need to replace your perfectly good hot water
cylinder, and thus creating a 'direct' heating water solar panel
system.
How much carbon will my system save?
Around half a tonne each year. This is dependant on how much hot
water you use and how you heat your water at present.
Do we get enough sun in the UK to really make a difference?
Yes. The solar collectors are designed for the UK climate; they
use a thermos flask principle, which allows the inside of the solar
collector to get very hot regardless of the air temperature.
How hot will the sun heat my cylinder?
A good proportion of the year your water will be heated to above
60° C.
Is there a danger that the water could get too hot?
No. The system shuts down once your cylinder temperature is at 65°
and only starts up once you draw off water and the cylinder cools.
Most systems don't allow stratification in the cylinder so the top
of the cylinder gets very hot but the bottom of the cylinder stays
cold.
You are correct... but the 'unique valve' overcomes this problem
by depositing the solar heated water close to the bottom of the
cylinder so that stratification takes place and the whole of the
cylinder is heated.
How do you stop your system from freezing?
When the collector is cold it is completely empty. Our collector
holds only a small amount of water which only flows through the
manifold (the top section) of the collector; no water passes through
the tubes. When the system is in operation (only when the collector
is warm) the system is full but when the system is in standby (for
instance during the night) the system is empty so nothing can freeze.
What makes your collector better than your competition?
We believe our solar collector is the best available. Our collector
outperforms any of competitor's products and we can provide a copy
of our independent test certificate to support our claim. Our collector
is constructed from high quality materials it is easy to fit and
it carries a 15-year manufacturer's guarantee.
Does my roof have to face directly south?
No anything between southeast and southwest is fine.
My roof faces east - west, can I still buy your system?
We are an ethical company and I am afraid the answer is no. Some
companies will supply "East West" systems which use two
collectors and complex control systems but, the cost of these systems
is disproportionately high.
Why are evacuated tubes better than flat plate solar collectors?
Our evacuated tube collector outperforms glazed flat plate collectors.
Our Evacuated Tube collectors use a vacuum in the wall of the tube
to insulate the heat collection surface from the atmosphere. This
is the same principle as a Thermos flask, so the inside heats up
quickly even when it is cold on the outside.
Due to the curved surface and the high quality of the glass used
in the production of our tubes dirt and dust do not stick so the
efficiency does not reduce with age.
The materials used in the construction and the design of our collector
ensure that condensation will not affect the performance or life
expectancy of our collector.
Are all evacuated tube collectors the same?
No. It is important to realise that there are some low quality evacuated
tube collectors available. All evacuated tube collectors are not
equal and some even have performance below that of unglazed flat
plate collectors. Beware of evacuated tube collectors with reflectors
as the reflectors get dirty and the performance reduces very quickly.
Always ask to see the independent test report for the collector.
We would be pleased to provide a copy of our independent test certificate
and comparisons between other types of collector.
- Questions
when choosing Hot Water Solar PanelsIs
your system a 'direct' or 'indirect' type of solar panel system?
One thing is clear, you cannot get more efficient than heating
the water itself 'directly'
- Can your
hot water solar system use your existing plumbing set up, thus
making it more enviro friendly?
Only 'direct' solar can be installed to existing plumbing, meaning
less fuss and lost space
- Do you send
salesmen round to my house, if so is their not an ecological contradiction
there?
Many solar companies claim to send surveyors to your home, but
really they are only salesmen, driving round in cars all day,
not very eco friendly
- Will the
solar installation of complicated heat transfer systems have a
large impact on my home?
'Direct' does not need to have its antifreeze replaced by an engineer
every few years, since it uses no antifreeze. Using a 'freeze
tolerant' system, it does away with the complications of traditional
'In Direct' solar heating systems.
- Is it true
that a large percentage of heat is lost using a 'non direct' heat
transfer system?
This varies on the type of system, but yes percentages of heat
gain is lost through heat transfer
- In the DTI
(Department of Trade and Industry) side by side testing, how did
your system do?
Evacuated Tubes were found to be the most efficient system on
the UK market today, and 'direct' systems were found to be less
problematic after installation. 'Direct' Evacuated Tubes combine
the best features of both into a single high efficiency, simple
solar panel technology.
Choosing solar panels can be daunting, especially as they will
be prominent on your house for years. You don't want to be the
one who chose the 'Beta Max' over the 'VHS video' in solar terms.
Underfloor heating
Under floor
heating is becoming one of the most popular methods of heating nowadays
- depending on the floor covering will depend on the cost of heating
but solar panels can be used to provide the energy source required.
There are many
reasons for its popularity
- No more need
for radiators
- More efficient
than radiators as you require a lower temperature and provides
a more even distribution of heat
- Greater choice
with design of your house as no radiators to worry about
- Comfortable
- many users have said that underfloor heating is a lot more
- Comfortable
- especially as the heat is more efficiently distributed in a
room.
The great news
is that a design for a solar water heating system and underfloor
heating means that your self build house is utilising the latest
eco-technology and providing you with very cheap heating and gives
you the greatest chance to use the internal space exactly how you
want to use it
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