Solar Thermal Installation Walk Through

This is a home guide to installing a Solar Thermal Hot Water System. I have simply filmed each stage. Anyone out there wishing to fit a system themselves can pick up some useful tips. Please comment if you have a question
The links mentioned in the video:
www.astrumenergysolutions.co.uk/
www.powernation.co.uk/

[@Widebutt]

That is brilliant. I've got a second hand (unused) kit to put on, this has answered a lot of questions. Great idea about the noggin!

[@BigFootSam13]

Very informative with lots of information

[@denygor4112]

... that was really helpful to get the ideea how this system works. Many thanks

[@BigFootSam13]

Hi Artur. The glue you refer to was thermal compound. It came with the kit. Good luck installing your system.

[@TheShaneKennard]

Sam the GAM!! Absolute legend

[@azamali3131]

Well done ahh 😁

[@arturbober8142]

looks good .hope You dont have to remove heat pipes ,with that glue on it that will be something.think YOu should use thermal compound next time . Im about to install mine solar heater sun ,

[@ikik6574]

Hi, First of all thank for the use fulltime and informative video. I have some questions: you say at 1.25 min that the main heat comes from the fire heating. So can you switch between solar and fire heating? I see a valve at the incoming pipe from the fire heating. What kind of valve is this? Can I use instead in summer times an cheaper alternative for the sun collectora? I think ing of a metal/ Copper barrel. the summers are here 4-6 months between 30 and 40 degrees celcius. Im looking forward to hearing from you. Greets

[@olifuller69]

Hi IK, What you can see is a two port valve. They are linked to a thermostat that will control the valve. Unfortunately they are prone to jam open which mine has. Our system works fine without them. When the hotter weather arrives we let the fire go out. On the outlet to wood burner we have a simple thermostat which will switch on the central heating pump when the temperature rises. This will dump heat in the radiators. My suggestion is to put in a gate valve in, which you can can control by hand to adjust flow through each system. hope this helps.

[@ivanhoe6366]

Hi, could you tell me the pressure to set the expansion vessel please?

[@chrisobrien9687]

An unvented cylinder connected to an uncontrolled heat source. Against building regs in uk. (Two port valve doesn't make it controlled, just makes in dangerous in your instance) Where would the heat go if the valve closed. Log burner is still going to heat up water in the pipes getting dangerously hot and might kettle.

[@olifuller69]

Chris the two port valves are stuck open. Any excess heat goes in, and is lost in the radiators. System still faultless after eleven years. Has saved us a fortune.

[@ssss-df5qz]

Don't be shy with the PTFE

[@jez2391]

Is that a motorised valve on the boiler flow, if so is there not danger of explosion

[@jezmac8324]

Hi I see many of these kits ripped out and for sale one eBay, can you tell me has your efficiency changed now that your 10 years on?

[@lenkapadysak3523]

Are you still happy with the system? How big house are you able to heat? Any cost during 9years for maintanance? If I can know where you are based about(lets say bigger city nearby you). Do you have stable temperature in the boiler of min. 30-40 degrees even you firepit not building the heat for the the cylinder?

[@olifuller69]

Hi Lenka. I have not had a single issue with they system. Not even changed the fluid. It will get water up to 35 to 55 degrees from April to October. 47 is bath temp. Emersion needed to top up when not so hot. We have saved ourselves a few hundred pounds a year. However l saved a lot by fitting it myself. We have a 4 bed country house.

[@waynetaylor7285]

Where did you get your fluid pump from ?

[@moniquefuller2339]

Hi Wayne. I got it from the company I got the kit from. Power Nation. It was along time ago so may not be around anymore.

[@JohnSmith-vz8pc]

Hi Sam, Nice practical DIY video, you might want to use a bluetooth/wireless mic in future, or even better dub this video, because your voice is indistinct, whenever you look away or down from the camera. Also, you should realise your phone doesn't focus as close up as you are showing things, use digital zoom to get a clearer picture. As your tank is to the right of the array, you should have used a RH exit manifold, to save on pipe run, and could have run the pipes through the wall under the window. The big one (which I guess was impractical to do) was that they are not on the highest roof, so the second storey will shade the array till a couple of hours before noon. Consider moving to the higher location for better morning and winter performance. Also, 10:49 should be a diamond core cutter, not a disc, which cuts straight lines. I plan to put about 8kW on my south facing roof this year.

[@nhemkeo1452]

Excuse me addmin. You can drop the lessons of solar thermal please