Rinnai Australia
- 16 -
Solar Close Coupled Operating / Installation Manual
Issue 7 - 16/9/10
INSTALLATION INFORMATION
SYSTEM ORIENTATION AND INCLINATION
The performance of any solar hot water system is determined by the way that the system is installed.
In Australia, the solar collectors should face the equator (North) as shown below. Where this
orientation is not practical, collectors facing within 45 degrees from North (between North-East and
North-West) area acceptable, with a reduction in efficiency of approximately 5%. If the bulk of hot
water consumption occurs before 2 pm face the collectors in a North - Easterly direction. If the bulk of
hot water consumption occurs after 2 pm face the collectors in a North Westerly direction.
Figure 6
-
Orientation angle of Collectors
The inclination of the solar collectors should ideally be the same as the latitude angle of the site.
Inclinations within 20 degrees of the latitude angle of the site are acceptable, with a reduction in
efficiency of approximately 5%. Most roofs within Australia have a slope of between 20° and 25° and
provide an appropriately angled mounting surface.
To ensure operation of the system the inclination MUST NOT be less than 10°.
Figure 7
- Inclination of Collector
Table 7
: Latitudes of Australian Cities
45
o
45
o
South
East
North
(Ideal gives 3 hours either side of noon day sun
)
West
City La/- 20
o
North
City
Latitude
City
Latitude
City
Latitude
City
Latitude
Adelaide
35°S
Cairns
17°S
Hobart
42°S
Port Hedland
20°S
Alice Springs
24°S
Canberra
35°S
Mildura
34°S
Rockhampton
24°S
Brisbane
27°S
Darwin
12°S
Melbourne
38°S
Sydney
34°S
Broken Hill
31°S
Geraldton
28°S
Perth
32°S
Townsville
19°S