INSTALLATION
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SOLAR STORAGE TANK
23
TANK WATER SUPPLY
If the water heater is supplied with water from a tank supply and a minimum water supply pressure of
140 kPa at the water heater cannot be achieved, then a pressure pump system must be installed to allow the
gas booster to achieve its rated flow and performance. Care must be taken to avoid air locks. The cold water
line from the supply tank should be adequately sized and fitted with a full flow gate valve or ball valve.
RAIN WATER TANK
If the solar collectors and solar pipe work are to be installed on a section of roof which is part of a rain water
runoff collection system, then it is recommended this section of roof and its gutter be isolated from the rain
water collection system. The gutter should be isolated to a width greater than the solar collectors and pipe
work and must have suitable drainage. The installer should ensure in the event of a leak from the solar
collectors or pipe work, a rainwater tank cannot be contaminated with closed circuit fluid.
The section of roof and gutter should be isolated from the rainwater collection system before the
commissioning of the solar water heater, so that any leak or spillage during commissioning does not make its
way into the rainwater tank.
This section of roof and guttering can be isolated by either:
blocking this section of gutter from the remaining gutter and fitting two separate down pipes, one to take
any run-off water from that section of roof away to drain and the other to the rainwater collection side of
the gutter to take the rain water runoff to the rain water tank.
blocking this section of gutter from the remaining gutter and fitting a tube or pipe of a material
compatible with the gutter material in this section of the gutter and penetrating the separation pieces at
either end to allow rainwater runoff to pass from one part of the rainwater collection system to the other.
It may be necessary to fit a down pipe to the section of blocked gutter to take any run-off water from that
section of roof away to drain.
installing a false gutter inside of the existing gutter, with a down pipe penetrating the existing gutter to
take any run-off water from that section of roof away to drain. The false gutter should be no deeper than
half of the depth of the existing gutter, so as to enable rain water runoff to flow under the false gutter.
installing a flashing from the underside of the roofing material, with a continuous fall, to over the outside
lip of the gutter. The flashing should extend wider than the collectors and pipe work and turned up at the
ends so if there is leakage of closed circuit fluid, it cannot enter the gutter.
If any of these solutions are not practical, then the installer should discuss alternative options to suit the
installation with the house holder.
Any alterations to the roof drainage system must comply with the relevant building regulations, codes and
Standards.
FREEZE PROTECTION
The water heater has a freeze protection system. The water heater is not suitable for installation in areas
where the ambient temperature falls below -20°C (including wind chill factor).
The solar circuit must be installed with a continuous fall of a minimum 5° (1 in 10 grade) in the pipe work
from the solar collector to the solar storage tank, with the full length of the solar hot and solar cold pipes
insulated and the system charged with correctly mixed closed circuit fluid to offer protection against freeze
damage. The system has NO WARRANTY for freeze damage if there is not a continuous fall in the solar hot
and solar cold pipes, or they are not insulated in accordance with the installation instructions, or the closed
circuit fluid has been incorrectly mixed (refer to
“Terms of the Solahart Warranty”
on page 65 and to
on page 31).
The solar collector and solar cold and solar hot pipes only contain closed circuit fluid when the pump is
operating during periods of solar gain when heating is required. When the solar pump stops operating, the
closed circuit fluid drains back into the storage tank heat exchanger. The closed circuit fluid is an anti-freeze
agent which, when mixed to the correct specification, can withstand temperatures of -20°C before it may
freeze.
The frost protection system to the gas booster will protect the gas booster from damage, by preventing ice
forming in the waterways of the gas booster, in the event of freezing conditions occurring. The frost
protection system will be rendered inoperable if electrical power is not available at the gas booster. Damage
to the gas booster caused by freezing of the pipe work to or from the gas booster is not covered under the
Solahart warranty. Refer to AS/NZS 3500.4 for precautions to be taken for installations in frost prone areas.
