Solex Roofing Installation Manual 12
Solex Energy Ltd +44(0)1305 837223 www.solexenergy.co.uk
loop under the batten. In these cases the choice is to either
thread the absorber under the batten, or to cut out a section of
batten and re-fix it. If it is chosen to thread the absorber under
the batten, then the section of split tubes must be arranged
very carefully to prevent any of them kinking or squashing.
If it is necessary to join the strip, the ends are trimmed off
square using a pair of scissors, and the ‘wings’ on the tubes
cut back for about 50mm. A little silicone oil is sprayed on
both the copper joining tubes and the insides of the manifold
tubes. The joining tubes are inserted, and the O clips put on
and crimped using the pliers supplied.
10. Manifolds
– copper manifolds are used to terminate the
absorber strips. The manifolds have 22mm open ends for the
connection of the flow and return pipes. The manifolds are
connected with silicone tubing, and O clips similar to those
used on the absorbers. The manifolds are short enough to
not be damaged by freezing water. Where any copper
components are used on the roof there must be at least 50mm
of supply pipe each side of them to allow for ice expansion.
The pipes and manifolds should lie in the EPDM covered
channel, under the battens. The top of the inlet manifold or
chain of manifolds is capped with a short length of silicone
tube and a plug, as is the bottom of the outlet manifold or
manifold chain.
Where the roof is sufficiently large to necessitate dividing it
into parallel absorber circuits, all the inlet manifolds are piped
in line up one side, and the outlets up the same or opposite
side (depending on an even or odd number of courses.
Sometimes it is necessary to return a pipe from an inlet or
outlet across the roof, for instance when dividing a roof of 7
courses into 3 and 4 course circuits. Half manifolds are
available for use in special circumstances.
The cold inlet pipe must flow in a generally upwards direction
from the pump to the bottom of the lowest inlet manifold. The
hot outlet pipe must connect to the top of the highest outlet
manifold even if the outlet pipe subsequently runs down the
roof. This must be done to ensure an even flow throughout
the circuits, and to ensure that air is purged from the top
circuits.
The inlet and outlet pipes should be taken into the loft or roof
space for connecting onto the normal plumbing pipe used
internally, ideally under a lap in the roofing membrane, which
may be aided by the use of copper U pieces and elbows
(supplied). Where it is not possible to pass the tubes under a
lap, any penetration through the membrane should be made
waterproof. Silicone rubber may be used and sticks well to
the silicone tube, although its adhesion to the particular
