Solex Roofing Installation Manual 23
Solex Energy Ltd +44(0)1305 837223 www.solexenergy.co.uk
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
membrane being used should be checked.
The ends of the absorber strips are separated into individual
tubes, and the wings trimmed off by about 50mm with
scissors. Clips are put on the tubes and the tubes are
connected to the manifolds using a silicone lubricant and
crimp clips as detailed above.
11. Pressure testing
– the system must be pressure tested with
air to 2.0 bar. At this pressure any incorrectly made joints
should leak or blow off. The system should be left under
pressure during the installation of the slates, so that any
absorber damage will immediately become evident. Note, air
will diffuse through the silicone absorber, so the pressure will
decrease over a period – e.g. overnight the pressure may
drop from 2.0 to 1.5 bar.
12. Sensor
– a roof temperature sensor is used to measure the
temperature at the hottest point on the roof. It is fitted
beneath the absorber strip, generally at a position at least 1 m
from the top outlet manifold, near the centre of the absorber,
and not close to any area obscured by conventional slates.
It should be positioned so that it will lie between two of the
absorber tubes, and not next to any dead area of the strip.
The sensor is secured to a counterbatten with a small fencing
staple or similar, and covered with some silicone rubber. The
absorber strip is laid in position over it so a good thermal and
mechanical connection is formed.
The wire is passed through the roofing membrane, ideally at
an overlap. This high temperature wire with this sensor is
1.5m long and so will almost certainly need to be lengthened
using conventional 0.75mm
2
two core lighting flex and a
