DRAWING P
MULTI UNIT INSTALLATION - PARALLEL
XIV. DIRECT SYSTEMS
Direct solar systems are usually installed in low latitude areas of the world that have an
abundance of sunlight. Since the solar collection day is longer and solar radiation is more
intense, a P
ROGRESSIV
T
UBE
®
collector can easily produce 180
0
F to 200
0
F water. This high
temperature performance, while useful, requires careful consideration.
Direct Systems should never be plumbed with PVC plastic pipe. It cannot tolerate water
temperatures above 120
0
F. If an existing home is plumbed with PVC cold water lines, a
minimum 20’ length of copper pipe must be plumbed to the collector’s inlet and outlet
connections. CPVC can then be connected to the copper pipe. CPVC cannot tolerate water
temperatures above 160
0
F so the 20’ copper stubs may both need to be uninsulated to allow
excess heat to vent to the atmosphere. The CPVC hot water line should be as long as possible
before being connected to PVC. For greater reliability, CPVC should be used for the entire hot
water circuit. However, the best solution is to plumb the hot water system entirely in copper
pipe.
P
ROGRESSIV
T
UBE
®
collectors work well as gravity feed systems. As long as the cold water
supply is above the collector and the usage of the hot water is below the collector, the system
will operate properly.
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Summary of Contents for PROGRESSIV TUBE
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