Apricus Installation Manual
46
Installation of the Tubes
The Apricus solar collector is a simple “plug
in” system. The heat pipe and evacuated
tube assembly just needs to be inserted into
the manifold. The contact between the heat
pipe condenser/tip and heat pipe port in the
header needs to be tight in order to ensure
good heat transfer. Under normal use, once
the heat pipes are installed they should
never have to be removed.
Heat Pipe Preparation
Do not remove the tubes from the box
and/or expose the tubes to sunlight until
ready to install, otherwise the heat pipe tip
will become hot enough to cause serious
skin burns. The outer glass surface should
not become hot.
Heat Pipe Frost Protection
Apricus Heat Pipes contain a small amount
of copper powder, which aids in heat transfer
and provides freeze protection within the
heat pipe itself. To ensure that the powder
is at the bottom of the heat pipes, where is
needs to be, before installing the tube and
heat pipe, they should inverted (condenser
end down), returned upright (condenser at
top) and then shaken up and down a few
times to ensure the powder has all returned
to the bottom. This should be done at
ground level.
Damaged Tube
If an evacuated tube is damaged for any
reason (E.g. knocked heavily or dropped), it
will need to be replaced.
Never throw heat pipes away, as they are
very sturdy and will not be damaged even if
the glass tube has been broken. They can
be kept as spares, or inserted into plain
spare evacuated tubes to provide a new fully
functional tube.
WARNING
:
Safety glasses and leather gloves
must be worn at all times when
handling evacuated tubes and heat
pipes. Never touch the inside of
evacuated tubes or the heat pipe tip
after exposure to sunlight.
Cool Tip
Activate the Frost Protection by
inverting the tubes, returning to an
uprights position and shaking.
Cool Tip
Do not install the tubes until system
plumbing is completed, the solar loop
is charged, the pump and controller
are operational and fluid is currently
circulating (set controller pump
function to ON)
.