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lp-585 Rev. 000 Rel. 001 Date 9.10.18

15

Part 6 - Fluid Quality

A. Solar Loop Fluid Quality

HTP, Inc. recommends the use of potable water as HTF in its drain 

back solar systems. 
Fluid in direct flow through the solar collectors must first meet 

potable water requirements; any fluid circulated through the 

collectors should be non-corrosive to copper. In addition, water 

quality must meet the following requirements listed below.

Total Dissolved Solids

< 500 ppm

Total Hardness

< 7 grains (120 ppm)

Chloride

< 100 ppm

pH Levels

6.5 - 8.5

In order to meet health and safety regulations, solar system antifreeze 

fluid should be food grade polypropylene glycol, FDA rated as 

“generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). Using proper concentrations 

of glycol, solar systems can be operated at ambient temperatures as 

low as -60

o

F. Freeze tolerance limits are based upon an assumed set 

of environmental conditions. Refer to the DOWFROST specification 

sheet in the back of this manual for recommended concentrations. 

If using a glycol / potable water mix, the water must meet the 

above requirements, and the glycol content of the liquid must 

not exceed 50%, unless the manufacture specifies that a different 

ratio is recommended for use with solar water heaters.  Glycol may 

need to be changed periodically (every 3-5 years) to prevent it from 

becoming acidic; please refer to the guidelines provided by the 

glycol manufacturer regarding replacement.

B. Fluid Safety Labeling

Included with your solar system is a set of labels which describe 

component function. These labels alert the owner to potential 

hazards. Affix these labels by string/wire/tie on valves, and/or “peel 

and stick” on pipe insulation. Labels on the solar loop system must 

contain the following warning:
“No other fluid shall be used that would change the original 

classification of the system. Unauthorized alterations to this system 

could result in a hazardous health condition.” All labeling MUST be 

in place at final inspection.

C. Freeze Protection

Though drain back systems provide freeze protection for the solar 

collectors, additional care must be taken in regions that experience 

freezing conditions at any time throughout the year.
“Freeze tolerance limits are based upon an assumed set of 

environmental conditions. Extended periods of cold weather, 

including ambient air temperatures above the specified limit, may 

cause freezing in exposed parts of the system. It is the owner’s 

responsibility to protect the system in accordance with the Supplier’s 

instructions if the air temperature is expected to approach the 

specified freeze tolerance limit.”
For areas with temperatures not falling below –5

o

C/23

o

F, a simple 

low temperature controller may be used to guard against freezing.  If 

necessary, backup freeze protection in the form of an uninterrupted 

power supply (UPS), or freeze valves (which open to allow water to 

dribble out) should also be installed.  
For areas with temperatures that fall below –5

o

C /23

o

F, a closed 

loop filled with a polypropylene glycol-water mix should be used to 

provide hard freeze protection.  Please refer to glycol manufacturer’s 

specifications about the temperature ranges the liquid can 

withstand.  Only food grade polypropylene-glycol, FDA rated as 

GRAS, should be used.

NOTE:

 HTP DOES NOT WARRANT THE SOLAR WATER HEATER, SOLAR 

COLLECTOR, OR ANY COMPONENTS AGAINST FREEZE RELATED 

DAMAGE.

Part 7 - Start-Up Preparation

DO NOT MOVE ON TO THESE STEPS UNTIL THE ENTIRE SOLAR 

SYSTEM, INCLUDING ALL PIPING, SOLAR COLLECTORS, SENSORS, 

PUMP, CONTROLS, AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS, ARE PROPERLY 

SECURED, INSULATED, LABELED AND INSTALLED.

A. Check for Leaks in the Solar Loop

To check for leaks in the solar loop, utilize the same procedure used by 

plumbers checking for leaks in new construction.

1.  Isolate the solar loop.
2.  Use a compressor to pressurize the solar loop to 25 PSI.
3.  After 1 hour, check to see if there has been a drop in pressure.
 

a. If pressure has not dropped, slowly release the remaining air 

pressure in the loop and move on to Section B.

 

b. If pressure has dropped, use a spray bottle with soapy water 

to locate the leak. Once all leaks have been found and repaired, 

pressurize the solar loop again.

NOTE:

 Do not introduce heat transfer fluid into the solar system until 

you have successfully completed the pressure test.

B. Fill the Drain Back Reservoir

1.  Attach hose to solar loop fill valve.
2.  Open fill valve and the bleed valve on the drain back tank sight 

tube (see Specification drawings for locations).

3.  Slowly fill the drain back reservoir to the top of the sight tube.
4.  When nearly full, close bleed valve and add between 2 and 

5 PSI head pressure to the system. When system is full and at 

desired head pressure, shut off fill valve.

5.  Remove fill hose.

Take care not to overfill the drain back solar system. Overfilling will 

cause a potentially dangerous condition that could lead to freezing 

and failure of the solar system.

C. Start-Up Procedure

Once the system is filled as prescribed above:

1.  Apply power to the solar controller.

2.  Set controller to operate pump manually. Let pump run for 5 

minutes.

3.  Check for leaks at collectors and in attic, if applicable.

4.  If no leaks are found, program controller for your drain back 

system (see solar controller programming instructions).

If the sun is shining and the tank is cool, the pump should turn on 

and begin circulating water. Check control settings to maximize your 

system performance.

Part 8 - Service / Maintenance Procedures

A properly maintained solar water heating system can provide years 

of dependable, trouble-free service. It is suggested that a routine 

preventive maintenance program be established and followed by the 

end user with the solar contractor. Listed below is the maintenance 

check list that outlines the primary components of the solar system 

that need to be inspected annually.

1. HTF Glycol (if used) – It is very important that the quality of the 

glycol is maintained to avoid damage to the collector loop and related 

components. See the manufacturer’s data sheet for further details.

2. Water quality can affect the operation of the solar heat exchanger 

over time. In very hard water areas, it is recommended to drain (#14) a 

few gallons of water from the bottom of the storage tank to keep the 

water heater free of sediment.

Содержание Drain Back

Страница 1: ...ication does not imply endorsement or warranty of this product by the SRCC This manual must only be used by a qualified installer service technician Read all instructions in this manual before installing Perform steps in the given order Failure to do so could result in substantial property damage severe personal injury or death HTP reserves the right to make product changes or updates without noti...

Страница 2: ... where they differ from the furnished instructions Always use the latest edition of codes Additional publications which should guide the installer include Local state provincial and national codes laws regulations and ordinances Solar Water Heating System Design and Installation Guidelines SRCC OG 300 available from Solar Rating Certification Corporation 400 High Point Drive Suite 400 Cocoa FL 329...

Страница 3: ...C Start Up Procedure 15 Part 8 Service Maintenance Procedures 15 A Shutdown Procedures 16 B Draining the Drain Back Reservoir 16 C Routine Maintenance 16 D Vacation Shutdown Procedure 16 E Estimated Life of Components 16 F Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve 16 Part 9 Troubleshooting 16 A Leaks 16 B Other Problems 16 C Operating Suggestions for the User 16 Part 10 System Parts Listing 17 A Estim...

Страница 4: ...erant leaks Auto body shops Paint or varnish removers Plastic manufacturing plants Hydrochloric or Muriatic acid Furniture refinishing areas and establishments Cements and glues New building construction Antistatic fabric softeners used in clothes dryers Remodeling areas Chlorine type bleaches laundry detergents and cleaning solvents Garages and workshops Adhesives used to fasten building products...

Страница 5: ...d in copper to an appropriate drainage location will provide sufficient expansion protection This pressure relief valve and drain outlet pipe must never be sealed or blocked The pressure relief valve is intended to be operated for safety purposes only NOTE Supply and return connections to the collector must use eccentric fittings or a fitting arrangement that allows full draining of header pipes T...

Страница 6: ...al heat output A deviation of up to 15o from due south is acceptable and will have minimal effect on heat output D Mounting Methods A B Sloped Roof C Flat Roof D Facade Figure 1 Suggested Solar Collector Mounting Designs 2 Collector Angle Tilt It is common for collectors to be installed at an angle that corresponds to the installation latitude While adhering to this guideline an angle of latitude ...

Страница 7: ... hose clamp Wire nuts used to connect the sensor and low voltagewiringshallbeallplastic sealedwithsiliconeandthoroughly wrapped in electrician s tape The low voltage wiring used to connect the sensors to the controller should be a minimum 18 AWG The wiring should be bare or tinned copper two conductor PVC insulated with a PVC UV rated gray jacket suitable for exterior use Use Eastman Wire Cable no...

Страница 8: ...ted thermostatic mixing valve IS REQUIRED PER SRCC OG 300 B Tools and Materials The following is a minimum list of basic required tools Other plumbing components will be field supplied according to installation needs COLDWEATHER HANDLING If the water heater has been stored in a very cold location BELOW 0o F before installation handle with care Failure to do so could result in damage to the water h...

Страница 9: ...ng before you pipe into your solar system Failure to do so may damage your water heater Do not introduce HTF into any fittings on the heater except those clearly marked for that purpose It is mandatory that all plumbing be done in accordance with local and state codes or warranty will be void It is also necessary to use both thread tape and pipe dope on all mechanical connections The potable water...

Страница 10: ...ck systems When making a connection to the heat exchanger use Teflon Tape and joint compound to prevent leaks Do not apply heat directly to the heat exchanger thread connection when sweating fittings Line pressure and temperature gauge shall be installed in the collector supply and return lines to allow for a simple diagnostic check of proper system operation On a sunny day the hot water return li...

Страница 11: ...ge to an acceptable and safe temperature This also increases the amount of hot water drawn from the solar water heater by not allowing incoming cold water to fully temper the hot water stored inside the tank To help prevent injury due to scalding it is recommended that the mixing valve be set at 120oF Ball Valve for cold water shut off Valve 24 The cold water shut off valve should be used in the e...

Страница 12: ...d to supply power to the pump control combo H Installing the Drain Back Tank Sight Tube IMPORTANT NOTE A sight tube has been included with the solar drain back tank The sight tube allows service technicians installers and users to quickly determine proper drain back system drainage and solar system heat transfer fluid level It is extremely important that this sight tube be installed BEFORE filling...

Страница 13: ... water and maximum tank temperature Normal solar control settings may be between 120o and 160o Do not exceed 160o on the solar control setting 4 A solar rated mixing valve is recommended if the domestic hot water setting is above 120oF A standard mixing valve generally cannot deliver the temperature protection range at which a solar system operates 5 A minimum of 12 diameters of straight pipe must...

Страница 14: ...nd maximum tank temperature Normal solar control settings may be between 120o and 160o Do not exceed 160o on the solar control setting 4 A solar rated mixing valve is recommended if the domestic hot water setting is above 120oF A standard mixing valve generally cannot deliver the temperature protection range at which a solar system operates 5 A minimum of 12 diameters of straight pipe must be inst...

Страница 15: ...reeze protection Please refer to glycol manufacturer s specifications about the temperature ranges the liquid can withstand Only food grade polypropylene glycol FDA rated as GRAS should be used NOTE HTP DOES NOT WARRANT THE SOLAR WATER HEATER SOLAR COLLECTOR OR ANY COMPONENTS AGAINST FREEZE RELATED DAMAGE Part 7 Start Up Preparation DO NOT MOVE ON TO THESE STEPS UNTIL THE ENTIRE SOLAR SYSTEM INCLU...

Страница 16: ...ms may have a greater temperature difference The storage tank should be flushed to prevent scale build up on an annual or bi annual basis following the manufacturer s recommendations Following installation of the T P Relief Valve the valve lever MUST be operated AT LEAST ONCE AYEAR by the water heater owner to ensure that waterways are clear Certain naturally occurring mineral deposits may adhere ...

Страница 17: ...ion when using hot water to avoid scald injury Consult codes for conformance Failure to follow the instructions in this warning statement could result in serious personal injury or death from scalds Be sure to disconnect electrical power before performing service Failure to do so could result in electrical shock property damage serious personal injury or death If draining of the water heater is ne...

Страница 18: ...lp 585 Rev 000 Rel 001 Date 9 10 18 18 ...

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Страница 20: ...oily layer burnt odor or any heavy sludge in the fluid may indicate the need for replacement TESTING THE FLUID pH LEVEL Control of pH between 8 and 10 is important to minimize corrosion and glycol degradation Using narrow range pH paper such as pHydrion Control paper with a 7 2 to 8 8 pH range is an easy and reliable way to read your pH level A pH tester can also measure alkalinity or acidity and ...

Страница 21: ...odel Number Solar Collector Company Model of Collectors 30004176 30004189 DB 80 40 GB DB 80 40 EB AET AE 40 MSC 40 1 HTP SS 40 SS 40 FP 30004175 30004188 30004173 30004186 DB 80 64 GB DB 80 64 EB DB 119 64 GB DB 119 64 EB AET AE 32 MSC 32 2 HTP SS 32 SS 32 FP 30004174 30004187 30004172 30004185 DB 80 80 GB DB 80 80 EB DB 119 80 GB DB 119 80 EB AET AE 40 MSC 40 2 HTP SS 40 SS 40 FP 30004171 3000418...

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Страница 25: ... ASME installed with the drain back tank assembly in accordance with federal state and local codes 2 Maintain the drain back tank in accordance with the maintenance procedure listed in the manufacturer s provided instructions Preven tive maintenance can help avoid any unnecessary breakdown of the drain back tank and keep the system running at optimum efficiency 3 Maintain all related system compon...

Страница 26: ...S Except when specifically prohibited by the applicable state law the Owner and not the Manufacturer shall be liable for and shall pay for all charges for labor or other expenses incurred in the removal repair or replacement of the drain back tank or any component part s claimed to be defective or any expense incurred to remedy any defect in the product Such charges include but are not necessarily...

Страница 27: ...tive Distributor Dealer Please insert contact details Customer Installation Record Form The following form should be completed by the installer for you to keep as a record of the installation in case of a warranty claim After reading the important notes at the bottom of the page please also sign this document Customer s Name Date of Installation Installation Address Product Name Serial Number s Co...

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