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lp-585 Rev. 000 Rel. 001 Date 9.10.18

3

Introduction

Drain back tanks are designed to allow solar collectors and related 

piping to drain heat transfer fluid into the drain back reservoir when 

not in use.

Drain back systems are versatile: ideally suited for both cold and warm 

regions. The drain back process protects solar system components from 

both freezing and overheating, and saves power by shutting down the 

solar system when there is no longer a demand for hot water. Drain back 

systems have fewer components than pressurized systems, making 

drain back systems easier to use, service, and maintain. The drain back 

tank ships without a heat exchanger for use with a solar water heater 

with an internal heat exchanger.

This manual intends to familiarize you with the proper installation and 

maintenance of your solar water heating system. This system must 

be installed by a licensed solar or plumbing contractor in accordance 

with SRCC Standard OG-300 and all applicable national, state, and local 

codes.

NOTE:

 Solar system performance and efficiency varies with factors such 

as: household hot water load, ambient air temperature, collector/roof 

pitch, collector orientation, and seasonal intensity.

Job site conditions will require your installation contractor to supply 

some or all of the following:

• 

Plumbing connections

• 

Piping and insulation

• 

Valves between the existing domestic water system and the 

drain back solar system

Part 1 - General Safety Information

Installer - 

Read all instructions in this manual before installing. 

Perform steps in the given order.

User 

- This manual is for use only by a qualified heating installer / 

service technician. Have this solar water heating system serviced / 

inspected annually by a qualified service technician.
Failure to adhere to these guidelines can result in substantial 

property damage, severe personal injury, or death.

NOTE: 

Obey all local codes. Obtain all applicable permits before 

installing the solar system.

NOTE: 

Install all solar system components and piping in such a 

manner that does not reduce the performance of any fire rated 

assembly.

Part 4 - Installation 

8

A. Checklist 

8

B. Tools and Materials 

8

C. Locating the Drain Back Tank 

8

D. Specifications and Dimensions 

9

Part 5 - Piping 

9

A. Potable Water Piping 

9

B. Water Chemistry Requirements 

10

C. Solar Heat Exchanger Piping 

10

D. Necessary Components for Water Heater Installation 

10

E. Installation of the Drain Back Tank 

11

F. Solar System Pump 

12

G. Electrical Installation 

12

H. Installing the Drain Back Tank Sight Tube 

12

I. Applications 

13

Part 6 - Fluid Quality 

15

A. Solar Loop Fluid Quality 

15

B. Fluid Safety Labeling 

15

C. Freeze Protection 

15

Part 7 - Start-Up Preparation 

15

A. Check for Leaks in the Solar Loop 

15

B. Fill the Drain Back Reservoir 

15

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. Estimated Component Life 

17

B. Warranties and Disclaimers 

17

Limited Warranty 

25

Customer Installation Record Form 

27

DO NOT USE THE SOLAR SYSTEM IF ANY PART HAS BEEN 

SUBMERGED IN WATER. 

Immediately call a qualified service 

technician. Components may need to be replaced. Attempting 

to operate components that have been submerged could create 

numerous harmful conditions, such as a potential gas leakage 

causing a fire and/or explosion, or the release of mold, bacteria, 

or other harmful particulates into the air. Operating a previously 

submerged water heater could result in property damage, severe 

personal injury, or death.

NOTE: 

Damage due to flood or submersion is considered an Act of 

God, and IS NOT covered under product warranty.

NOTE: 

Failure to follow the procedures and instructions in this manual 

WILL VOID the warranty.

High heat sources (sources generating heat 100

o

F / 37

o

C or greater, 

such as stove pipes, space heaters, etc.) may damage plastic 

components of the water heater as well as plastic vent pipe materials. 

Such damages ARE NOT covered by warranty. It is recommended to 

keep a minimum clearance of 8” from high heat sources. Observe heat 

source manufacturer instructions, as well as local, state, provincial, 

and national codes, laws, regulations and ordinances when installing 

this water heater and related components near high heat sources.

NOTE: 

If the solar water heating system is exposed to the following, 

do not operate. Immediately call a qualified service technician.

 

1. Fire

 

2. Damage

 

3. Submersion in Water

Failure to adhere to these guidelines can result in substantial 

property damage, severe personal injury, or death.

Only use this solar hot water system as intended and described 

in this installation manual. Any use other than described will void 

warranty and may lead to fire, property damage, personal injury, or 

death.

Improper installation or use may result in property damage. Such 

damages ARE NOT covered by warranty.

Ensure there are no low points or dips in sloped non-vertical supply 

and return pipe runs from the solar collectors to the drain back tank. 

Low points and improperly designed solar piping can trap water and 

possibly rupture in freezing weather. Pitch non-vertical piping ¼” per 

foot towards the drain back tank to facilitate proper drainage, and 

take care to properly layout piping to ensure there are no low points.

In addition, the drain back tank and solar storage tank must be 

protected from freezing temperatures. Care must be taken when 

filling the system to avoid overfilling and exposing pipes to a 

freezing condition.

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...

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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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