Solar Beam Warranty Policy-Rev2_January 2016
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6. System, placement and orientation
A number of basic fundamentals need to be observed when installing any solar hot water
system.
6.1. Collector orientation
Optimum system performance is achieved when the col
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lectors face directly North (i.e. true North) when installing
in the Southern Hemisphere. The closer the collector is to
directly facing the equator the greater the amount of solar
radiation the collector will be exposed to and the greater
the potential for heating.
Angles up to 45° either side of North will not have a major
effect on the system performance given the state of the art
technology used in the construction of the Solarbeam sys
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tems. Therefore, roofs that are orientated away from North
are also acceptable for installation.
Outside of the 45° range one could consider utilizing more
collector surface area or using a mounting frame to adjust the orientation back to North.
6.2. Shading
With a system orientated to face North, the time period when the collector is exposed to
the most direct solar radiation is between 10h00 and 16h00.
Solar collectors with an East bias will achieve a greater gain in morning hours and those
with a west bias will do so in the afternoon.
Care should be taken to ensure that the collectors are not subjected to
excessive shading from trees or adjacent buildings, particularly between 09h00 and
16h00.
Also bear in mind that tree growth could lead to future shading issues.
If the installation takes place in summer, it is also important to take into account the lower
solar angles in winter, which result in longer shadows.
6.3. Tilt Angle
In respect of the optimum angle of inclination for a solar collector, the rule of thumb
provides that the latitude of the location is taken and then 10° added thereto. Therefore,
a location with latitude of 25° would indicate an optimum collector tilt angle of 35°. The
angle of inclination, however, is also flexible and minimal loss of performance occurs by
installing at lower or higher angles of inclination.
The Solarbeam collector can be installed as low as 10°. Below this, however, the ther
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mo-siphon process does not function effectively. Also, angles lower than this would result
in build-up of dust, as it is not able to be washed away effectively by rainfall.
It must also be noted that installation angles over 30° will require additional strapping to
secure the geyser and collector during and after installation, as at this angle the system
will tend to move downward. Consideration should be given to a split installation in these
circumstances.
