
(COMPONENT #11) into a service drain or bucket.
Open the lower boiler drain and completely drain
the water from the system.
CAUTION: THIS WATER MAY BE
EXTREMELY HOT!
4.14.6
STEP 6
- Refill the system with water.
Repeat the STEPS 1 and 2 above to refill the collec-
tor loop with water to the correct level with deion-
ized water.
5) SYSTEM START-UP PROCEDURES
Throughout the installation procedures outlined in
Section 4, emphasis has been placed on the proper
plumbing and wiring of the primary system com-
ponents. The solder and threaded connections also
have been visually inspected for leaks and the solar
loop piping has been cleaned and charged. Having
successfully completed these tasks it is time to set
your system to run automatically.
Set the SunEarth control to the ‘ON’ position.
Listen until you can hear water flowing through the
solar loop return piping from the collector.
Place your ear next to the pump and listen for signs
of cavitation. Cavitation sounds like sand running
through the pump and is caused by the implosion
of small air bubbles hitting the pump impeller.
Cavitation can dramatically reduce the life of the
pump and the flow setting valve (COMPONENT
#22) should be used to eliminate this condition. If
you hear cavitation when the valve is wide open,
slowly close the valve until the sound is gone.
TABLE 4
Set the SunEarth control to the ‘AUTO’ position.
Your system is now set to run automatically when-
ever solar energy is available to be collected.
6) MODES OF SYSTEM OPERATION
Both single and double tank Cascade Drainback
systems are designed to accommodate two separate
modes of operation. Your system can either (1)
serve as a preheater to your conventional electric or
gas water heater or (2) be bypassed entirely and run
100% on utility power during inclement weather or
when maintenance is required.
SINGLE TANK OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS:
6.1 Solar Preheat:
Leave the circuit breaker on to your solar storage
tank and set the tank thermostat to the lowest accept-
able temperature setting. The electric resistance
heating element will come on only when the tank
temperature falls below the thermostatic set point.
If the solar heated water entering the tank is warmer
than the thermostatic set point, the electric heating
element will not come on. If you have a water heater
timer, you may preset the timer to turn the heating
element on and off at specified times throughout the
day if desired.
6.2 100% Utility Power:
Leave the circuit breaker to your solar storage tank
on. In this mode of operation you must turn off the
circulation pump. To turn the pump off, change the
operational setting from automatic to “off”. Failure
to turn off the pump can quickly damage the pump
motor, shaft, bearings or impeller.
TWO TANK SYSTEM INSTRUCTIONS:
6.3 Solar Preheat:
Follow the instructions for the single tank system
for setting the thermostat, heating element or gas
fired water heater or tankless gas water heater for
automatic operation. Solar preheat mode operates
with the collectors heating the solar storage tank
and supplying this heated water into the auxiliary
tank whenever there is hot water draw. The ball
valves going to and from the solar storage tank
(Component# 6 & 7) must be open while the bypass
ball valve (Component # 5) must be closed.
6.4 100% Utility Power:
Set the thermostat for the auxiliary electric water
heater, gas fired water heater or tankless gas water
P.20
Collector Array
Flowrate (GPM)
1 EP/EC-40
1.2
2 EP/EC-21
1.2
2 EP/EC-24
1.6
2 EP/EC-32
1.9