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Forum Index : Solar : add extra storage on solar hws
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| rgormley Senior Member  Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 245 |
Hi all, After a bit of advise on how to add a extra storage tank on my existing system my current setup is a 15 tube evacuated tube heater with pump,controller, feed back etc. feeding (retrofitted) to my 135 liter gas storage unit. The existing tank had two inlets and two outlets. i just had to connect the tube heaters to the extra right hand side of the HWS with the pump,one way valve control box, digital temp feed back etc all works good.... BUT the 15 tubes will take the 135 lters of water past 70deg on some days. SO i wish to add some more water storage. i have picked up another 135ltr rheem outdoor gas storage unit 3.5 years old for $80 bargin! NOW the question, can someone please show me via a simple diagram of how i put the second tank in. IE: water flow direction and pipe connection flow. i wish to sit the new tank on the right hand side of the existing tank as i think i can connect it to the new tanks fitting that are on the left hand side. the hws are standard storage gas HWS. i have a simple diagram of how the existing system is setup. Any feed back is welcome and thank you all in advance. Richard 2012-02-07_221010_solar_setup.pdf |
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| VK4AYQ Guru  Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Richard The easiest way would be to simply put a tee in both lines and put a restrictor in the line to reduce the flow to each tank to half the original, test your tee with garden hose at low pressure for visual confirmation of the split, while this isn't perfect it will be good enough for the purpose. Keep feed pipe lengths and discharge pipes to and feed low pressure water through to confirm a equal split on the out feed. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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readyakira Senior Member Joined: 17/07/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 114 |
I run two tanks on my setup. The main tank feeds into the solar panel from the bottom (drain) from the panel I run hot water into the cold side of the storage tank. Hot side of the storage tank runs to the main tank at the boiler valve. Hot from the main tank feeds the house. You can tie into the cold on the main with the hot from storage tank, but I chose the drain because I put plumbing and valves in to be able to completely isolate the solar section in case I need to drain the solar system in the winter. I am using a simple setup for control and did not want the freezing temps to be able to drain me of hot water in the winter so if it is a cold night I just drain the system and shut off power to the pump. The only problem I have run into is that Since my pump turns on at 145f or below 38f when the sun sets my pump would run until the water cools to the 145f point. So now I am in process of designing a 12v circuit to either turn the pump off when the sun goes down automaticaly or better if I can design a circuit to compare tank temp vs panel temp and only run the system if the panel is hotter then the tank temp. but, my limited circuitry experierence is proving to be a challenge. Don't you think Free/Renewable energy should be mandatory in new buildings? |
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| readyakira Senior Member Joined: 17/07/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 114 |
btw cold into the system is tee'd in between the panel and cold in on the storage tank. this allows me to use the full two tanks of water before the cold in gets to my hot shower! Don't you think Free/Renewable energy should be mandatory in new buildings? |
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AMUN-RA Senior Member Joined: 10/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 144 |
hi I just purchased a 12 volt solar controller from ebaythat would do the job for you it was only about 70 usd but may save yoy a great deal of heartache Every day the sun shines & gravity sucks= free energy. |
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