Solar Hot water overheating

martin ryder · Jun 25, 2011

Had my solar hot water system installed by Smart Energy a couple of year ago. Unfortunately they have gone bust and have no recall. It turns out many solar hot water companies had reported problems with their installs.

My problem is my system keeps overheating and blows the PRV's located on the roof. Therefore I plan to fit heat dumps in the form of a radiator in the bathroom. I have 20 tubes 2 pumps on the pump station and and 130 L vented cylinder. There is no automatic air vents. I really don't want to get another cylinder due to costs.

Can anyone please advise if this is feasible and if this would work and where is the best place to tee off on the flow and return.

Many thanks

wiggers1 · May 9, 2012

H2solar shop have pump stations at good prices. Ask for Anthony. They will also have all the fittings you will need on stock.
just to let you guys know, a new solar company has set up in Worksop. They have called themselves Smart Energy. Nothing to do with the other Smart Energy that went bust. They did not know of them.

Nostrum · May 9, 2012

oops! I'd consider a re-launch!

Will check out H2solar now, thanks

ecowarm · May 9, 2012

wiggers1 said:
H2solar shop have pump stations at good prices. Ask for Anthony. They will also have all the fittings you will need on stock.
just to let you guys know, a new solar company has set up in Worksop. They have called themselves Smart Energy. Nothing to do with the other Smart Energy that went bust. They did not know of them.

They are going to get a lot of irate customer calling, may have to change name
And also agree about H2Solar very nice people to deal with

Nostrum · May 15, 2012

Been around to have a look, pumping station is an unknown brand. Pipework is Flexi DN16, leaking from the fibre washers in numerous places. Vented cylinder with draw off dropping 10" before teeing off for the vent, nice.

Are these standard fibre washers or am I going to struggle to find suitable sizes? Will need draining and recharging, are there any compatibility issues with fluid? Only installed new systems up until now and fluid has been supplied by manufacturer, any difference in the various fluids available?

ecowarm · May 15, 2012

Give H2Solar a call, Anthony will sort you out, everything in stock and if not local can deliver to site or customers house next day.

Fibre washers usually standard imo

eaton · May 15, 2012

Yeah h2 solar will provide separate bits like fittings, washers etc, chemicals reasonable too

Nostrum · May 15, 2012

cheers eco/eaton just got my trade account sorted with them, carriage is reasonable too considering the fluid is quite heavy.

Is 10ltrs the standard amount, the tub looks the same as what i'm used to but for some reason I thought it was 25 ltrs? it's only 2 x 20 (i think) evacuated tube panels and a few metres of dn16 + coil?

Didn't look where the discharge pipework terminated either, didn't see a vessel anywhere, I've seen them with the PRV fitted on the roof before? I've always run the discharge into the fluid container as per the book.

Cheers for the help