Our Smart Energy controller measures the difference in temperature between the water at the bottom of the tank, and the water from the collector, and ensures the water remains at a pre-set temperature, to optimise efficiency. It also prevents the tank from overheating on particularly hot days, or when you haven’t been using much hot water.
We have worked closely with our partners at Senztek to provide a controller that works seamlessly with our evacuated tubes. This includes ensuring the collector works at maximum efficiency and also controls collector array stagnation. It’s simple to understand and use.
The solar collector is protected by a frost protection controller. Evacuated tubes are impenetrable against damage due to cold weather. If your system is located in an “Alpine Region” then it is possible for the manifold to drop in temperature sufficiently to require the circulation pump to switch on to raise the temperature and avoid the potential of the water freezing. The control set temperatures are 4°C “pump on” and 6°C “pump off”.
Please note that if you plan to install in areas prone to heavy snow fall, the solar collectors should be installed at an angle of 50° or greater to promote snow sliding off the tubes. Each tube is tested to withstand >50kg of loading.
Evacuated tube solar systems have the ability to heat water well above 100°C during periods of high solar radiation and minimal hot water usage. Our conventional controller has an inbuilt guard against hot water entering the storage tank. Once the bottom sensor has reached the pre-determined setting of 65°C, (known as TOPOUT) power is no longer sent to the pump. This is needed as it is a requirement that heat in storage tanks does not exceed 80°C. During these periods of high solar contribution and minimum hot water usage, the collector can generate more heat than is required. At these times, the controller will turn off the pump to prevent the tank from overheating and the hot water tank temperature will not increase further. In some cases a crackling noise may be heard in the pipes.
