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1.
Is solar water heating a viable alternative
to gas or electricity
Solar should not be seen as a alternative
to gas or electricity, but rather a supplement.
Solar cannot totally replace the need
for gas or electric heating as there are
sometimes days when there is little sunlight.
When averaged over a year, a correctly
sized solar system can provide 60%-70%
of a household's hot water needs. Providing
more than this is unadvisable, as too
much heat will be produced in the summer.
The hot water system can easily be automated
so hot water is guaranteed regardless
of sunlight levels.? >>BACK
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2.
How long will it take to recoup my investment?
Sunpeak solar collectors are much more
affordable than many other solar hot water
heaters. For a household of 4, the price
of a full system may not be too much more
than a new electric or gas system. Depending
on you location (solar levels) and current
hot water usage the annual electricity
or gas saving will differ. However in
a normal household that spends 25% of
its electricity bill on hot water heating,
the full cost of the purchase may be recouped
as quickly as 4-5 years in reduced bills.
You will definitely make considerable
savings during the life of the solar hot
water heater. >>BACK
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3.
Can Sunpeak solar collectors be used
in cold conditions?
Yes. Sunpeak collectors can be used
in temperatures as low as -30oC, although
performance is greatly reduced in such
extreme conditions. Good heat output
is still achieved in mild sub-zero conditions.
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4.
What happens if one of the solar tubes
is broken?
Firstly, tubes are very strong and not
easily broken, but if the worst should
happen, solar tubes can be replaced very
easily. They are inexpensive and available
though your local Sunpeak distributor.
The Sunpeak solar collectors can operate
with several broken tubes, but the efficiency
will be reduced, so it is recommended
that broken tubes be replaced immediately. >>BACK
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5.
Will water be heated on a cloudy day?
Yes. Although the heat output of the solar
collector is reduced on overcast days
it will still be able to provide heating.
If it is a heavily clouded day or raining,
then more gas or electric boosting may
be required to maintain water at the required
temperature. This system will be automated
so you don't have to worry about running
out of hot water on a rainy day. >>BACK
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6.
Can I use a solar collector with my existing
hot water system?
Normally yes. Simple retrofit valves can
often be used to allow solar to connect
to your existing cold water inlet. If
your tank cannot accept the solar input
directly an additional storage tank can
be installed to pre-heat the cold water
prior to entering the existing tank. >>BACK
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7.
Are the solar collectors noticeable on
the roof?
If only the collector is mounted on the
roof it should blend into the roof design
quite well. Sunpeak solar collectors are
very thin and can be flush mounted on
a roof. From a distance they look somewhat
like a skylight. You may have to check
with your local council regarding building
restrictions when installing your solar
collector. Click here to view installation
photos. >>BACK
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| 8.
Can Sunpeak solar collectors be mounted
on a flat surface?
Yes, they may be mounted on a flat roof,
or on the ground by using a stainless
steel Flat Roof Frame. The collector should
be installed at a minimum of 20o angle
to ensure optimal heat pipe operation.>>BACK
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9.
How do I protect my solar system during
subzero temperatures?
If you have a system that is operating
in areas with subzero temperatures then
freeze protection must be implemented.
The easiest means of preventing freezing
is to use a controller with a low temperatures
setting, so when the manifold temperature
drops below a certain pre-set temperature
(5oC/40oF), the
pump will circulate, warming the collector
with water from the bottom of the storage
tank. The pump will not run continually,
just periodically, the frequency of which
will depend on the outside temperature.
In extremely cold areas, a closed loop
using a glycol/water mix may be appropriate.>>BACK
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10.
Will the Sunpeak solar collector be a
fire hazard during hot, dry weather?
No. The Sunpeak solar collector's components
are all high temperature rated and non-flammable
so even during strong sunlight with the
circulation pump turned off (stagnation),
the system will not catch alight or give
off any sparks. The majority of the solar
collector's components are stainless steel,
aluminum, glass or glass wool. The manifold
outlet should be fitted with a temperature
relief valve, which will prevent the manifold
temperature from exceeding 99oC / 212oF.
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11.
Can the Sunpeak solar collector heat water
to a high enough temperature?
Yes, in good weather the Sunpeak solar
collector can bring water to boiling point.
Generally this is not necessary and so
the system should be designed to provide
a daily temperature rise of around 25-30oC
(45-54oF) in the summer. Sizing
a domestic system that can bring the cold
water up to 60oC/141oF in a single day
is not logical, because if hot water is
not used for one day, the following day
the system will be boiling and dumping
hot water via the temperature relief valve.
This is both a waste of energy and water!
Please sensibly size solar water heating
system to ensure optimal performance and
minimal wastage of water.>>BACK
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12.
What maintenance of the solar collector
is required?
Under normal circumstances no maintenance
of the system is required. Due to the
shape of the tubes regular rainfall and
wind should keep the tubes clean. Should
a tube even be broken it should be replaced.
This, however, is an inexpensive and easy
job. Any "handy" person can
install a new tube (while adhering to
local health and safety regulations).
Sunpeak solar collectors can operate with
several broken tubes. However the efficiency
will be reduced slightly.>>BACK
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13.
Can Sunpeak solar collectors be used for
a large scale hot water production?
Yes. Sunpeak solar collectors can be connected
in series or parallel to provide large
scale hot water production for commercial
settings such as a school, hotel or office
building. There is really no limit to
the size of the system, however collectors
must be installed in banks of no more
than 150 tubes (in series), otherwise
the water may boil.>>BACK
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14.
Can I heat my swimming pool or spa using
an Sunpeak solar collector?
Sunpeak collectors are
high temperature collectors, and are therefore
ideal for spas, as the volume of water
is small and temperature requirements
high. For swimming pools, however, the
volume of water is large and the temperature
rise required is only several degrees.
The cost of heating a pool using solar
tube collectors (for domestic purposes)
may be prohibitively high. For large scale
swimming pools, however, Sunpeak collectors
may be an extremely viable supplement
to gas or electricity. >>BACK
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15.
Are solar tube collectors more efficient
than flat plate collectors?
When comparing peak efficiency levels
it may seem that there is little difference
between flat plate and evacuated tubes,
in fact flat plate may actually be higher,
but this is during minimal heat loss conditions.
When averaged over a year evacuated tube
collector have a clear advantage. The
key points are:
1. Due to
the cylindrical shape of the evacuated
tube, the solar tubes are able to passively
track the sun throughout the day. Flat
plate collector only provides peak energy
output at midday when the sun is perpendicular
to the collector's surface. To learn more
about IAM and performance click here.
2. Air is
evacuated from the solar tube to form
a vacuum. This greatly reduces conductive
and convective heat loss from the interior
of the tube. As a result wind and cold
temperatures have less effect on the efficiency
of the evacuated tube collector.
3. Sunpeak
solar collectors can often be used in
subzero temperatures without the system
sustaining damage. Flat plate systems
often require expensive and complicated
"antifreeze" systems to be installed.
4. Evacuated
tubes are strong, long lasting, and should
one be broken, inexpensive and easy to
replace. If a flat plate collector panel
is damaged the whole panel must be replaced.
5. Due to
the high efficiency absorption of solar
radiation even during overcast conditions,
combined with excellent insulative properties
of the solar tube, solar tube collectors
can heat water all year round (backup
from gas and electricity is still required).
6. Due to
the various advantages of evacuated tube
collector over flat plate collectors,
a smaller collector can be used to provide
the same heating performance. For example,
a standard household of 4-5 people would
usually require a 250-300L water storage
tank. Depending on your location, only
30 evacuated tubes would be required to
provide all summer hot water needs and
a large percentage in other seasons.
7. Flat plate
solar collectors can produce similar heat
output to evacuated tube collectors, but
generally only during hot, sunny conditions.
When averaged over an entire year, evacuated
tube collector heat output per net m2
of absorber area, is between 25% to 40%
greater that a flat plate collector. >>BACK
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16.
Which collector is the best value for
money?
Rather than looking at just peak efficiency
levels when comparing solar collectors,
cost per unit of energy produced is much
more logical. For example: Although collector
A may be 20% more efficient than collector
B, if collector A is 30% more expensive,
then in fact collector B may be a better
choice, as per kWh of energy produced
per day it is cheaper. When payback time
is of concern, not only price per kWh
of the product is important, but also
of the end system. In this regard Sunpeak
solar collectors provides a further advantage
as Sunpeak solar collectors are very easy
to install, and that can make a huge difference
in terms of total install costs. For more
information comparing collector performance
please click here.>>BACK
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17.
What is the Solar Radiation ( Insolation
) level where I live?
Click here to learn more about Insolation,
and to find out values for your region.>>BACK
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18.
How do I calculate what size collector
I require?
Please click here to visit the collector
sizing page.>>BACK
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19.
Where can I purchase an Sunpeak solar
collector?
Sunpeak solar collector is available through
an official distribution network. Click
here to find your closest Sunpeak agent.
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20.
Can Sunpeak solar collectors be used in
a drainback configuration?
Yes. The end port version of the Sunpeak
solar collector is well suited to drainback
use. The question is often asked if the
solar collector will be damaged when the
pump turns off and the system stagnates
in good sun - no it won't, as the collectors
is designed to withstand stagnation. What
must be considered though is the insulation
used on the piping close to the collectors,
as this must be able to withstand stagnation
temperatures.>>BACK
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