Solar panels not heating water properly

the2ofus


Joined: 13/02/2008
Posts: 637

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 19:21

Can anyone offer any insight into our solar panel problem - despite the recent sunny weather they are not heating the water to a high enough temperature - it is not going above tepid ! This has not happened before - and while we have to use the emmersion over the winter usually from March we can rely just on the solar panels.

Any ideas on what the problem could be ?

gates


Joined: 08/12/2008
Posts: 1096

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 19:25

probly installed wrong contact us http://www.braceybuilders.com we will be able to help

the2ofus


Joined: 13/02/2008
Posts: 637

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 19:52

gates - it has been fine for the last 4 years. I would have thought if it was an installation problem we would have been having problems all along. This problem has only just started. Thanks though.

ayvalik99


Joined: 02/12/2008
Posts: 26

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 20:04

we are having the same problem, would be nice to hear an advice from someone on this forum without calling people in.

Mrwilson



Joined: 31/10/2008
Posts: 470

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 20:06

Have you tried cleaning them, Sometimes they can be covered in dust and dirt.

racoonchic



Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3223

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 20:08

if you have a combi that you use in winter you might have a valve that needs to be isolated because if left on can cause the both systems to blend and give luke warm water

gates


Joined: 08/12/2008
Posts: 1096

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 20:08

there could be many reasons if you contact me i will come an have a look age of property is some times a clue or are your tanks in the roof and pannels out side when you are here give me a call http://www.braceybuilders.com

david161


Joined: 25/09/2008
Posts: 34

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 20:25

when this happened to me I discovered the pipe had fallen below the back of the panels- for the system to work the pipe from the panel must go uphill into the tank- hey presto- hot water.



Hope its as simple as that!



David

Geoff1131MK11


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 396

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 20:20

Hi the2ofus, it could be that you have got lime scale build up in the circulation pipes to the solar panel. As you have been using the immersion heater for a few months, there will have been no movement through the pipes. Just a thought.

racoonchic



Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3223

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 20:32

and a good one geoff

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 21:53

Msg 9 - Scale was my first thought but then it would be as we sell equipment to help reduce lime scale.



The water in many areas of the TRNC is often quite hard and lime scale can build up on the water heater element too.



It is not a radical problem and can be treated in a number of ways some more gradual than others not all ot them need plumbing but only an electrical supply so are easy DIY and not too costly.



There could be a number of problems to do with the recent high winds and pipework having been moved or lots of other causes too.



Good luck.

colly


Joined: 31/07/2008
Posts: 297

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 23:56

Perhaps someone could put me right. Are the cylinders in TRNC direct or indirect. If direct why? If they used indirect there would not be the (same) scaling problem.



Col

colly


Joined: 31/07/2008
Posts: 297

Message Posted:
06/04/2009 23:57

If indirect could you have air in the system?

Col

Geoff1131MK11


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 396

Message Posted:
07/04/2009 07:39

The hot water tanks used out here are 'direct' tanks. They just use the water stored in the tank to circulate through the solar panel 'heat exchanger' to provide hot water. It is a basic system but seems to work, i suppose you could make an indirect system, but you could be over complicating things.

Clara


Joined: 26/02/2009
Posts: 136

Message Posted:
07/04/2009 08:34

I have the same problem and it is because the pipes have corroded.This stops the water passing through the pipes below the panels somehow so I have to get new panels.

Geoff1131MK11


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 396

Message Posted:
07/04/2009 08:56

It seems like this is a common problem. I have only lived here for a year so i have not been affected yet. I will be rigging up a flushing device, same as they do in the uk with combi boiler heat exchangers, cheaper than buying new solar panels, and easier than you would think.

rigsby


Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 912

Message Posted:
07/04/2009 10:15

I used to drain mine off through the plugs on the bottom of the solar panels about once a year,just to flush them out.It did make a differance to performance.

the2ofus


Joined: 13/02/2008
Posts: 637

Message Posted:
07/04/2009 10:26

Thanks everyone. We are going to drain them off -flush them through. Then see if we can find an anti scale preperation (like the ones you can get for kettles etc). Hopefully this will work - they have not been drained/pipes cleaned at all so probably a big build up. Will post on the board if it works or not.

Kibris


Joined: 07/11/2007
Posts: 372

Message Posted:
07/04/2009 10:27

Is it not a bit early for the normal, cheapones tho?... the sun is not that hot yet...I am still using the immersion.

louthlass


Joined: 09/11/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
07/04/2009 11:36

From our experience, over 25 years, the panels may need a good washing. I know friends who put Tuzruh , H2SO4, diluted hydrchloric acid through the system to clean the pipes. Can be bought in the local supermarkets. Seems a bit drastic to me, but works.

kibsolar


Joined: 14/09/2008
Posts: 552

Message Posted:
07/04/2009 17:17

Problems with low quality solar water heaters - this is a serious subject (also recently in the Papers).

Some good infos on SWH: http://personngroup.com/x/cyprussunenergy/services.html#Solar_Water_Heating:

TRNC research Pdf file about about SWH: http://personngroup.com/x/publications/own_publications/200703b_Money_and_Water_research_pictures.pdf



good luck to all.

Sunny regards, Henrik

Cyprusactive


Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 128

Message Posted:
08/04/2009 08:16

It is unlikely that the panels are blocked by scale, there maybe a build up of scale but we have yet to see panels actually blocked, (unless you are kibsolar trying to sell very expensive panels then they will fur up in milliseconds!)Yes the panels are direct but there must be another reason for them not to work. Orientation etc but if they have worked before then that is not the problem. Call John on Cyprus Solutions 0533 936 7094, it is unlikely to be an expensive issue.

Regards

Nick

Mr Fixit.

Geoff1131MK11


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 396

Message Posted:
08/04/2009 08:58

Cyprusactive, I did not say that the panels were blocked with scale. If you read the first post he says that the water is getting tepid, showing that there is movement of water through the panel, but maybe not full flow. If the system worked before and has not been altered, it should work now, partial blockage of the panel is still the most likely cause.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
08/04/2009 08:59

i'm glad you posted this as yesterday hubby checked ours.

we had a crack in a pipe!

beno12



Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 124

Message Posted:
08/04/2009 19:45

I,d did a Service on mine ,cost me 100TL but was well worth it after 3 years, they drained the complete Sytem took ca 45min changed a few connections made a lot of difference pressure etc so I plan to due this on a regular period of 3 years.

beno12



Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 124

Message Posted:
08/04/2009 19:45

Louthlass, Be carefull with Hydrchoric acid !!!!



Relative health hazard

On a health hazard spectrum of 0 - 3 Hydrochloric acid registers 1.5. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the evaluation of its tendency to cause, or not cause cancer and/or birth defects.

Hydrochloric acid is one of the most corrosive of the non-oxidising acids in contact with copper alloys, and is handled in dilute solutions. Contact with metals produces hydrogen gas, which creates the chance of an explosion. It produces poisonous gas, including chlorine, in a fire. It is soluble in benzene, alcohol, and ether; it is insoluble in hydrocarbons, and incompatible or reactive with metals, hydroxides, amines, and alkalis. Hydrochloric acid's fumes have an acid, penetrating odour.