Solar Water Heating System installation

Due to my own conclusions at least in my country buying a commercial new solar water heating system on a turn-key basis is still not quite feasible.

However, if you are able to takeover some work yourself and you can get some used equipement, the feasibility changes drastically. Additionally if you make such project as a pleasure, you do not ask about feasibility anymore, it is just nice not having to spare any hot water at summer, and there are many ideas how to use the surpluss (e.g. connecting to a loundry machine etc.)

I'll note some progress here as inatalatin goes on (unfortunatelly I'm only able to do it at free time)

DAY 1-2

Used Collectors 2x2m2 brought to place of final installation (Paid 100 USD for each)

Then the instalation of pipes from the tank (300 l) started. I use both galvanized steel elements (1'' and 3/4'') and Copper pipes (most are 22 mm). PVC (PPR) is not used for solar here. Apparently temperature shocks would destroy it but I don't totally agree with that theory.

Using Galvanized elements is very simple with endless possibilities, but there are a lot of sealed connections, that's why I prefer copper where possible and it's also faster. Soldering is simpler than it seems, and can be mastered very fast. It is however a good idea to see how it's done before improvizing. 

After the first day the pump is in place (paid cca 50 USD new, could find much cheaper one used). Why do I allways mention prices? Because the purpose of project like this is to return some money at the end, so it's good to have something to compare with. The price of complete pipes with fittings etc. was about 350 USD, because 40 m of pipes was needed.

DAY 2-4

After mastering sealing of Galvanized elements, some 20 sealed joints were done in only an hour. I don't know the english word for the plumbing fibres (Kudelja on Croatian) but it is apparently made from cannabis. This one however does not smell attractive when burnt. After that, the copper work started to go on, and soon the expansion vessel was in place on the wall. The progress was interrupted by some bad luck (electrical box in the way). Note that pipes shall only go up towards de-aeration, never sloped down, as it could create air pockets. That's why I had to go around it.

35 l expansion vessel

Water and electricity rarely like each other

TO BE CONTINUED....