Are you all pleased with your solar panels for hot water heating

tred

Just thinking of starting a poll on this. Is everyone here happy or not with their solar panels, performing as expected?

sinnerboy

I'll sticky this awhile and add

Please indicate

cost
year of installation
m2 area
orientation
flat plate or tubes
cylinder size
summer heat dump strategy ( if any )

Reminder - no trade / company names please

.

CJhaughey

€6254.72
05/2006
6m2
FP
SSW
400 litre
No heat dump needed.
Tip: Clean panel glass regularly, it gets dirty and loses efficiency.
happy

daithihalton

2900 euros
08/09
3m2
vacuum tube
sse
300 litre
small rad in hotpress for heat dump
happy so far looking forward to a summer with them
self install.

746watts

€800
2006
2.1m2
flat panel
south
140litre standard preinsulated twin coil cylinder
no heat dump, max temperature observed 66C
self install, gravity system... cylinder is higher than panel, therefore no pump required.

Mothman

Missed this and missed poll
I never see stickies :eek:

c. Ir£3300 (may have been £3500)
1998
6m2
FP
S
300 litre
No heat dump, but excess is used in paddling pool or water slide!
No less thrilled than I was 12 years ago!

RoundyMooney

Poll is closed

2,400 euro.

2010.

Between 4 and 5 sq. m.

45 degree pitch. Due S.

200l stainless triple coil.

No dump option.

Very happy, the company I bought from are very helpful, and provide excellent backup. Controller is a snazzy affair, with options to control a backup immersion element, temp settings and a 3 channel timer, as well as control of pump on the feed side (didn't need this as I have rock steady mains pressure, and converted to a non vented system at the same time). House is 12 years old, and well insulated (timber frame-with a lot of retro-fitting going on-I'm doing a major refurb atm).

Temp is hitting the high fifties with solar input alone at this time of year.

duffman21

Roundy,

Will you PM me the details of the company you used.

Thanks

Constanople

Will you PM me too Roundy with Details of company used

confused_help

Will you pm the company as well please. Thanks

newtoboards

Hey roundy could you also pm me?

grizzlyadams

Roundy , could you pm me that company's name too please ? Oil price starting to hurt !!!!!

mickrick1

Roundy - I would be much obliged if you would PM me details of the company also please. Cheers Mick.

Charlie 08

me too roundy!!:)

deepspeed

RoundyMooney wrote: »

Poll is closed

2,400 euro.

2010.

Between 4 and 5 sq. m.

45 degree pitch. Due S.

200l stainless triple coil.

No dump option.

Very happy, the company I bought from are very helpful, and provide excellent backup. Controller is a snazzy affair, with options to control a backup immersion element, temp settings and a 3 channel timer, as well as control of pump on the feed side (didn't need this as I have rock steady mains pressure, and converted to a non vented system at the same time). House is 12 years old, and well insulated (timber frame-with a lot of retro-fitting going on-I'm doing a major refurb atm).

Temp is hitting the high fifties with solar input alone at this time of year.

Did you get Flat Panel or Vacuum Tubes???

Holla23

Can you please PM me too.

Thanks!

ch750536

RoundyMooney wrote: »

Poll is closed

2,400 euro.

2010.

Between 4 and 5 sq. m.

45 degree pitch. Due S.

200l stainless triple coil.

No dump option.

Very happy, the company I bought from are very helpful, and provide excellent backup. Controller is a snazzy affair, with options to control a backup immersion element, temp settings and a 3 channel timer, as well as control of pump on the feed side (didn't need this as I have rock steady mains pressure, and converted to a non vented system at the same time). House is 12 years old, and well insulated (timber frame-with a lot of retro-fitting going on-I'm doing a major refurb atm).

Temp is hitting the high fifties with solar input alone at this time of year.

Can you post the comapny used in the thread for all to see? else PM me please.

championc

cost - €5000
year of installation - 01/2010
m2 area - 3m2
orientation - Due South about 25 deg pitch
flat plate or tubes - tubes (30)
cylinder size - 180L
summer heat dump strategy ( if any ) - None

Delighted with system. With lower volume of water, this allows for higher potential rise in temperature. Remember, you have to raise the WHOLE store of water 1 deg C at a time. I also went for an option for the controller to be able to store my data - useful for spotting any problems in the future in addition to seeing the real benefits of the system.

Here's my data from a Sunny day 15 June 2010. Temperature rise of Store of 30 deg C

Deepwell

€3800 (net of grant)
Nov 2010
c.8m2
South
Pitch ? (standard tiled roof)
Tubes (x60)
300L
Small radiator in hot press

Very impressed so far despite the cold winter. Saving amost €1/day on ESB through eliminating the use of electric showers and the immersion. Some savings on Gas heating as well but not sure how much yet (we only need to heat the tank for a couple of hours in the evening now as we have a bigger & better insulated heat store).

Katz83

Deepwell wrote: »

€3800 (net of grant)
Nov 2010
c.8m2
South
Pitch ? (standard tiled roof)
Tubes (x60)
300L
Small radiator in hot press

Very impressed so far despite the cold winter. Saving amost €1/day on ESB through eliminating the use of electric showers and the immersion. Some savings on Gas heating as well but not sure how much yet (we only need to heat the tank for a couple of hours in the evening now as we have a bigger & better insulated heat store).

Hi you mention a radiator in the hot press is this linked to the solar panels and if so is it just the one radiator linked to them and was this more expensive

Deepwell

The radiator is connected to the solar system and only heats when the hot water tank has got has reached its maximum set point (about 80'C I think). It was recommended by the installer and was included in the price.

championc

It's basically a heat dump / safety device

gar44

If I could get the name of that company pm'd to me as well roundy that would be great.

bigalk

mee too Roundy. thanks!

mickrick1

We have a B&B and require a lot of hot water during Summer months so hopefully solar is a no brainer. To date I am quite impressed with system performance but will know a lot more by Sept/Oct 2011.

Cost: 6150 nett of grant
Year of installation: March 2011
Area: 10 msq
Orientation: South/South West
Flat plate inroof (natural slate roof)
Cylinder size: 500 l
Summer heat dump strategy: none
Grant 1500

We will also have a tax relief next year on capital expenditure so total project nett cost will be about 5000 when this is taken into account.

Break down of prices:

Solar panels/Cylinder/Controller/Flexible pipe/Pump basically all solar related equipment 5000 incl VAT

Plumber labour plus blending valves/copper piping and other peripherals used 1450

Roofer 700

Scaffold 500

championc

The real thing with solar is somewhat as to how you heat water when you have NO solar energy but more importantly, as to how you stop this from activating when you do have solar heated water. Your gains will come from the power you don't use so it's very important you have the correct controls in place for this to work effectively.

Personally, I have a Combi boiler which instantaneously heats water and sends it to the hot taps if there is no hot solar water available. If solar hot water is available, it goes straight to an anti-scald valve and then goes to the hot taps directly. I have the advantage of being able to send warm (but not hot enough) pre-heated water to the combi for heating up to the required temperature.


C

Joey the lips

Just a thought on solar.....

Solar provided hot water. Hot water accounts for 20% of your annual heating bills. Assume worst case that each bill is 300 euro every 2 months so thats

300 x 6 = 1800

20% of 1800 = 360

So if the adverage system seems to be around 3k

thats a payback time of 8 years.


that does not include associated costs of maintenance and power used by pumps.

Granted it meets your green obligations but it does not push the energy rating of your home up much and seems like a long payback for a rethro fit.

I agree that a condensing boiler costs less and generates more return.

mickrick1

Joey the lips wrote: »

Just a thought on solar.....

Solar provided hot water. Hot water accounts for 20% of your annual heating bills. Assume worst case that each bill is 300 euro every 2 months so thats

300 x 6 = 1800

20% of 1800 = 360

So if the adverage system seems to be around 3k

thats a payback time of 8 years.


that does not include associated costs of maintenance and power used by pumps.

Granted it meets your green obligations but it does not push the energy rating of your home up much and seems like a long payback for a rethro fit.

I agree that a condensing boiler costs less and generates more return.

Yes Joey I replaced my standard oil boiler with a condensing boiler last Summer prior to installing solar this Spring.

macnab

cost: €6000 ish
year of installation: 2002
m2 area: 5m
orientation: South, 37deg elevation
flat plate or tubes: Flat Plate
cylinder size: 300 litre dual coil
summer heat dump strategy: have lots of baths!
Max temp observed: 97 deg C

I had a contractor fit the panel to the roof but i installed the rest.
The pump costs less than €20 a year on leccie.

steveq

Hi,

I am planning on installing a Solar Panel system now.

Could you PM me the details of suppliers that you were happy with?

Thanks in advance.

homer911

steveq wrote: »

Hi,

I am planning on installing a Solar Panel system now.

Could you PM me the details of suppliers that you were happy with?

Thanks in advance.

Best to state where you are located..