Solar Panels: Evacuated Tube or Flat Plate Panels

missanxious

hi all, I am looking for advice on what type of solar panels to get.

We have a south facing roof of approx 35 degrees in the west of Ireland.

We are hoping to use the energy for our hot water.

Any advice in this regard is much appreciated.

shane0007

missanxious wrote: »

hi all, I am looking for advice on what type of solar panels to get.

We have a south facing roof of approx 35 degrees in the west of Ireland.

We are hoping to use the energy for our hot water.

Any advice in this regard is much appreciated.

Really not much difference at this time of year. It is during the shoulder seasons when sun is shining but ambient temperature are lower. Tubes being in a vacuum have very heat loss due to surrounding air temps whereas flat plate is cooled as no vacuum present.

quentingargan

Would agree with Shane, but would add to that the durability of flatplates as a factor. Vacuum systems are likely to lose their vacuum after 15 to 20 years (and/or have heat pipe failure) whereas flatplates are typically guaranteed for 40 years.

You can sometimes get computer simulations (from independent software) to fairly accurate assessment of the heat yield for a system. But they won't be expecting what we have seen for the last few weeks of uncharacteristic heatwave! (which makes no effective difference as at this time of year we all have as much hot water as you could use).

ccsolar

missanxious wrote: »

hi all, I am looking for advice on what type of solar panels to get.

We have a south facing roof of approx 35 degrees in the west of Ireland.

We are hoping to use the energy for our hot water.

Any advice in this regard is much appreciated.

Hi missanxious
The flat panels look nice on a roof compared to the tubes but the tubes give better performance in the dull autumn winter months.
The tubes normally have a 15 year guarantee with a life span of 20 years, flat panels have a 5-10 year guarantee at most.
I don't know of any company giving a 30-40 year guarantee on their flat panels.
If you break a flat panel then you would need to replace the whole panel using a contractor and would be looking at a bill of €1000, if you break a vacuum tube it's simple to replace DIY and the cost of a tube is only €20.
Make sure what ever system you install that it comes with a heat dump, a lot of solar systems giving trouble now in this heat wave.
Cc

quentingargan

Sorry - yes, I should't have said "guaranteed", but the design life of flatplates is much longer if installed properly. There is no vacuum to fail.

Personally I prefer tubes for the longer operating season despite the need to swap 'em after 15 to 20 years.

KATM

Hi Everyone,

I realise that this post is a year old, but I'm hoping you might still be able to help us.

We are hoping to install solar panels (we're thinking evacuated tubes), but are wondering if people could:
(i) give us an indication of cost (4-bed dormer bungalow), (ii) recommend a reputable & cost effective supplier, and (iii) recommend an installer. We're based in Newbridge, Kildare.

Thanks a million!

AnthonyB

KATM wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

I realise that this post is a year old, but I'm hoping you might still be able to help us.

We are hoping to install solar panels (we're thinking evacuated tubes), but are wondering if people could:
(i) give us an indication of cost (4-bed dormer bungalow), (ii) recommend a reputable & cost effective supplier, and (iii) recommend an installer. We're based in Newbridge, Kildare.

Thanks a million!

I'm in exactly the same position in Cork. Anyone out there willing to offer advice?

(I did see these guys offering a phone quote...that's my next step. solar-panel dot ie)

ccsolar

AnthonyB wrote: »

I'm in exactly the same position in Cork. Anyone out there willing to offer advice?

(I did see these guys offering a phone quote...that's my next step. solar-panel dot ie)

Hi
You should be looking at around €4-5k For the 50 tube system with S/S tank, heat dump all inn price
Get plenty of quotes and references of previous systems, don't get pulled in by special deals as you will get caught out

Cc

AnthonyB

KATM wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

I realise that this post is a year old, but I'm hoping you might still be able to help us.

We are hoping to install solar panels (we're thinking evacuated tubes), but are wondering if people could:
(i) give us an indication of cost (4-bed dormer bungalow), (ii) recommend a reputable & cost effective supplier, and (iii) recommend an installer. We're based in Newbridge, Kildare.

Thanks a million!

I just talked to those guys - solar-panel dot ie - indicative pricing for 2800sq ft dormer with pre-installed compatible hot water tank is €3,500 fully installed. That's 2 X 2.5m flat panels, with a ten year warranty. Should be enough for four people, 64-65% of your hot water taken care of through the year.

AnthonyB

ccsolar wrote: »

Hi
You should be looking at around €4-5k For the 50 tube system with S/S tank, heat dump all inn price
Get plenty of quotes and references of previous systems, don't get pulled in by special deals as you will get caught out

Cc

You know, I built my house five years ago, and I got quotes for solar then; I worked it out that it would take 15-20 years to recover the investment, which was about 4-5k at the time. Then I read an article this morning (New York Times "Sun and Wind Alter Global Landscape, Leaving Utilities Behind") which said that costs had come down by 70-80%, but I can't see that here. Shame, really.

ccsolar

AnthonyB wrote: »

I just talked to those guys - solar-panel dot ie - indicative pricing for 2800sq ft dormer with pre-installed compatible hot water tank is €3,500 fully installed. That's 2 X 2.5m flat panels, with a ten year warranty. Should be enough for four people, 64-65% of your hot water taken care of through the year.

What size tank in litres capacity?
Cc

ccsolar

AnthonyB wrote: »

You know, I built my house five years ago, and I got quotes for solar then; I worked it out that it would take 15-20 years to recover the investment, which was about 4-5k at the time. Then I read an article this morning (New York Times "Sun and Wind Alter Global Landscape, Leaving Utilities Behind") which said that costs had come down by 70-80%, but I can't see that here. Shame, really.

Well sure that's the New York Times for ya, wouldn't be the first time they got it wrong.
Material costs in Ireland have gone up on average by 15%.
Cc

AnthonyB

ccsolar wrote: »

What size tank in litres capacity?
Cc

300l

dathi

AnthonyB wrote: »

article this morning (New York Times "Sun and Wind Alter Global Landscape, Leaving Utilities Behind") which said that costs had come down by 70-80%, but I can't see that here. Shame, really.

that article was talking about solar pv which generates electricity from the panel the cost of these panels has fallen substantially in the last few years the panels being discussed here are solar water heating panels that heat the water in your cylinder by pumping a water glycol mixture through the panel on your roof and down to a coil in your cylinder two different types of panels

ccsolar

AnthonyB wrote: »

300l

I would recommend 3 flat panels with the 300 litre
Better performance
You'll be kicking yourself if you only fit 2
Cc