Tips when installing low pressure systems:

• Remember that the system works best when facing north.

• The optimal angle for the glass tubes is latitude +10^o. For the Pretoria area it will be ± 35^o .The stand is designed for 38^o, so the stand can be used without any modification.

• When installing on a 26^o pitch roof the short leg with the right angle end is not installed. The angle of the roof plus the remaining angle of the stand will give the required ± 35^o.

Back to low pressure systems

How to assemble the stand:

• The tank holders, thus the parts on which the tank rests, are in the box marked “water tank”.

• All the other parts are in the long, thin box marked “bracket”

• If the stand is mounted on a 26 degree roof, the rear upright foot is not installed.

• The white plastic washer is fitted on the side of the nut.

• There are three horizontal bars (J profiles):

• One has only the two holes at the ends: Always fitted at the rear of the stand, in the lowest hole (for horizontal or 26 degree roofs)

• The one with the two holes closest to the middle is always to the rear, under the tank, together with the long cross struts. In the 100 litre systems, when fitted on a 26 degree roof, the cross struts actually cross.

• The horizontal bar with the two holes the farthest from the middle, goes in the front of the stand, under the glass tubes, together with the two short cross struts.

Back to low pressure systems

Glass tubes:

Fill the glass tubes with water before inserting. Dry tubes in full sunlight heat to 250 degrees Celsius. Cold water in hot tubes will shatter the tubes.

To insert the glass tubes, take a mug of water and add some dishwasher liquid. Use an old toothbrush to clean and lubricate each silicone seal inside the tank before pushing the open side of the glass tube in to the soapy water to wet it.

Insert the tube in to the hole, using a screw-in motion. Take care not to make the angle between the stand and the tube too big, as it may cause the tube to break. Pull the tube back to fit into the hole in the stand.

Back to low pressure systems

Anode:

Like any geyser, these solar geysers must also be fitted with an anode. Made from magnesium, scale and rust will first deposit on the anode. Yearly inspection of the anode, and replacement when necessary, will make the geyser last much longer.

The anode has a plastic connector which fits into a glass tube, and gets inserted into the tank together with the glass tube. To remember on which tube the anode is fitted, we try to put it as close to the inlet/outlet.

When connecting vent:

• The vent pipe is connected to the inner tank with a silicon washer.

• Use a spanner or vise grip to hold the pipe in place.

• Be careful not to force the vent pipe into or out of the tank, or not to turn the pipe axially. If this happens, it will feel as if the pipe breaks loose, and you will be able to turn the pipe axially. It will not leak, because only the bond between the metal pipe and the poly urethane insulating foam breaks.

Back to low pressure systems