Rheem Solar Loline Conversion Kit Electric Wter Heater installation instructions Pipe Lengths

CONNECTIONS - PLUMBING

WARNING: Plumber – Be Aware:

￿￿The solar cold and hot pipes between the solar storage tank and the solar collectors MUST BE of copper and fully insulated with Armaflex insulation or similar (minimum thickness 10 mm).

￿￿The insulation must be weatherproof if exposed and fitted up to the connections on both the solar collectors and the storage tank, as very high temperature water can flow from the solar collectors to the solar storage tank under certain conditions. The insulation will also offer corrosion protection to a metal roof against water runoff over the copper pipe.

￿￿Plastic pipe MUST NOT be used, as it will not withstand the temperature of the water generated by the solar collectors under stagnation conditions. The solar collectors can generate extremely high water temperatures, up to 150￿C, and high water pressure of 1000 kPa. Plastic pipe cannot withstand these temperatures and pressures, and MUST NOT be used. Failure of plastic pipe can lead to the release of high temperature water and cause severe water damage and flooding.

￿￿There must be a continuous fall in the pipe work between the solar collectors and storage tank. The highest point of the solar cold pipe and solar hot pipe must be where they connect to the solar collectors, to avoid the possibility of air locks occurring in the system.

PIPE LENGTHS

The maximum recommended combined length of the solar cold and solar hot pipes with bends is:

Maximum recommended pipe length and number of 90￿ bends*

Pipe	1 or 2 Collectors		3 Collectors		4 Collectors
	Pipe	90￿	Pipe	90￿	Pipe	90￿
Size
	Length	Bends	Length	Bends	Length	Bends
DN15	40 metres	20	30 metres	20	NA	NA
DN18	60 metres	20	40 metres	20	32 metres	20

* For each additional 90￿ bend, reduce the maximum total pipe length by

0.5metres.

*For each additional metre of pipe length, reduce the number of 90￿ bends by two.

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