INSTALLATION – SOLAR COLLECTORS
32
LATITUDE OF SOME AUSTRALIAN CITIES
PIPE LENGTHS
The solar hot and solar cold pipes between the solar storage tank and the solar collectors shall:
be of bendable grade or hard drawn copper tube.
Annealed or soft copper shall not to be used.
have a continuous fall from the solar collectors to the solar storage tank. Horizontal runs of pipe work
are acceptable and may be installed.
not exceed the maximum recommended combined lengths as specified in the table.
Maximum recommended total combined pipe length (solar cold + solar hot)
and number of 90° bends
For each additional 90° bend, reduce the maximum total pipe length by 0.5 metres.
For each additional metre of pipe length, reduce the number of 90° bends by two.
Note: One 90° elbow is equal to two 90° bends.
NR – not recommended.
Notes:
It is important not to cross connect the solar cold and solar hot pipes to the incorrect connections at the
solar collectors and at the solar storage tank.
The solar cold pipe connects to the bottom of the solar collector and may connect to either the left or
right hand side. The solar hot pipe must connect to the top of the solar collector diagonally opposite to
the solar cold pipe connection.
The hot sensor connection is at the solar hot outlet where the solar hot pipe connects to the solar
collector.
Refer to “Warning: Plumber – Be Aware” on page 33.
It is essential for these requirements to be followed for the system to operate correctly and efficiently. Solar
pipe work which is oversized, or is too long, or does not have a continuous fall can result in a reduction in
performance or the system not operating effectively.