Add-Ons

80 Gallon Solar Hot Water Tank with Heat Exchanger

Alternate Energy Technologies LLC
Open Loop Solar Hot Water System Kit
Conventional AC Powered System D-SK

Warning! These systems circulate household water directly through the solar collector and are not recommended for cold climates. These systems do not include a heat exchanger, any freeze resistant heat transfer fluid, or freeze protection of any other kind.

These new packages include the solar hot water system components ONLY; collectors, racks & mounts and the hot water storage tanks must be added on to make a complete system.

These Direct, or Open Loop systems operate on conventional ac current using special Taco solar pumps. The solar pump is selected for its high head pumping characteristics. It is also very quiet, efficient, and reliable. It is protected from over-temperature (as a failsafe device) with a thermal high temperature shut-off switch. If this pump needs to be replaced after a few years of service, all moving parts are contained inside a replaceable cartridge. The outer pump body may be removed by unbolting the pump flanges, and the inner cartridge may be replaced without having to disturb any of the plumbing.

A Differential Temperature Controller (DTC) controls the pump. It is factory preset to turn the pump on when the collector temperature sensor is 16°F hotter than the storage tank sensor and is programmed to work automatically.

Once the complete system is in place and plumbed, the final act is to simply plug in the controller line cord to a standard 115VAC wall outlet.

At the heart of these systems are the AE Collectors with their solid copper absorber plates. (Collectors sold separately!) Efficient solar energy absorbers begin with high thermal conductivity between the fin and tube.

Forge weld crossection x-ray

The AET welding process actually makes the tube one with the fin and creates a joint at least two times wider than the thickness of the copper fin, resulting in a clean. uninterrupted heat path unlike any other.

AET absorbers have no soldered or crimped seam joints to weaken or fail. The forge welding actually strengthens the joint area, unlike other welding processes, such as ultrasonics, which causes a weakening of the fin around the joint area.

Every AET/Thermafin Absorber Plate is coated with durable and efficient Crystal Clear™ Selective Coating. The coating, which cannot be removed from the fin on an absorber plate, is based on single-phase nano-technology, pioneered by AET/Thermafin. Crystal Clear™ Selective Coating increases solar collector efficiency due to its unique optical properties. It has the ability to strongly absorb short-wave light (absorptivity: <0.96) while simultaneously reflecting long-wave light (emissivity >0.8). These intrinsic properties of Crystal Clear™ enable the collector to reach optimum temperature in a minimal amount of time and retain the absorbed heat longer.

This premium absorber is encased in a solid extruded aluminum frame and covered by a sheet of durable, low iron, tempered glass. The collector plate is insulated from the aluminum frame by a layer of foil faced poly-isocyanurate foam on the sides and back. The foam, in turn, is protected in the rear by a layer of embossed aluminum. Finally the entire unit is gasketed all the way around by a high temperature silicone sealant.

Sizing Your System

Sizing a solar water heater involves determining the total collector area and the storage volume required to provide 100% of your household's hot water during the summer.

Solar storage tanks are usually 50-, 60-, 80-, or 120-gallon capacity. A small (50 to 60 gallon) system is sufficient for 1 to 3 people, a medium (80-gallon) system is adequate for a 3- or 4-person household, and a large (120-gallon) system is appropriate for 4 to 6 people.

A rule of thumb for sizing collectors: allow about 20 square feet of collector area for each of the first two family members and 8 square feet for each additional family member if you live in the Sun Belt. Allow 12 to 14 additional square feet per person if you live in the northern United States.

A ratio of at least 1.5 gallons of storage capacity to 1 square foot of collector area prevents the system from overheating when the demand for hot water is low. In very warm, sunny climates, experts suggest that the ratio should be at least 2 gallons of storage to 1 square foot of collector area. For example, a family of four in a northern climate would need 20 square feet of collector area for the first person, 20 for the second person, 12 to 14 for the third person, and 12 to 14 for the fourth person. This equals 64 to 68 square feet, multiplied by 1.5 gallons of storage capacity, which equals 96 to 102 gallons of storage. Because you might not be able to find a 96-gallon tank, you may want to get a 120-gallon tank to be sure to meet your hot water needs.

Plumbing Diagram

Mounting Hardware (sold separately!)