|
How does gas boosting work?
Does it turn on when I'm not using hot water?
No. Our natural and LP
Gas systems turn on and boost only when it detects
that the water temperature stored has fallen below
60º which may occur when you have used all your solar
heated water in your storage tank or during extended
periods of limited sunshine.
top of page
Are Evacuated Tubes affected by frost?
No. Traditional technologies
are vulnerable to freezing in cold weather. Now you
don’t need to compromise the system’s
performance (for example by using chemicals like glycol) in order
to prevent it freezing. Many traditional technologies require regular and costly maintenance programs for freeze protections.
Evacuated tube technology, as used by the Endless Solar system, works
extremely efficiently in cold climates. In Antarctica
the British Research Station, Halley VI, has chosen
to install evacuated tube technology to help preserve
power and conserve energy.
Evacuated tube solar collectors are the technology
of choice in countries that experience extremes in
temperature. For example, they are widely used in
Germany, China and Canada.
top of page
What happens if the Evacuated Tubes
are damaged in a storm or broken by accident?
The Endless Solar
System is very strong and uses toughened glass which
is highly resistant to damage under various weather
conditions. However in the event that a tube or two
is broken, the system does not stop working. Because
the system is modular, if tubes do need to be replaced
this can be done quickly and easily for only a small
cost. By contrast, the replacement of a flat plate
collector can cost hundreds of dollars and require
costly installation procedures.
top of page
How long does it take and what is
the cost to install my solar hot water system?
Installation is easy.
Because Endless Solar systems are lightweight,
modular and include comprehensive installation instructions,
you can expect an average installation to take 6-8
hours and cost approximately $1000 - $2000 depending on the type of roof, whether you are retrofitting an existing home or new home
and how experienced and knowledgeable the plumber
is. To locate a qualified and trained plumber near
you, visit:
GreenPlumbers®
Are Endless Solar hot water
systems expensive?
No. In the long term,
a Endless Solar hot water system can save you
up to 80% of your household’s electricity or
gas expenses. Over a 10 year period the capital cost,
plus the running costs can be considerably cheaper
than buying an ordinary electric or gas hot water
heater - due to the amount of the sun's heat that
a Endless Solar system captures and uses.
People are looking for products that operate effectively for a long time without ongoing, costly maintenance. Endless Solar has developed a system expected to last 3 to 4 times as long as traditional water heating systems. We have created a product free of ' built-in' obsolescence that will not end up as landfill in five years.
top of page
What rebates exist for the system
and how do they work?
RECs: The RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) program is aimed at increasing the use of
solar hot water systems by providing a cash back rebate
value that consumers receive after purchasing a Solar
Hot Water System. The amount and value of REC’s
received depends on where you live and on the type
of system purchased. The RECs can amount to several
hundred dollars. RECs are payable if you are installing
a system in a new dwelling or installing a solar water
heater to replace an electric water heater in an existing
dwelling. You can also get a partial RECs rebate for
replacing an old electric system.
Federal Government Rebates: Solar Hot Water rebates
are available from the Federal Government up to $1000. You must meet certain requirements to claim this rebate. Please talk to one of our friendly sales team for more information.
State Government Rebates: Additional rebates
also exist in a few states - check with your State/Territory
government for details. The NSW State Government Rebate was announced as of 1st Oct 2007 for up to $1200. You must meet certain requirements to claim this rebate. Please talk to one of our friendly sales team for more information.
top of page
How can I be sure of the quality and
performance of your products?
The entire range of Endless Solar water heaters meet the rigorous tests
set by Standards Australia and the relevant
Australian industry certifying bodies. They are made
from high quality components backed by generous warranties.
Our systems meet the requirements of State
and Federal Government rebate programs and they qualify
for some of the highest energy performance ratings
in the market.
At the end of the day, the quality
and reliability of our products and the service we
provide, is best told by our customers. We receive
regular praise from customers and have included some
of their testimonials on this web site - click
here for testimonials.
top of page
How many RECs does the Endless Solar Hot Water system achieve?
The number of RECs that you receive depend on the size and type of system
you purchase. To find a solar hot water system that suits you needs, please talk to our sales team. As a general guide you can expect
to receive between 22 and 44 RECs.
top of page
Who will install the Endless Solar Hot Water system to my roof?
The Endless Solar
hot water system must be fitted and tested by an authorised
and registered plumber, who will ensure it is positioned
correctly. We recommend
GreenPlumbers®
who are trained and qualified in solar installations.
Your retailer can arrange installation for you.
top of page
How many people will the Endless Solar Hot Water system service?
Endless Solar Hot
Water systems come in a full range of sizes suitable
for any domestic installation. The exact size depends
on the number of bathrooms and the number of people
living in the home. There are types and sizes of systems
to suit every home.
top of page
Can I still use a Endless Solar
Hot Water system for my investment property?
Yes. If you have an investment
property, the Endless Solar Hot Water system
will provide your real estate portfolio with a number
of advantages such as reducing your property's gas
or electricity bills and can increase the overall
value of your property. You may also be able to add
your Endless Solar hot water system to your
depreciation schedule and claim it as a tax deduction.
top of page
How did you estimate the average
saving value for my electric/gas hot water unit?
The most credible sources
for this type of information is Sustainable Energy
Development Office web site ‘How to choose a
hot water system’:
www1.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/pages/runsolhw.asp
top of page
What tariff should my electric boosted
Endless Solar hot water system be connected
to?
The Endless Solar
Hot Water system should generally be connected to
an off-peak tariff where possible. A qualified electrician
can recommend the best alternative for you if you
don’t have off-peak available. In such circumstances
an electrical timer can be used to help ensure that
your electric booster only runs during times of the
lowest energy tariff. Please contact your energy provider
to confirm your requirements, as each State varies.
top of page
Is solar water heating a viable alternative
to gas or electricity?
Because weather conditions
vary, solar hot water should not be viewed ast a total replacement for
gas or electricity, but rather a major partner. Solar
cannot totally replace the need for gas or electric
heating in most cases - as there are sometimes days
when there is little sunlight. But when averaged over
a year, a correctly sized solar system can provide
up to 80% or more of a household's hot water needs.
The hot water system can easily be automated so that
hot water is guaranteed, regardless of sunlight levels.
If you want a complete alternative, in some cases
an oversized system can provide 100% of your hot water
needs.
top of page
How long will it take to recoup my
investment?
Your annual electricity
or gas saving will differ depending on the climate
and sun angle in your location and current hot water
usage. However, in a normal household spending 40%
of its energy on heating hot water, the full cost
of the purchase may be recouped in as little as 5
to 10 years by reducing energy bills. The quality and
durability of the materials used in a Endless Solar system means that your yearly savings is likely
to continue long past the pay-back point.
top of page
Can Endless Solar Hot Water
Heaters be used in cold conditions?
This represents the major
performance difference between Endless Solar
evacuated tubes and the old-fashioned flat plate solar
collectors, which suffer from significant loss in
efficiency in cold conditions, as well as requiring
the purchase and maintenance of a glycol system to
prevent them freezing.
top of page
Will my water be heated on a cloudy
day?
Yes. Although the heat
output of the solar collector is reduced on overcast
days it will still be able to provide heating. If
it is a heavily clouded day or raining, then gas or
electric backup may be required to maintain water
at the required temperature. The backup system is
fully automated so you don't have to worry about running
out of hot water on a rainy day.
top of page
Can I use the Endless Solar
collector with my existing hot water system?
Yes, the Endless Solar collector can be retrofitted to most existing
tanks using our special conversion kit. We do recommend
that you consider replacing your existing tank if
it is more than five years old, since normal mild steel vitreous enamel lined
tanks often have a limited life after this period.
We can replace your old tank with a long-lasting,
well-insulated marine grade stainless steel tank.
Due to increasedGovernment incentives, the overall cost difference in now quite small.
top of page
Are the Endless Solar collectors
noticeable on the roof?
The sleek design of our
collector and the lack of tank on the roof mean that
it is very unobtrusive. From a distance they actually
look somewhat like a skylight. However, please check
with your local council regarding any possible building
restrictions in your area.
top of page
Can the Endless Solar collector
be mounted on a flat surface?
Yes. Endless Solar
collectors can be mounted on a flat roof or even on
the ground by using one of our fully adjustable stainless
steel frames.
top of page
Will the Endless Solar collector
be a fire hazard during hot, dry weather?
No. The solar collector's
components are all high temperature rated and non-flammable
so even during strong sunlight with the circulation
pump turned off (stagnation), the system will not
catch alight or give off any sparks. The majority
of the solar collector's components are stainless
steel, copper, aluminium and glass.
top of page
Can the Endless Solar collector
heat water to a high enough temperature?
Certainly - in good weather
the Endless Solar collectors are capable of
bringing water to boiling point. Generally, this is
not necessary and so when it is installed the system
should be tuned to provide a peak temperature of around
70ºC to 80ºC in the summer. Since scalding can occur
at 54ºC (130ºF), Australian plumbing regulations limit
the maximum temperature of hot water to sanitary outlets
to 50ºC (122º F). This is achieved by the use of a
solar tempering valve that must fitted when the system
is installed. Licensed plumbers are required to fit a solar tempering valve to all installations.
top of page
What maintenance of
the Endless Solar collector is required?
Under normal circumstances
no maintenance of the system is required other than
simple checks specified in the Owners Manual. The
round shape of the tubes and the gaps in between them
mean that regular rainfall and wind help keep the
tubes clean.
top of page
Can the Endless Solar Collectors
be used for a large scale hot water production?
Yes. Endless Solar
collectors can be connected in series to provide large
scale hot water production for commercial settings
such as a school, hotel, office building or swimming
pool. Please call us for further advice.
top of page
Can I heat my swimming
pool or spa using a Endless Solar hot water
system?
Yes. Each pool/spa installation
requires specialised design and certain additional
components such as a heat exchange system due to the
corrosive nature of salt or chlorine pool water. For
spas, the Endless Solar hot water collectors
are also ideal, as the volume of water is small and
temperature requirements high. Please call us for
further advice.
top of page
Where can I purchase a Endless Solar Hot Water solar collector?
Endless Solar Hot
Water systems are available throughout Australia.
For details call (02) 9281 5526
top of page
Can I use the LPG gas booster and
then convert to normal gas if available at a later
stage?
Yes. The Endless Solar design is both modular and versatile. In the
case of changing from LPG to natural gas, all that
needs to happen is that the burner manifold needs
to be changed and the PC board reprogrammed. The cost
is currently around $80. Please call us for further
information.
top of page
Which type of collector is the best
value for money?
When pay-back time is
being considered, the overall price per unit of energy
produced is the most important consideration, not
peak efficiency levels. The high-efficiency and longevity
of Endless Solar systems makes a compelling
case for purchasing our product.
top of page
What are the main advantages of Evacuated
Tube Collectors in comparison to flat plate collectors?
There
are numerous benefits that evacuated tubes offer
over the traditional “flat plate” collector
designs. Although evacuated tubes are relatively
new to the Australian market, they were invented
here almost 30 years ago and they are a well proven,
superior technology, widely used around the world:
INCREASED
EFFICIENCY
Flat plate collectors only provide peak energy output
at midday, when the sun is perpendicular to the
collector's surface. At other times of the day,
the heat collection of a flat plate is either increasing
or decreasing. Due to the round shape of the evacuated
tube, the sun is perpendicular to the surface of
the glass for most of the day, resulting in higher
heat collection and heat output all the way from
morning through to late afternoon.
The
ability of the tubes to absorb heat from a wide
range of angles means that the Endless Solar
collector can be mounted on even east or west facing
roofs with only a small decrease in performance.
This versatility allows the home owner to install
the Endless Solar collector where it will
look best, whereas placement options with flat plate
collectors are limited.
MINIMAL
HEAT LOSS
Because air is removed (evacuated) from the glass
tubes to form a vacuum, the insulating properties
of the tubes increases. As a result, wind and cold
temperatures outside the tubes have much less effect
on the efficiency of the evacuated tube collector
- when compared with a traditional flat plate solar
collector. The collected heat is conducted to the
cold water using a specially designed heat pipe.
Well over 90% of the heat captured in the tubes
is held and is conducted into the cold water.
HIGH
FROST PROTECTION
Endless Solar collectors can be used in sub-zero
temperatures without damaging the system. By contrast,
under similar conditions, flat plate systems require
expensive and complicated "antifreeze"
systems to be installed (remember this when comparing
system costs). The glycol that is used
in flat plate systems needs to be regularly replaced
in order to maintain its efficiency. This is an
ongoing cost, requiring replacement of the glycol
every 3 years or so, with the added risk of the
glycol leaking into gutters or rainwater tanks at
times of glycol changeover, or if the flat plate
is damaged by storms.
SUPERIOR
WINTER PERFORMANCE
The high solar energy absorption of the Endless Solar evacuated tube collectors, even during overcast
conditions, combined with the superior insulation
properties of the tubes, provides excellent water
heating all year round. While some flat plate collectors
may produce similar heat output in summer conditions,
they generally have reduced performance during winter
- when hot water is most needed.
top
of page.
Does the solar collector have to
be installed on a North facing roof?
Because of the significantly
better efficiency of a Endless Solar evacuated
tube collector in harnessing the sun's energy, you
can locate your system on a roof area facing north-east
or north-west with only minimal reductions in efficiency
(2% to 4% loss) or on a west or east facing roof (6%
to 10% efficiency loss). Even if the only unshaded
place to mount the collector is on a south facing
roof, it can be mounted on a reverse frame facing
north. However, the best place to locate your solar
collector is on a north facing roof with a slope of
20 to 45 degrees.
top of page |
