Residential Single Property Systems

Detailed below is a description of the components, operation and installation etc. of a domestic LaZer2 solar hot water system for use in an individual house or apartment.

LaZer2 Solar Collectors

A southerly-facing pitched roof or wall, or a flat roof, are ideal locations for solar collectors to be mounted on. Collectors can be installed on an east or west-facing but the total collector area will need to be increased to compensate for the lower energy levels. Shading, aesthetics, roof condition and accessibility will all be considered when selecting a position for the solar collectors.

Once the domestic hot water demand has been estimated (based on the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and occupants) and the collector location identified; the number of collectors required can be specified. As there is a fixed amount of solar energy available to the collectors; the larger the collector area the more energy will be absorbed.

If the area of collectors installed is too small they will not be able to heat the hot water cylinder to a usable temperature. If the area of collectors installed is too large, not all of the energy available will be used and therefore part of your investment will be wasted.

Pipe Work

Most pipe work installations are straight-forward; the pipes pass through the roof void and down through the ceiling directly into a cylinder cupboard.

In some properties there may not be a loft space or the cylinder may be located a long way from the collector location. In these instances fitting a system is normally possible but it may take longer and there may be some making-good to be done.

The size of the pipe work installed will depend on the total collector area and length of pipe run.

Cylinders

A hot water cylinder is always required to store the solar energy that the LaZer2 system is producing. The specification of the existing (or proposed) hot water system will influence the way in which the LaZer2 system is integrated and the type of cylinder installed. The capacity of the hot water cylinder will be matched to the area of collectors specified.

We would usually install a cylinder that can be heated by the solar collectors and a boiler/immersion heater. If retro-fitting the solar system then this would typically mean replacing the existing hot water cylinder and installing a new more efficient model.

In some cases we can fit a heat exchanger to the side of an existing cylinder.

Installing a dedicated solar cylinder to pre-feed the main hot water cylinder is another option that can be considered, but this type of system will generally deliver less usable hot water than a system that heats the main hot water cylinder.

A thermostatic blender valve will normally be fitted to the output of the solar cylinder to automatically regulate the temperature of water reaching the taps. This helps conserve hot water and avoids the risk of scalding.

Controls

The Lazer2 solar control system (differential controller and circulation module) will usually be installed close to the solar cylinder.

The control settings will be optimised at the time of installation, after which no user interaction should be required. The LaZer2 system operates automatically, but the readings on the display and gauges should be monitored regularly to ensure that the system is functioning correctly.

The LaZer2 control system is totally separate to the controls for the other heat sources. Standard timer and thermostatic controls should be used on the boiler and immersion heater etc. In order to maximise the amount of energy the solar collectors can deliver, we always recommend that boilers and immersion heaters are left off as much as possible during daylight hours. The boiler or immersion heater should be set to only heat the water during those periods when there is demand.

Download Domestic Circulation Module Datasheet

Operation

The LaZer2 system functions automatically without user input. The control system monitors the collector and cylinder temperatures and starts the pump when there is useful solar energy to be gained. When there is no more useful solar energy available the controller stops the circulating pump so that the water in the cylinder cannot be cooled.

The safety features incorporated into every system will ensure that the system temperatures can never get too high and that all components are protected against freezing.

Your boiler or immersion heaters will be controlled in exactly the same way they would be if no solar hot water system was installed. We recommend that these secondary heat sources are switched off during the day so that the solar collectors can add as much energy as possible before any fossil fuels are used.

How to Get a LaZer2 System Installed

We always like to talk to you over the phone to discuss your hot water requirements, property and hot water system etc. We can then recommend a suitable solution, provide a budgetary cost and answer any of your initial questions.

When you are happy that the solution we are offering meets your requirements we can arrange for an engineer to carry out a survey of your property. We will then post you a fixed quote for you to consider.

Once you have placed an order for a LaZer2 solar heating system we will book a convenient date for our engineers to install it. This will typically be within 3 to 6-weeks from order confirmation.

Installation

It usually takes just a couple of days for our team of engineers to install and commission a LaZer2 solar hot water system. If it is a large system or the installation is complex it may take a bit longer. Fitting a system causes minimal disruption. Your hot water system will normally be switched off for about 5-hours. Our engineers will always spend time with you to explain the functionality and operation of the components installed.

We can supply complete DIY solar heating kits for you to install yourself. We are also happy to install the solar collectors only and supply the remaining components for you to fit yourself.

Post-Installation

We stand by our solutions and are therefore always happy to deal with any questions or queries you may have.

Every system we install is covered by a 2-year parts and labour warranty. The solar collectors are covered by a 25-year warranty against loss of vacuum.

There is no scheduled maintenance required for the first 5-years of a systems operating life. After 5-years we recommend that the heat transfer solution is checked and, if necessary, replaced.

For your peace of mind we can carry out low-cost annual inspection of your system if required.