Solar, oil and back-boiler

G

Gaothfar

Registered User
Messages
57
Hi,
I'm installing solar-panel heating and now the installer tells me I can't keep both my oil-fired and back-boiler as the new tank only has two coils.
Any have this problem and what's the solution?
There are tanks with three coils - just another €800 or so - which I don't feel like paying on top of everything else.
 
I am installing the same system,but not putting oil boiler in place yet,as i think i may not ever need it.My new build is only 1700sq ft and highly insulated.So paying the extra for 3 coil cylinder now,just to be set up if i need oil back up in the future...
 
If you want the best out of solar and using it for heating you need a larger tank at least 500l and these cost over €1k from my investigations so far.
 
Im hoping to use the solar panels for my dhw,stove for heating.I did not go for underfloor heating,That way i can choose any flooring i want.I am going with Dubal aluminium rads..It is a small house and am keeping things as simple as possible.
 
Thanks Davy J.
I guess I'll have to go for the triple coil (an additional €800). The solar panel people should have told me about this when I ordered. They asked about the angle of the roof etc but never asked the basic questions. I don't know how some companies stay in business in Ireland - suckers like me, I suppose.
 
krissovo said:
If you want the best out of solar and using it for heating you need a larger tank at least 500l and these cost over €1k from my investigations so far.
Click to expand...

Hi Krissovo,

Could you explain how you can use solar for heating as well as water

Thanks
RB
 
RugbyBoy said:
Hi Krissovo,

Could you explain how you can use solar for heating as well as water

Thanks
RB
Click to expand...

I am no heating tech but it will be something like this.

Large h/w tank between 500 & 1000lts fitted with 3 heating coils, One is for Solar, one is for the standard boiler and in our case it would be wood pellet and the last one is for the secondary heating source.

With the larger heated water store and at least 10.2 sq/m of solar panels we should be able to heat the home with a top up from the boiler.
 
Surely the solar gain during the months you will need heating ie Oct-March will not be sufficient to supplement your heating. Or am I missing something here?
 
builder ed said:
Surely the solar gain during the months you will need heating ie Oct-March will not be sufficient to supplement your heating. Or am I missing something here?
Click to expand...

Thats when the conventional system will kick in and "top up" the heat in the tank
 
krissovo said:
Thats when the conventional system will kick in and "top up" the heat in the tank
Click to expand...

Have you made a mistake when you said it would do your heating and hot water? I.E solar. Did you just mean hot water? I am sure that this is the case.
 
Gaothfar said:
Thanks Davy J.
I guess I'll have to go for the triple coil (an additional €800). The solar panel people should have told me about this when I ordered. They asked about the angle of the roof etc but never asked the basic questions. I don't know how some companies stay in business in Ireland - suckers like me, I suppose.
Click to expand...


It may be worth enquiring about the possiblty of a copper triple coiled cylinder, depending on size verses steel they can be cheaper. Unless they are big then the grade of copper changes and they are expensive.

A lot of solar crowds flog these steel cylinders and there is no real need unless you have a pressurised plumbing system before the cylinder where as most Irish systems are pressurised after the cylinder so copper would do.
 
It's a 300l tank and it seems there is a company in Wicklow that make it with the solar coil at the bottom and the other two intertwined at the top. There is another company making a triple coil tank but it has three coils of smaller size to fit them all in.
I must do a search for copper all the same.
Thanks
 
we are doing a new build using solar??(maybe) wind turbine and solid fuel stove with underfloor heating and the system requires triple coil or you can have a tank in tank system the tank has to be stainless steel if you are using solar due to invertors i think and a german friend who is more up to spec. on manufacturing etc.. says that there will be a new tax on irish homes called an etax so there has to be some sort of renewable energy in your build
 
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