Solar Geyser - what they dont tell you

[Willie Trombone]

So I inherited a Solar Geyser on the home I bought and yesterday was quite a hot day. At just around 1pm I hear the noise of water running and go outside to see the geyser peeing out litres of water onto the roof. I thought the geyser had failed and rushed around to turn off the pump (pumps water from my rainwater system) and close the geyser feed stop cock. It must have spewed more than 50l of water onto the roof!
Anyway, I called the installer and was told it will happen on hot days when the water in the geyser overheats - the TP valve (temp/pressure) opens and dumps hot water, drawing cooler water in to replace it. He reckons you can pre-empt it on hot days and open the hot water tap more often during the day.

There's also the real risk of load shedding and water shortages destroying the geyser when the pump can't send cool water in to replace the hot.

With a regular electric geyser, the thermostat controls the element and mostly the TP valve is very seldom needed. With the solar geyser, you can't turn the sun off

If I were spending my $$, I would simply get a regular geyser, solar panels and a DC geyser element.
.. especially if I was already planning a solar electrical outfit.

The element is a simple drop in replacement of the AC element.

 

[swakop_toe]

So I inherited a Solar Geyser on the home I bought and yesterday was quite a hot day. At just around 1pm I hear the noise of water running and go outside to see the geyser peeing out litres of water onto the roof. I thought the geyser had failed and rushed around to turn off the pump (pumps water from my rainwater system) and close the geyser feed stop cocktail. It must have spewed more than 50l of water onto the roof!
Anyway, I called the installer and was told it will happen on hot days when the water in the geyser overheats - the TP valve (temp/pressure) opens and dumps hot water, drawing cooler water in to replace it. He reckons you can pre-empt it on hot days and open the hot water tap more often during the day.

There's also the real risk of load shedding and water shortages destroying the geyser when the pump can't send cool water in to replace the hot.

With a regular electric geyser, the thermostat controls the element and mostly the TP valve is very seldom needed. With the solar geyser, you can't turn the sun off

If I were spending my $$, I would simply get a regular geyser, solar panels and a DC geyser element.
.. especially if I was already planning a solar electrical outfit.

The element is a simple drop in replacement of the AC element.

Logic "you can't turn the sun off."
Cover half the panel with 50% shadecloth.

 

[joker08]

So I inherited a Solar Geyser on the home I bought and yesterday was quite a hot day. At just around 1pm I hear the noise of water running and go outside to see the geyser peeing out litres of water onto the roof. I thought the geyser had failed and rushed around to turn off the pump (pumps water from my rainwater system) and close the geyser feed stop cocktail. It must have spewed more than 50l of water onto the roof!
Anyway, I called the installer and was told it will happen on hot days when the water in the geyser overheats - the TP valve (temp/pressure) opens and dumps hot water, drawing cooler water in to replace it. He reckons you can pre-empt it on hot days and open the hot water tap more often during the day.

There's also the real risk of load shedding and water shortages destroying the geyser when the pump can't send cool water in to replace the hot.

With a regular electric geyser, the thermostat controls the element and mostly the TP valve is very seldom needed. With the solar geyser, you can't turn the sun off

If I were spending my $$, I would simply get a regular geyser, solar panels and a DC geyser element.
.. especially if I was already planning a solar electrical outfit.

The element is a simple drop in replacement of the AC element.

I have a simlar problem so I have simply asked everyone to use hot water when it's sunny outside. There is Geyserwise installed and you can see the water temperature, anything above 50 only hot water is used in the house.

 

[w1z4rd]

So I inherited a Solar Geyser on the home I bought and yesterday was quite a hot day. At just around 1pm I hear the noise of water running and go outside to see the geyser peeing out litres of water onto the roof. I thought the geyser had failed and rushed around to turn off the pump (pumps water from my rainwater system) and close the geyser feed stop cocktail. It must have spewed more than 50l of water onto the roof!
Anyway, I called the installer and was told it will happen on hot days when the water in the geyser overheats - the TP valve (temp/pressure) opens and dumps hot water, drawing cooler water in to replace it. He reckons you can pre-empt it on hot days and open the hot water tap more often during the day.

There's also the real risk of load shedding and water shortages destroying the geyser when the pump can't send cool water in to replace the hot.

With a regular electric geyser, the thermostat controls the element and mostly the TP valve is very seldom needed. With the solar geyser, you can't turn the sun off

If I were spending my $$, I would simply get a regular geyser, solar panels and a DC geyser element.
.. especially if I was already planning a solar electrical outfit.

The element is a simple drop in replacement of the AC element.

Had ours for over 2 years, we dont have this type of problem. It might have something to do with the makes.

 

[Willie Trombone]

I have a simlar problem so I have simply asked everyone to use hot water when it's sunny outside. There is Geyserwise installed and you can see the water temperature, anything above 50 only hot water is used in the house.

I'll look into Geyserwise, thanks for the tip. It's a lot of water wasted. I'll also set up a separate reservoir to catch the TP outlet.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Had ours for over 2 years, we dont have this type of problem. It might have something to do with the makes.

I don't think it is specific to a certain model or type. Maybe you use enough hot water or (hopefully not) you.dont have a working TP valve?

WARNING-Solar geysers could pop!

A heads up on solar geysers and water restrictions/ pressure reductions..... http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/warning-that-cape-towns-water-outages-could-cause-solar-water-geysers-to-explode-20171012 Cape Town Water outages to preselected suburbs by the City of Cape Town could lead...

www.4x4community.co.za

 

[Willie Trombone]

Logic "you can't turn the sun off."
Cover half the panel with 50% shadecloth.

You mean climb up to the roof on the second storey to cover the geyser for half the day every other day?

 

["D"]

and close the geyser feed stop cocktail

LOL

 

[Lupus]

Had ours for over 2 years, we dont have this type of problem. It might have something to do with the makes.

Any geyser even a normal ones have a pressure valve to stop the build up.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

So I inherited a Solar Geyser on the home I bought and yesterday was quite a hot day. At just around 1pm I hear the noise of water running and go outside to see the geyser peeing out litres of water onto the roof. I thought the geyser had failed and rushed around to turn off the pump (pumps water from my rainwater system) and close the geyser feed stop cocktail. It must have spewed more than 50l of water onto the roof!
Anyway, I called the installer and was told it will happen on hot days when the water in the geyser overheats - the TP valve (temp/pressure) opens and dumps hot water, drawing cooler water in to replace it. He reckons you can pre-empt it on hot days and open the hot water tap more often during the day.

There's also the real risk of load shedding and water shortages destroying the geyser when the pump can't send cool water in to replace the hot.

With a regular electric geyser, the thermostat controls the element and mostly the TP valve is very seldom needed. With the solar geyser, you can't turn the sun off

If I were spending my $$, I would simply get a regular geyser, solar panels and a DC geyser element.
.. especially if I was already planning a solar electrical outfit.

The element is a simple drop in replacement of the AC element.

Yup, I saw this at my exes house and it freaked me out every year in summer
To the point I swore to myself to never ever have a solar geyser system
Except
The PV version
It uses normal solar panels to heat up a DC element to heat your geyser, its only 900 Watts but it will get the job done
In winter when weather is kak it will use the 2000 Watts AC element to heat geyser up

Pros: No burst waterpipes exploding water everywhere on a hot day
Cons: More expensive. Not as efficient

I dont care, I just want peace of mind and a warm shower and my geyser right now on ESKOM is set to 60 degrees odd, maybe a little higher

Geyserwise PV Solar Water Heating Kit For 100L Geyser - Sustainable.co.za

<p style="text-align: left;">To choose the correct components for your PV Water heating system it is important to know the irradiation levels in your area. In case of low irradiation areas more PV panels will be needed to get similar heating performance t

www.sustainable.co.za

 

[wingnut771]

Logic "you can't turn the sun off."
Cover half the panel with 50% shadecloth.

****ing mission.

 

[wingnut771]

Had ours for over 2 years, we dont have this type of problem. It might have something to do with the makes.

Has yours's ever got to boiling point?

 

[RedViking]

I've never liked solar geysers anyways.

When I was in the Philippines, there was this little water heater device installed next to the shower (they don't use geysers or hot water in general). I haven't seen something like it in South Africa. Water goes in, heats instantly, and goes out to the shower head warm enough for a foreigner to enjoy the hot water.

I want something like that.

 

[Snyper564]

I've never liked solar geysers anyways.

When I was in the Philippines, there was this little water heater device installed next to the shower (they don't use geysers or hot water in general). I haven't seen something like it in South Africa. Water goes in, heats instantly, and goes out to the shower head warm enough for a foreigner to enjoy the hot water.

I want something like that.

Many hardware stores sell it. We had something similar on the plot when I grew up. Just heated the water when switched on.

 

[RedViking]

Many hardware stores sell it. We had something similar on the plot when I grew up. Just heated the water when switched on.

I haven't seen something, but will take a look again.

 

[Snyper564]

I haven't seen something, but will take a look again.

Even soenthing like this

Takealot

Search instant water heater

 

[RedViking]

Even soenthing like this

Takealot

Search instant water heater

I saw those on takealot but it was not nearly as fancy. Was like a little rectangular box with an in and out. On and off. Will see if I can find it or ask a Filipino friend to take a photo.

 

[w1z4rd]

Has yours's ever got to boiling point?

Well it makes hot water, wouldnt call it boiling though.

I've never liked solar geysers anyways.

When I was in the Philippines, there was this little water heater device installed next to the shower (they don't use geysers or hot water in general). I haven't seen something like it in South Africa. Water goes in, heats instantly, and goes out to the shower head warm enough for a foreigner to enjoy the hot water.

I want something like that.

You had hot water in the Philippines? I stayed there for close to a year (Manilla) and only had running hot water at one of the places I stayed at. Lucky for you.

 

[RedViking]

Well it makes hot water, wouldnt call it boiling though.

You had hot water in the Philippines? I stayed there for close to a year (Manilla) and only had running hot water at one of the places I stayed at. Lucky for you.

Normally they don't. But they gave me one of those water heaters.

Maybe it was Panasonic or something. Probably similar to what Snyper linked. I think it was like 3000 PHP or something.... But that was a long time ago. Now it is probably double that.

Anyways, would be interesting to see how the power usage compares.

 

[Thor]

I've never liked solar geysers anyways.

When I was in the Philippines, there was this little water heater device installed next to the shower (they don't use geysers or hot water in general). I haven't seen something like it in South Africa. Water goes in, heats instantly, and goes out to the shower head warm enough for a foreigner to enjoy the hot water.

I want something like that.

We have one in the cottage, works with gas, but you get AC ones too, including for the warm water tap on the kitchen and bathroom