Installation & Solar Sizing FAQ
Installation Basics
When choosing a solar collector, selecting the correct size is important. To find out what collector sizing you need please click here. Once you have determined what size collector suits your needs, the next question is where to install it.
1. Can I Install my Solar Hot Water Heater Myself?
Generally, if you have some basic plumbing knowledge, are comfortable working on the roof, and can handle some minor tasks, it is likely that you could install your solar hot water system yourself. In fact, assembly and installation of a solar hot water system requires the following skills or experience:
Assembly of Pre-fabricated Hardware.
Basic Plumbing Design and Installation.
Sweating Copper Pipe or PEX Tubing.
Connection of AC Controller and Pump.
Despite the relative ease of installing a solar water heater system, still recommends that a trained plumber or solar installer install your solar hot water system, particularly if your system is for radiant heating, or a particularly large domestic hot water system.
2. Who Can Install my Jinyi Solar Hot Water System for me?
Generally speaking, any plumber can install a solar hot water system. If you have a particular local plumber that you work with and trust, we can assist that plumber in installing your solar hot water system. Additionally, we can arrange your installation through our growing dealer network of solar hot water Installers across the Around the world. Or, any trained solar energy installer in your area would be happy to perform your installation.
3. How do I Become a JinYi Certified Installer?
There is a rigorous training process and evaluation period for becoming a JinYi Certified Installer. If you are interested in becoming one, please contact our sales team today.
4. What Size JinYi Solar Hot Water System do I Need?
This varies by every job and application. Here are some basic guidelines for sizing your JinYi solar hot water system:
Domestic Hot Water: The average person uses 80L of hot water per day. Multiply this by the number of people who live in your home - this is the total hot water use of your household per day. Each JinYi 20 tupe heat pipe solar collector will heat approximately 150-200L of hot water each day. You can do the math from there.
Solar Pool Heating: The typical rule of thumb is to take 50 - 100% of the area of your pool. Your total collector area for your solar pool heater should be within this range.
5. What is the Best Angle to Install my JinYi Solar Collectors at?
The general rule of thumb is to install your JinYi Solar Collectors at your Latitude plus 10 degrees. However, if your roof's pitch falls within 5 - 10 degrees of this measurement, you can still simply flush mount your solar collectors to your roof without any loss of efficiency. Additionally, there are special installation angles designed to balance the performance of your systems between summer and winter operation.
Deciding on the proper angle and direction for installing your solar collectors is of just as much importance as properly sizing your solar collectors. If the angle and direction of your collectors is not correct for your location, then your system will quickly lose efficiency and the return on investment will dramatically diminish.
You want your solar collectors to receive as much direct sunlight as possible each day of the year. Simply stated, the first rule of deciding the angle and direction of your solar collector is:
In the Northern Hemisphere: Your collector should face South
In the Southern Hemisphere: Your collector should face North
Of similar importance is determining the proper angle to mount your solar collectors at. The general rule of thumb for determining the angle of your collector is:
The angle of your solar collector should roughly equal the latitude of your location
Melbourne, Australia has a latitude of 37 degrees South – the collector should face North at 37 degrees
London, England has a latitude of 51 degrees North – the collector should face South at 51 degrees
Please note – if your roof is within +/- 10 degrees of the recommended angle for your collector, then you are fine with mounting the solar collectors flush to the roof. The added cost and work of installing the collectors on a tilt mount in this case is not warranted as the increase in efficiency would not be significant enough.
Seasonal Changes in Heat Output – Prevent Excessive Summer Heat
If you have a large solar hot water heating system because you are using the system for space heating, or simply to have a larger solar contribution to your heating, you may run into the problem of excessive heat production in the summertime. Unfortunately, however, you can't simply turn off the pumps and let the collectors stagnate to eliminate the heat because high pressures, temperatures, and large amounts of vented steam may result. It is most ideal to use the excess heat to supplement the heating of your pool or spa (if available) – because, for the most part, aside from domestic hot water use, heating is not needed in the summer – contrarily, cooling is. Again, unfortunately, solar cooling for domestic applications is not economically viable at the present time.
If an additional need for heat such as a pool or spa is not available, a simple adjustment in the collector’s mounting angle can be just as effective in increasing winter efficiency and decreasing excessive output in the summertime.
Try mounting your solar panels 20 degrees higher than the latitude of your location calls for (ie, 50 degrees instead of 30 degrees).
In the winter, you will get additional performance because the more vertical solar collector is more in line with the sun that is closer to the horizon – this increases your winter output dramatically.
In the summer, you will get lower than standard performance because the more vertical solar collector is angled more away from the sun as it is higher in the sky – this allows you to get enough heat output for your needs without the need to worry about excessive heat and damage to your system or home.
6. What Direction Should I Install my JinYi Solar Collectors?
You should install your solar collectors according to the following directions:
Northern Hemisphere: Install facing South
Southern Hemisphere: Install facing North
You should also know that your collectors should be installed facing "True South" not "Magnetic South" - this is know as your Azimuth, and a quick search online can tell you how many degrees plus or minus you need to move from magnetic south to true south.
When choosing a solar collector, selecting the correct size is important. To find out what collector sizing you need please click here. Once you have determined what size collector suits your needs, the next question is where to install it.
1. Can I Install my Solar Hot Water Heater Myself?
Generally, if you have some basic plumbing knowledge, are comfortable working on the roof, and can handle some minor tasks, it is likely that you could install your solar hot water system yourself. In fact, assembly and installation of a solar hot water system requires the following skills or experience:
Assembly of Pre-fabricated Hardware.
Basic Plumbing Design and Installation.
Sweating Copper Pipe or PEX Tubing.
Connection of AC Controller and Pump.
Despite the relative ease of installing a solar water heater system, still recommends that a trained plumber or solar installer install your solar hot water system, particularly if your system is for radiant heating, or a particularly large domestic hot water system.
2. Who Can Install my Jinyi Solar Hot Water System for me?
Generally speaking, any plumber can install a solar hot water system. If you have a particular local plumber that you work with and trust, we can assist that plumber in installing your solar hot water system. Additionally, we can arrange your installation through our growing dealer network of solar hot water Installers across the Around the world. Or, any trained solar energy installer in your area would be happy to perform your installation.
3. How do I Become a JinYi Certified Installer?
There is a rigorous training process and evaluation period for becoming a JinYi Certified Installer. If you are interested in becoming one, please contact our sales team today.
4. What Size JinYi Solar Hot Water System do I Need?
This varies by every job and application. Here are some basic guidelines for sizing your JinYi solar hot water system:
Domestic Hot Water: The average person uses 80L of hot water per day. Multiply this by the number of people who live in your home - this is the total hot water use of your household per day. Each JinYi 20 tupe heat pipe solar collector will heat approximately 150-200L of hot water each day. You can do the math from there.
Solar Pool Heating: The typical rule of thumb is to take 50 - 100% of the area of your pool. Your total collector area for your solar pool heater should be within this range.
5. What is the Best Angle to Install my JinYi Solar Collectors at?
The general rule of thumb is to install your JinYi Solar Collectors at your Latitude plus 10 degrees. However, if your roof's pitch falls within 5 - 10 degrees of this measurement, you can still simply flush mount your solar collectors to your roof without any loss of efficiency. Additionally, there are special installation angles designed to balance the performance of your systems between summer and winter operation.
Deciding on the proper angle and direction for installing your solar collectors is of just as much importance as properly sizing your solar collectors. If the angle and direction of your collectors is not correct for your location, then your system will quickly lose efficiency and the return on investment will dramatically diminish.
You want your solar collectors to receive as much direct sunlight as possible each day of the year. Simply stated, the first rule of deciding the angle and direction of your solar collector is:
In the Northern Hemisphere: Your collector should face South
In the Southern Hemisphere: Your collector should face North
Of similar importance is determining the proper angle to mount your solar collectors at. The general rule of thumb for determining the angle of your collector is:
The angle of your solar collector should roughly equal the latitude of your location
Melbourne, Australia has a latitude of 37 degrees South – the collector should face North at 37 degrees
London, England has a latitude of 51 degrees North – the collector should face South at 51 degrees
Please note – if your roof is within +/- 10 degrees of the recommended angle for your collector, then you are fine with mounting the solar collectors flush to the roof. The added cost and work of installing the collectors on a tilt mount in this case is not warranted as the increase in efficiency would not be significant enough.
Seasonal Changes in Heat Output – Prevent Excessive Summer Heat
If you have a large solar hot water heating system because you are using the system for space heating, or simply to have a larger solar contribution to your heating, you may run into the problem of excessive heat production in the summertime. Unfortunately, however, you can't simply turn off the pumps and let the collectors stagnate to eliminate the heat because high pressures, temperatures, and large amounts of vented steam may result. It is most ideal to use the excess heat to supplement the heating of your pool or spa (if available) – because, for the most part, aside from domestic hot water use, heating is not needed in the summer – contrarily, cooling is. Again, unfortunately, solar cooling for domestic applications is not economically viable at the present time.
If an additional need for heat such as a pool or spa is not available, a simple adjustment in the collector’s mounting angle can be just as effective in increasing winter efficiency and decreasing excessive output in the summertime.
Try mounting your solar panels 20 degrees higher than the latitude of your location calls for (ie, 50 degrees instead of 30 degrees).
In the winter, you will get additional performance because the more vertical solar collector is more in line with the sun that is closer to the horizon – this increases your winter output dramatically.
In the summer, you will get lower than standard performance because the more vertical solar collector is angled more away from the sun as it is higher in the sky – this allows you to get enough heat output for your needs without the need to worry about excessive heat and damage to your system or home.
6. What Direction Should I Install my JinYi Solar Collectors?
You should install your solar collectors according to the following directions:
Northern Hemisphere: Install facing South
Southern Hemisphere: Install facing North
You should also know that your collectors should be installed facing "True South" not "Magnetic South" - this is know as your Azimuth, and a quick search online can tell you how many degrees plus or minus you need to move from magnetic south to true south.
