[RE-wrenches] Solar thermal covering

[Bradley Bassett]

I would hesitate to do drain back with evacuated tube collectors, I think
they can severely overheat if cooling is not always available. The heat
diversion method is automatic, I have not touched mine in decades.

Brad

On Tue, Jun 17, 2025 at 7:31 AM jay via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> All of these options would be possible for someone younger and able, but
> the client is early 80’s and she wants it to work correctly without having
> to do the manual cover/uncover which given the collector area, elevation
> and temps etc isn’t an option.
>
> Which means please let me know of a good resource for solar thermal
> products.
> Specifically I need to convert this to a drain back system.
> I’ll need the drain back tank and new pump station
>
> thanks
>
> jay
>
> On Jun 15, 2025, at 8:35 PM, Bradley Bassett via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> When I found that my system was somewhat oversized, I plumbed in a mixing
> valve and a heat dump radiator (a few Cu pipes) in the crawl space to dump
> the heat. It's on the solar supply line and it works like a charm. It
> actually adds a very modest amount of heat to the crawl space, not enough
> to notice. It's going on 20 years without any issues, probably because it's
> an anti-freeze system so no mineral buildup in the mixing valve. I've also
> heard of using a fin radiator under the eve for this instead of the crawl
> space. The crawl space was easier for me.
>
> Brad Bassett
>
> On Sun, Jun 15, 2025 at 5:02 PM david quattro via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> There must be a variable mixing valve that is informed and controlled by
>> a thermocouple
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Jun 15, 2025 at 4:46 PM Jay via RE-wrenches <
>> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all
>>>
>>> I’ve inherited an incorrectly sized solar thermal evacuated tube system.
>>> It’s too many tubes for the use most of the year.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know of a design or product that can remotely cover them?
>>> I can find shade cloth of course that I can cover them but something
>>> remote control would be better
>>>
>>> Thx
>>> Jay
>>>
>>>
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