<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>SHW Wrenches,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our first experience with SHW flat plate collectors with a condensation issue on the inside of the collectors’ glass cover. The system has two Stiebel Eltron Sol 25 collectors (88” x 48” each) with a 82 gallon single heat exchanger insulated tank in the basement of the home, with a SOM 6 solar loop controller. System installed fall of 2008.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Condensation problem was first noticed by homeowner late last December. The collectors’ manufacturer, Stiebel Eltron, instructed us to watch and see if the problem resolved on its own. It did not. Stiebel then instructed us to drill small holes through the sides of the collectors near the top for venting and more holes through the sides near the bottom for draining the collector (see attached pdf for Stiebel’s venting advice). We did that in early May of this year. The homeowner called us back with the same condensation issue. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stiebel then sent a bag of plastic insert venting plugs that required us to drill out larger holes in the side of the collectors and pop these vent plugs in. Plugs appear to be an attempt at making more venting area while trying to keep the rain out. After we installed these plugs we still have the same issue, homeowner still sees condensation and poor performance from the SHW system. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>The homeowner is now asking for new collectors under warranty. Have others experienced a similar SHW collector problem? And have collector manufacturers stepped up with new collectors?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Palumbo<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Independent Power LLC <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>462 Solar Way Drive<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hyde Park, VT 05655<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i>www.independentpowerllc.com <o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>NABCEP Certified PV Installer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Vermont Solar Partner<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>23 Years Experience, (802) 888-7194 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>