Apricus etc Installation guide

•Lay the Front Tracks out
parallel on the ground with
Bottom Track in place.
•Standard positions for Front
Tracks are underneath tubes:!
10T: 8 tubes apart!
20T: 16 tubes apart!
22T: 16 tubes apart!
30T: 19 tubes apart
•Front Tracks must be within
+/- 2 tubes (140mm / 5.5” ) of
the standard position.
•Use the Bottom Track holes as
a guide for the spacing and
correct position.
•1st: Push Bottom Track down
and finger tighten bottom
attachment plate nut.
•2nd: Push down top
attachment plate and finger
tighten nut.
•Tighten top and bottom nuts
with spanner/wrench.
Apricus ETC Solar Collector Basic Installation Guide
Please refer to the full installation manual, available at www.apricus.com for full installation and safety information.
Installation must only be completed by suitably qualified and experienced technicians and in accordance with all local
relevant codes and regulations.
© 2015 Apricus Solar Co., Ltd A11-01.1.6.1-V3 (EN) January 2017
Installation Safety
•Use fall protection safety equipment when working at heights.
•Wear gloves & safety glasses as required.
•Heat Pipes are very HOT after evacuated tubes are exposed to
sunlight and can cause serious burns.
•Adhere to all local safety codes and regulations.
•Ensure roof structure and attachment method is of suitable
strength.
Standard Frame Assembly
•Mount the Manifold on the
Front Tracks, ensuring
alignment with Bottom Track.
•Do not remove the attachment
plates, just loosen nuts/bolts
enough so the manifold can be
dropped into place.
•Pull manifold down so that
attachment plate sits in front
groove.
•The U channel under the bolt
head must be parallel with the
front track.
•Finger tighten front attachment
plates first.
•Push rear attachment plates
tight into rear groove and
tighten fully, then fully tighten
front attachment plates.!
!
!
•Lubricate the sensor probe
with water and slide through
the rubber plug.
•Squirt some heat transfer
paste into the sensor port and
insert the sensor probe.
•Push the rubber plug into the
sensor port.
•Only use only Apricus supplied
brass fittings.
•Apply high temp rated thread
sealant (>200oC / 390oF) to the
flared copper pipe and brass
fitting to lubricate and ensure a
good seal.
•Connect copper piping to the
collector inlet/outlet.
•Insulate piping right up to the
manifold with high temperature
insulation (closed cell EPDM or
glass wool).
•Protect the insulation with UV
resistant plastic or metal cover.
•Seal the insulation to the
manifold end plate with silicone
sealant.
•Run the sensor cable between
the insulation and outer cover.
•Refer to the diagrams with the frame kits and also the full
installation manual for more details.
•If possible install the frames at ground level, then lift onto roof.
Bottom Track Attachment
Bottom Track (# EABT)
Front Track (# EAFT)
Collector Manifold
Piping and Sensor Connection
Tightening Stainless Steel Nuts
•Using high speed power tools may cause nuts to lock-up / gall.
•Use SLOW RPM speeds combined with thread lubricant, or;
•Hand tighten using short wrench/spanner (13mm / 1/2” Head)
SLOW RPM + LUBRICANT
HAND TIGHTEN
✗
✓
Front Track Position
1st
2nd
Rear of Manifold Attachment
Front of Manifold Attachment
Sensor Insertion (manifold outlet)
Brass fitting connection
Sensor Rubber Plug
Piping Insulation
Silicone
Sealant
Apply Thread Sealant
+/- 2 tubes
Sensor
Port
1st

© 2015 Apricus Solar Co., Ltd A11-01.1.6.1-V3 (EN) January 2017
Evacuated Tube & Heat Pipe Installation
•Cut open top flaps end of the
ET box to access heat pipes.
•Lift up the first row of ETs onto
the foam to access the heat
pipes.
•Fold the box flaps back over
the tubes to shade from
sunlight.
!
•While holding the ET top plate
and spring in place with one
hand, pull out each heat pipe
by ~150mm / 6”. This allows
easy insertion of the heat pipe
into the header port.
•Apply heat transfer paste to
each heat pipe.
•The easiest and cleanest way
to apply the paste is to use a
short length (~150mm / 6”) of
foam pipe insulation that has
an internal hole diameter
slightly larger than the heat
pipe bulb.
•Seal one end with tape.
•Squirt some heat transfer
paste into the insulation pipe.
•Insert each heat pipe into the
insulation, twist a few times
and wipe off excess to leave
only a thin layer of paste.
•Lubricate the outside top
surface of the ET with a wet
cloth or spray bottle to aid
insertion past the rubber
manifold seal.
•Only a small amount of water
is needed.
•Hold the ET with two hands,
taking care not to bang the
glass against the metal frame.
•Insert the heat pipe first until
full depth into the header port.
•Push up the ET past the
rubber seal using a slight left-
right rotations (don’t rotate
more than 1/4 turns).
•Push the ET in full depth until
absorber coating enters the
manifold casing.
•Position the tube caps with the
square rubber base into the
hole in the bottom track.
•Always start installing ETs at
one end of the collector.
•Note the different hole shapes
in the bottom track for the
tube caps and tube clips.
•Secure ETs to the bottom
track with tube clips.
•Align one side and click the
hook into the hole.
•Centralise the clip over the
rubber tube cap and push
down other side of clip until it
clicks into the hole.
•Attached the tube clip before
installing the next ET.
•Once all ETs are installed, push
rubber spacers between each
tube clips plus one at each
end.
•Finally clean ETs with glass
cleaner.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
IMPORTANT
Complete plumbing connection, system filling, pressure
test and pump operation checks BEFORE inserting
Evacuated Tubes.
If Evacuated Tubes must be installed prior to system filling,
only fill and begin operation when the solar collectors are
cold (early morning or with tubes covered).
•CHECK THE OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM
•Temperature Sensor Readings
•Pump Flow Rate & On/Off Operation
•No Leaks
•CLEAN UP THE INSTALLATION SITE
•COMPLETE INSTALLATION RECORD FORM
•EXPLAIN OPERATION TO THE CUSTOMER
•TAKE CLEAR PHOTOS OF THE INSTALLATION
Rubber Tube Seal
Insulation
Heat Pipe Port
When installing the Evacuated Tubes, note the location of
the heat pipe port is at the top of the manifold holes.
Open Evacuated Tube Box
Pull out Heat Pipes
Prepare Heat Transfer Paste
Apply Heat Transfer Paste
Lubricate Top of Evacuated Tube
Insert Heat Pipe
Insert Evacuated Tube
Position Tubes on Bottom Track
Installing Tube Clips
Insert Rubber Spacers
Tube Clip Holes
Tube Cap Holes
Different Hole Shape
Ends
Middle