Reduction Revolution Solar Air Heater User manual

!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
For more information go to: http://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/solar-air-heater
1!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
WARNING: Installation should only be completed by suitably qualified personnel.
Contents
How It Works page 2
Where To Install page 3
Parts page 4
Installation Guide page 5
Winter Operation page 9
Adjusting The Thermostat page 9
Summer Operation page 10
Maintenance page 11

!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
For more information go to: http://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/solar-air-heater
2!
How It Works
1. Fresh outside air makes three passes through the collector before entering the
room (see diagram above).
2. The air is heated directly in the collector by the sun and pushed into the house
by two fans.
3. The fans are powered by a solar photovoltaic panel and automatically turn off
when there is no sunlight.
4. Air can be brought in from outside, or re-circulated from inside to maximise the
temperature gain.
5. When the inside air exceeds the thermostat set temperature, the fans will turn
off automatically. The fans will turn on again when the inside air drops below the
thermostat set temperature.
Please note: The solar air heater only works during the day. It does not store heat or
energy at night. There are no batteries or mains power involved.

!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
For more information go to: http://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/solar-air-heater
3!
Where to Install
Face North
The solar heater must be placed where there is the greatest opportunity of getting
sunshine in winter. For the southern hemisphere, this means orientating the panel
towards the north. To catch the low winter sun, a steep or vertical installation angle is
best.In many cases, the ideal location for the solar air heater is on a northern facing wall.
The next best option is on a roof, facing north. For peak winter performance the panel tilt
angle should be your latitude +15 degrees.
Avoid Shading From Eaves
Place the solar air heater at a height where it will be in full sun in winter. If you are placing
the solar air heater on a wall, remember to take into account possible shading from the
building’s eaves. The solar photovoltaic panel powering the fans will not work properly if it
is in shade and it is located at the top of the panel. The amount of shadow will be different
at different times of the year as the angle of the sun changes, however during winter there
will be less shadow because the sun is lower in the sky.

!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
For more information go to: http://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/solar-air-heater
4!
Parts
The solar air heater comes with the following parts for installation:
•1 x solar air heater panel
•1 x thermostat controller
•2 x flexible tube ducting (100mm diameter)
•2 x flange to connect the ducting to the solar air heater
•2 x diffuser plates including insect guard to connect to the ducting and act as
internal wall / ceiling outlet (for 100mm cut-out size)
•1 x pack of mounting screws
•1 x extra electric fan for the intake of indoor air
Your installer may also need the following equipment:
•A marker pen
•Measuring tape
•PVC piping
•Cutting tools e.g. a hacksaw or utility knife
•An electric drill
•A screwdriver
•Electrical tape
•Self-tapping wood screws (if attaching the unit to timber)
•Filler, expanding foam or other gap-sealing product.

!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
For more information go to: http://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/solar-air-heater
5!
Installation Guide
Step 1
Find a suitable site where the solar panel will receive as much sunlight as possible, and
where a hole can be made in the wall (or roof) through which the supplied tube ducting can
be passed (see ‘Where To Install’ on page 3).
Step 2
Use the ducting as a guide to measure and mark circles for cutting holes in the wall. If the
solar air heater is a short distance from the room (i.e. directly on the other side of the wall),
you may want to use PVC pipe ducting instead.
After double-checking your measurements, cut the hole/s in the wall.
Note: For the re-heating of inside air you will need two holes (optional).
If you are in a cold climate and would like to reheat the inside air for maximum efficiency,
you will need to cut a second hole.
This is the back of the solar air heater panel. Note that the hole on the left is for air
entering the house (essential). The hole on the right is for the inside air to enter the solar
air heater and be re-heated (optional, for colder climates).

!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
For more information go to: http://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/solar-air-heater
6!
The distance between the two holes is as follows:
Small Unit: 774 mm
Large Unit: 1124 mm
Step 3 (optional)
The intake and re-heating of inside air may not be necessary for warmer climates, and so
to reduce installation time, you may choose not to install this feature.
If this is the case, cover up the second hole on the back of the solar air heater panel (the
one without a fan installed) with electrical tape.
Step 4 (optional)
If you choose to use the method of reheating inside air, connect the extra fan (supplied) to
the second hole on the back of the solar air heater. Plug the fan into the wires coming out
of the hole and attach it with the screws provided.
Step 5
Note the attachment holes in the outside border of the solar air heater panel. Using these
holes, place the solar heater against the wall and make marks on the wall where the
attachment screws will be.
Step 6
Make holes in the wall for the attachment screws at the points you have just marked. If
attaching to brick, stone or concrete, drill 8mm diameter holes for the screws at the
attachment points and place the matching sized plastic wall plugs into the holes. If
attaching to wood, it is likely that the heater can be erected using self-tapping wood
screws and no prior hole-drilling will be needed.
Step 7
Measure the thickness of the wall by passing the ducting/pipe through the wall and
marking it where it comes out. Shorten the ducting to the required length.

!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
For more information go to: http://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/solar-air-heater
7!
Note: PVC piping can be used for short distances instead of the supplied flexible tube
ducting.
Step 8
Connect the ducting/pipe to the back of the solar air heater using the flange/s.Fasten with
the screws supplied.
Step 9
Pass the tubing and electrical wires through the wall. Use filler, expanding foam or some
other product to seal any gaps.
Step 10
Fasten the solar air heater panel to the wall by using the screws provided. Do not tighten
the screws fully until you are sure that the tubing is in-line with the connector on the
reverse of the panel.
Step 11
Inside, mount the diffuser/s to the interior wall. Pull out the wires in order to connect the
thermostat.

!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
For more information go to: http://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/solar-air-heater
8!
Step 12
Mount the thermostat. If attaching to a wall, drill 6mm diameter holes for the screws at the
attachment points and place the matching sized plastic wall plugs into the holes.
Step 13
Connect the wires to the thermostat.
Connect one of the wires to position 1, and the other wire to position 3.
Step 14
Fit the thermostat cover.

!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
For more information go to: http://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/solar-air-heater
9!
Winter Operation
Option 1 – Heating outdoor air
This option is good for more temperate climates or for warmer times of the year. It has the
benefit of ventilating the house by introducing fresh outdoor air.
Exterior air inlets = OPEN
Interior diffusers = OPEN
Thermostat = SET TO DESIRED TEMPERATURE
Option 2 – Heating indoor air
This option is good for colder climates and is the most efficient way of operating the solar
air heater. For those with the extra ducting installed, the heater will work by re-heating
semi-warm interior air (which is much warmer than outdoor air). This maximises the
efficiency of the system, as less energy is required to heat the air to the desired
temperature.
Exterior air inlets = CLOSED
Interior diffusers = OPEN
Thermostat = SET TO DESIRED TEMPERATURE
Adjusting The Thermostat
Set the temperature on the thermostat by turning the knob so that the desired temperature
is in line with the centre mark.
When the inside air exceeds the thermostat set temperature, the fans will turn off
automatically. The fans will turn on again when the inside air drops below the thermostat
set temperature.
We recommend setting the thermostat to the maximum temperature so that it will continue
to work at all times when in sunlight. You can then turn it down when the solar air heater
starts producing too much heat.

!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
For more information go to: http://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/solar-air-heater
10!
Summer Operation
Option 1 – Simple
During the warmer months, turn the thermostat down to its lowest temperature setting so
that the fans turn off. To stop hot outside air from entering the house, close the exterior air
inlet panel and/or the indoor diffuser/s.
Option 2 – Optional
This option is for systems with extra ducting installed for the intake of interior air.
The solar air heater may be used to assist with cooling in summer by removing hot air from
the house. To do this:
1. Close the first indoor diffuser to stop the air from the solar air heater from
entering the room.
2. Open the second indoor diffuser for the intake of interior air.
3. Open the exterior air inlet panel on the solar air heater unit, to let the hot air out.
4. Turn the thermostat up to a temperature where the fans will operate.
This way the solar air heater should work as an extraction fan to remove hot air from the
house.
Open and close the exterior air inletsby sliding the metal panel across.

!
Solar Air Heater Instruction Manual
For more information go to: http://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/solar-air-heater
11!
Maintenance
If possible, occasionally clean the outside of the solar air heater. Dirt, dust, leaves or
debris may block the sun’s rays from heating the air inside the unit or cause the solar
photovoltaic panel to work less efficiently.
The fans have a lifetime of 30,000 hours. If the fan fails, just pull out the connector in the
circuit to exchange the fan.
If you choose to install any air filters with your system (not recommended as they will
reduce system performance), please ensure that they are cleaned regularly to maximise
airflow rate.