STIEBEL ELTRON SOL 29 Premium S User manual

OPERATION AND INSTALLATION
Solar Thermal Collector
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OPERATION
General Instructions
OPERATION
1. General Instructions
This manual includes important information regarding the safe and
efficient handling of the water heater. Keep this manual with the
water heater at all times.
Work must only be carried out by a licensed installer who has read
and understands these instructions. All federal, state and local codes
must be followed. Failure to do so may result in equipment failure,
serious injury, or death.
While working on the water heater, disconnect the power supply.
Illustrations in these instructions are designed to aid a general un-
derstanding and may deviate from the actual water heater version.
No claims can be derived from such installations.
Limited liability:
We have collated all details and information in this manual in due
consideration of applicable standards and regulations, the state of
the art and our long-term know-how and experience.
Losses due to the following are excluded from our liability:
- Non-observance of these instructions
- Incorrect use
- Installation of water heater by unqualified personnel
- Unauthorized modifications
- Use of unauthorized spare parts
For more information on liability, see the warranty section at the
back of this manual.
NOTE:
Read these instructions carefully before using the appli-
ance and retain them for future reference.
Pass on the instructions to a new user if required.
1.1 Safety instructions
1.1.1 Symbols, type of risk
Symbol Type of risk
Injury
Electrocution
Burns
(burns, scalding)
Fire
!
OPERATION
1. General Instructions ___________________________________________ 2
1.1 Safety instructions__________________________________________________ 2
1.2 Other symbols in this documentation __________________________ 3
2. Safety____________________________________________________________ 3
2.1 Intended use_________________________________________________________ 3
2.2 General safety _______________________________________________________ 3
2.3 Mandatory equipment _____________________________________________ 3
2.4 Emergency shut-down_____________________________________________ 3
2.5 Licenses/certificates________________________________________________ 3
3. Register your product _________________________________________ 4
4. General product information _________________________________ 4
INSTALLATION
5. Safety____________________________________________________________ 4
5.1 Regulations, codes, and standards _____________________________ 4
6. Installation______________________________________________________ 4
6.1 Planning and installation _________________________________________ 4
6.2 Determining array size ____________________________________________ 5
6.3 Determining mounting hardware quantity____________________ 5
6.4 Mounting hardware spacing _____________________________________ 5
6.5 Mounting hardware installation_________________________________ 6
6.6 Collector frame installation_______________________________________ 6
6.7 Collector installation _______________________________________________ 7
6.8 Collector connection _______________________________________________ 8
6.9 Temperature sensor installation_________________________________ 9
6.10 Pipework installation _____________________________________________10
6.11 Thermal insulation ________________________________________________10
7. Commissioning ________________________________________________10
7.1 Pressure and leak test ____________________________________________10
7.2 Expansion tank pre-charge pressure __________________________10
7.3 Charging & venting________________________________________________10
7.4 More information__________________________________________________11
8. Maintenance & care___________________________________________11
9. Technical data _________________________________________________12
9.1 Dimensions__________________________________________________________12
9.2 Data table ___________________________________________________________12
9.3 Propylene glycol specifications _________________________________13
10. Commissioning guide _________________________________________ 14
11. Warranty _______________________________________________________15

OPERATION
Safety
ENGLISH
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1.2 Other symbols in this documentation
NOTE:
Notes are bordered by horizontal lines above and below
the text. General information is identified by the adjacent
symbol.
 Read these texts carefully.
Symbol Meaning
Material losses
(appliance damage, consequential losses and environmental
pollution)
Appliance disposal
Never cover the appliance
 This symbol indicates that you have to do something. The ac-
tion you need to take is described step by step.
2. Safety
Observe the following safety information and regulations.
Operate the appliance only when fully installed and with all safety
equipment fitted.
2.1 Intended use
This device is intended to produce hot water for domestic and hea-
ting use by collecting energy radiated from the sun.
Any other use beyond that described shall be deemed inappropriate.
Observation of these instructions and of instructions for any acces-
sories used is also part of the correct use of this appliance.
2.2 General safety
!WARNING:
A solar collector generates heat from sunlight. This
leads to the collectors and their connectors getting
very hot, even when they are not filled. Cover the col-
lectors with opaque material until the installation has
been completed.
!WARNING:
Never install any valves or shut-off devices in the pip-
ing between the collectors and the safety valve. The
safety valve is activated at 87 psi.
Never set the solar loop pressure greater than the dhw
water supply pressure. If the potable water pressure is
too low, a booster pump may be needed to assure that
it exceeds the required solar loop pressure.
WARNING: Scalding
Setting the maximum tank temperature higher than
140°F at the control unit is permissible only with a
thermostatically-controlled DHW mixing valve. Other-
wise there can be a risk of scalding at the tapping
point.
2.3 Mandatory equipment
Check valve
Check valves must be installed on the supply and return piping to
the collectors to prevent heat loss via single-pipe thermosiphoning.
Drain valve
A drain valve must be installed at the lowest point of the solar ther-
mal system to aid in draining for maintenance.
Expansion tank
A diaphragm-type expansion tank must be installed to accept expan-
ding fluid in the solar loop. The expansion tank should be designed
for an operating pressure of 87 psi and are resistant to deterioration
from propylene glycol mixtures.
The air-side inlet pressure should be set equak to the system start-
up (cold) pressure; check it when the system has not been filled or
when the wet side of the expansion tank is open to the atmosphere.
Solar heating fluid
Use only a mixture of food-grade propylene glycol and de-ionized
water in the solar loop. The ratio of glycol to water should provide
sufficient freeze protection below expected cold water temperatures
in the climate of the installation location.
Besides freezing, glycol must be used as a corrosion inhibitor in the
rest of the solar loop piping. See the specifications for the solar fluid
in section 9.3 on page 13.
2.4 Emergency shut-down
Except for repair and/or emergency, the control unit and the pump
must remain powered and activated in order to avoid overheating
the collectors. Prior to shutting down the system for repairs, cover
the solar collectors or work at night.
If emergency shut-down is needed, unplug the control unit and call
for service.
2.5 Licenses/certificates
- SRCC Standard 100-2006-09 (OG-100): 10002015
!

INSTALLATION
Register your product
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3. Register your product
You must register this product within 90 days of
purchase on our web site in order to activate the
standard warranty or to be eligible for any extended
warranty. Go to our web site at
www.stiebel-eltron-usa.com and click on register your
product.
Before beginning the registration process, we suggest that you
gather the necessary information which will be as follows:
Model (Example: SOL 29 Premium S):
Serial number (listed after “Nr.”):
Place of Purchase:
Purchase date:
First & last name:
Email address:
Physical address:
Phone number:
If you have any questions concerning the registration process or
warranty options, please contact Stiebel Eltron USA directly at
(800)-582-8423.
4. General product information
The SOL 29 Premium S & SOL 29 Premium W collectors are solar
thermal collectors designed for closed-loop operation. The absorber
plate is a four-port serpentine style designed for a single array with
up to 10 collectors connected together.
The collector converts sunlight into heat. Light penetrates the glass
cover, which is pre-stressed, highly transparent single pane safety
glass. As the light strikes the absorber plate, it is converted to heat.
The highly selective coating of the absorber and the thermal insula-
tion on the back of the absorber keep heat loss to the environment
to a minimum.
The thermal energy produced by the collector is transported by the
heat transfer medium (solar loop fluid), via a circulating pump, to
the storage tank(s).
The inside of the collector can fog up under certain operating condi-
tions (e.g., large tank with low temperature compared to the outdoor
temperature and/or high relative humidity).
INSTALLATION
5. Safety
The installation of solar thermal collectors typically involves installa-
tion on a roof, or otherwise elevated structure. Refer to all relevant
safety codes to ensure that installation can be completed without
injury.
After installation and commissioning, the collectors will be filled
with fluid. During the day, the fluid will become hot due to solar
radiation. Venting the collectors, or performing other working tasks
on the collectors while it is hot may cause you to come into cont-
act with hot solar fluid, which is a scalding risk. Always cover the
collectors with an opaque material if they are filled with fluid and
being worked on.
WARNING: Risk of scalding
To prevent the solar fluid from boiling in the collectors,
the collectrors should be covered with an opaque mate-
rial while working on the system.
!Material losses:
To protect the system against frost and corrosion, fill the
solar system exclusively with the recommended propylene
glycol mixture.
5.1 Regulations, codes, and standards
NOTE:
Observe all federal, state, and local codes when per-
forming electrical, plumbing, or roof work during instal-
lation.
6. Installation
6.1 Planning and installation
!Material losses:
Solar collectors, mounting equipment, and solar heating
fluid will add weight onto a roof. Have a licensed contractor
inspect the roof structure to ensure that the installation
location has sufficient integrity to hold all necessary com-
ponents, with expected snow and winds loads included.
The planned site for the collectors should have maximum sun expo-
sure for the most amount of time as possible. The location should
avoid shading from trees or other objects.
Ground-mount installations have a similar installation procedure to
roof installations, other than the method of securing the array to the
ground. These instructions are for a roof installation, but a ground-
mount installation is very similar. Contact Stiebel Eltron customer
support for more information about a ground-mount installation.

INSTALLATION
Installation
ENGLISH
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6.1.1 Mounting location
The collectors must be installed in a location such that they are not
shaded for 6 hours per day on average over the course of a year.
Evaluating the site for optimal sun exposure is recommended.
6.2 Determining array size
Once the number of collectors in the array is known, you need to
determine if the collectors should be connected into one or more
sub-arrays. If there are more than 10 collectors in the array, at least
2 sub-arrays are needed since the maximum for one array is 10.
Generally it is a good idea to have an equal number of collectors
in each sub-array along with a reverse-return pipe configuration
to ensure adequate and even flow through each sub-array. If it is
not possible to make the arrays even, then balancing valves must
be installed on the supply to each sub-array to ensure the proper
flow rates.
6.3 Determining mounting hardware quantity
To determine the number of mounting hardware assemblies in each
sub-array, add 1 to the number of collectors. For example: in a
sub-array with 2 collectors, use 3 mounting hardware assemblies
for proper installation.
6.4 Mounting hardware spacing
6.4.1 Tilt mount racking
Finding the on center distance between mounting points
Consult the table below for the rafters that will need to be secured
to. This is a minimum specification. It may be possible or necessary
to add more mounting racks per array if needed to spread out the
roof load.
On-center rafter-mount spacing
# of collectors SOL 29 Premium S SOL 29 Premium W
10’, 4’ 0, 5’-4”
2 0’, 4’, 8’ 0, 6’-8”, 8’, 13’-4”
3 0’, 4’, 8’, 12’ 0, 6’-8”, 8’, 13’-4”, 14’-8”, 20’”
40’, 4’, 8’, 12’, 16’ 0, 6’-8”, 8’, 13’-4”, 14’-8”, 20’,
21’-4”, 26’-8”
50’, 4’, 8’, 12’, 16’, 20’ 0, 6’-8”, 8’, 13’-4”, 14’-8”, 20’,
21’-4”, 26’-8”, 28’, 33’-4”
60’, 4’, 8’, 12’, 16’, 20’, 24’ 0, 6’-8”, 8’, 13’-4”, 14’-8”, 20’,
21’-4”, 26’-8”, 28’, 33’-4”, 34’-
8”, 41’-4”
70’, 4’, 8’, 12’, 16’, 20’, 24’, 28’ 0, 6’-8”, 8’, 13’-4”, 14’-8”, 20’,
21’-4”, 26’-8”, 28’, 33’-4”, 34’-
8”, 41’-4”, 42’-8”, 48’
80’, 4’, 8’, 12’, 16’, 20’, 24’, 28’,
33’-4”
0, 6’-8”, 8’, 13’-4”, 14’-8”, 20’,
21’-4”, 26’-8”, 28’, 33’-4”, 34’-
8”, 41’-4”, 42’-8”, 48’, 49’-4”,
54’-8”
90’, 4’, 8’, 12’, 16’, 20’, 24’, 28’,
33’-4”, 37’-4”
0, 6’-8”, 8’, 13’-4”, 14’-8”, 20’,
21’-4”, 26’-8”, 28’, 33’-4”, 34’-
8”, 41’-4”, 42’-8”, 48’, 49’-4”,
54’-8”, 56’, 61’-4”
10 0’, 4’, 8’, 12’, 16’, 20’, 24’, 28’,
33’-4”, 37’-4”, 41’-4”
0, 6’-8”, 8’, 13’-4”, 14’-8”, 20’,
21’-4”, 26’-8”, 28’, 33’-4”, 34’-
8”, 41’-4”, 42’-8”, 48’, 49’-4”,
54’-8”, 56’, 61’-4”, 62’-8”, 68’
Finding the distance between front and back mount points
For the distance between the front and back mounting points on the
20° and 35-50° mounting racks use the table below.
Front-back mounting point distance
Mounting type SOL 29 Premium S SOL 29 Premium W
20° tilt rack 70⅞” / 1800 mm 1020 mm
35-50° tilt rack 63¾” / 1620 mm 1020 mm
6.4.2 Flush mount racking
For the distance between the front and back mounting points on the
flush mount racks use the table below.
Front-back mounting point distance
Mounting type SOL 29 Premium S SOL 29 Premium W
Flush mount 77⅝” / 1971 mm 449 /16” / 1132 mm