The initial board tests yielded promising results, with only a minor issue identified relating to tracing to an ESD protection diode array. Despite this hiccup, I’m quite satisfied with the progress so far… yet, as always, there’s room for enhancement. In our rigorous testing phase, we subjected the RS-485 connection Read more…
The system we developed is modular, with modules connected on a 2-wire data bus, with an additional 2 wires for power. Up until now, we have generally used premade pcbs connected to our own boards for this. But this needed to change into a more professional solution. We wanted a Read more…
The testing that we did earlier paid off. We had a nicely working prototype with a couple of collectors. That wasn’t enough, so we built a 10-collector array on some welded scaffolding. Our problem is that we have a historic, listed building and it’s impossible to use the roof here. Read more…
After running a test rig with two collectors for several months (on a scaffold tower next to the office!), we’re building a ten-collector system in a more permanent location. This one will have a more appropriate inclination for winter of about 60 degrees. We’re very pleased with the performance so Read more…
Our three channel differential controller prioritises heating of domestic hot water from the lowest cost source and conserves heat in the domestic hot water tank when the input medium temperature is too low. Inputs: – Solar accumulation tank. – Solid fuel boiler (such as wood gasification). – Electric resistive heater Read more…
We’re using external temperature sensors, always insulated from the outside. The Analog Devices / Maxim / Dallas Semiconductor DS18B20 is perfect for this, but the problem is that most ‘DS18B20’ sensors on the market are fakes; clones marked as the real thing. These work well for the most part, but Read more…
We finally insulated the 1000-litre tank this morning with 100mm mineral wool plus a tarpaulin cover. Before this, the tank was un-insulated, which benefited us as it cooled overnight and allowed us to perform repetitive tests. It will be interesting to see how well the tank performs, and heat accumulates. Read more…
We ran the rest rig today, 18/08/2022, without the pump. The panel was dry. The panel temperature reached 92.88C. The ambient temperature at that time was 28.81C. So it’s possible to have the panel innards 64C hotter than the surrounding air, even in central Europe.
In an effort to smooth out the troughs, when the delta between the panel and tank is just a bit too small to run, we’re trying an additional technique of using the light level to determine whether to keep the panel filled, even when we might lose a little heat Read more…
Today, 03 August 2022, we finally adjusted the panels of the test array to 35° inclination. The morning was clear and fairly bright; a hot day with air temperatures in the region of 30°C. And we easily reached our target of over 700 watts per square metre output. In fact, Read more…