I am coming into a few euros in a couple of weeks and thought it would be well spent on a solar hot water system.

For the uninitiated let me explain a little about solar hot water systems. There are a variety of systems on the market but they all use one of two methods to put the hot water into the taps, either gravity feed which is why you see a lot of solar hot water systems on roofs or mains pressure where the cold water mains pipe goes into the system and comes out under the same pressure but of course heated up.

The thing is a mains pressure system needs a few gizmos added for safety reasons and the tank needs to be constructed to take the mains pressure. On a gravity feed system (works just like most flush toilets) there is no pressure other than the force of gravity and consequently does not need the safety gizmos or a particularly strong tank.

Having thought I had found what I needed I sent the site owner, a Dutchman, an email, here is a transcript of the email exchange -

HI, I have a question about the solar hot water systems, are they gravity feed or mains pressure feed?

regards
steve dove

Hello Steve..

There are different systems, thermosiphonic, drainback and forced, but of course, all need pressure to work…

regards

eduardo

HI, sorry but your answer doesn’t mean anything to me!!
The blue flat plate systems you have on the site does the actual hot
water come into the house under the mains pressure or does it fall by
gravity?
I realise there must be pressure to pump the water up to the system
but does that pressure follow through to the house?

regards
steve dove

Hello Stephen, it has enough with the mains pressure.

R.

Ed

Hello again, we seem to be having a communication problem, let me try
to ask the question in a different way.
With a gravity system the panel and tank  have to be on the roof,
higher than the bathroom/kitchen.
With a mains pressure system the panel and tank can be installed at
any height, even on the ground.
So your Solar Hot Water Kit (item number removed), does it have to be installed
high on a roof to take advantage of gravity or is it a mains pressure
system that can  be installed on the ground?
regards
steve dove

As you need normal pressure to power the house, it doesn t matter if its down  in the garden or up on the roof!!!

Ok I think we are getting some where here lol.
So on your site it says it comes complete with everything needed.
Does that include the expansion tank needed for a mains pressure system.
A yes or no answer will do fine!

HELLO STEPHEN. NOT SO EASY AS A YES OR NO…:o)
EXPANSION TANK ONLY NEEDED IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, NOT ALWAYS….

which model are you looking for???

OK you only have one type of hot water system on your site in 3 sizes,
I haven’t decided which size yet but this is the only model I am aware
that you sell.

Hello Stephen.

This is because therse are the easiest to install. The others need a bit more of experience, and as we are more a DIY shop he others are a bit more complicated (and more expensive)

regards

eduardo

HI, as my powers of mind reading are somewhat diminished today would
it be in any way possible to get a straight answer to a straight
question?

These “easiest to install” systems the systems you show on your site,
Solar Hot Water Kit (item number removed) where the heating is done by the
solar heated anti-freeze.

Are they a mains pressure system?
like this one
(link removed)
I am looking for a similar system but with a flat plate as my opinion
on the tubes is that they are too powerful for this climate here.

Dear Stephen.

My apologies, as I thought you were aware of what I was talking about.

I think you have somewhat a bit of a mes´-up in your mind.

Anyway, yes, these are similar.
NOTE: all are normally gravity fed, but obviously, the gravity feeding depends, in ALL cases on the height of the main mater supply!!

r.

ed

OK well thanks for complete disinformation I shall spend my money somewhere else.

It may be worth noting that in his first email he states – ‘all need pressure to work…’

In his last email he states- ‘ all are normally gravity fed,’

There’s nought stranger than folk !!