SolaRay is a forced-circulation, closed-loop system. The specified heat transfer fluid is an industrial grade propylene glycol. The Solaray System solar storage tank incorporates an integral double-wall, vented, heat exchanger that eliminates the possibility of cross contamination between the propylene glycol and potable water. The versatile SolaRay solar storage tank meets or exceeds all major U.S. building and plumbing code requirements. The SolaRay system is available with either AC or PV pumping options.
If properly installed and maintained the Solaray forced-circulation glycol system can safely be deployed in areas that experience annual persistent hard freeze conditions. SRCC Rated Freeze Tolerance: – 60° F.
The Empire Series Liquid Flat Plate Collectors – The Solar Professional's First Choice
America's leading distributors and contractors have made the SunEarth Empire Series liquid flat plate collectors the solar professional's first choice. The Empire Series has everything that professional contractors demand in a solar collector: sleek appearance, high performance, versatility, ease of installation, and rugged field-tested durability. SunEath's Empire Series collectors have over thirty-two consecutive years of engineering and design experience built into every product. The Empire Series collectors define quality and value in the North American market.
HE Solar Heat Exchanger, Solar Tank, or Electric Storage Water Heater
Single element water heater specifically engineered for installation with residential indirect solar systems.
Temperature and pressure relief valve included.
Collector feed and return fittings located at front of tank for convenient installation.
Isolated tank design for better heat retention.
High efficiency stainless steel heating element.
Tank lining resists corrosion and prolongs tank life.
Heat exchanger: copper tubing wrapped around and secured to the tank.
Double wall, vented design for positive leak detection.
Cold water dip tube brings cold water to tank bottom to prevent mixing with heated water.
Anode rod equalizes aggressive water action for prolonged tank life.
Cold water inlet, hot water outlet, relief valve and anode rod at top of tank for easy access and fast, economical installation.
Automatic temperature control.
Over temperature protector.
SolaRay SRCC OG-300 System Ratings
The Solar Rating & Certification Corporation OG-300 systems level rating is an independent assessment of both system reliability and performance. Systems that receive this rating must meet HUD minimum property standards in addition to a rigorous review performed by SRCC staff and design review team. Once the system has passed these quality assurance checks it undergoes a full performance analysis to estimate the actual solar contribution of the system towards an average hot water load. This contribution, as defined by the Solar Energy Factor is listed alongside the different variants of each system type.
The Sungrabber has a "Forced Circulation" heating system that uses a pump to circulate the water or other fluid from the collector where it is heated by the sun to the storage tank where it is kept until you need it.
To convert therms to kWh multiply therms by 29
To convert kWh to therms mutiply kWh by .034
Gilbert Plumbing will do a free on-site solar water heater estimate for your solar water heater installation.
Save an additional 10% and become a Gold Plan Member
with your purchase of a solar water heating system.
Quote from letter of referral by a satisfied customer:
I wanted you to know how much my wife and I apprecciated the outstanding job you and your staff did in the installation of our Solar Hot Water system on our house... Now that the system has been installed a couple of months, and I have seen the economic benifits from my monthly gas bill, I can see that the payback will be a pretty short time period... (See complete letter)
Ward Gilbert of Gilbert Plumbing in Mesa, Ariz., knows all about installing solar panels. He started with it during the 1980s and, today, it's a regular part of the 40-year-old company's product mix. In addition to a collection of educational videos on its Web site, the 30-employee company has a presence on both YouTube and iTunes, the videos being used to answer common questions an homeowner may have about a plumbing system: "When we first started doing them we targeted the new homeowner to help them understand something about their plumbing system," Gilbert said. "They've been pretty popular on YouTube. I've actually just shot and am putting together a solar water heating video."
Gilbert agreed that rebates from local utilities, coupled with state and federal tax credits and other incentives are proving, "huge" for solar in his area. A lower installation cost also means consumers will see payback on a system in a most prompt manner.
"With a solar water heating system, they're bringing payback into the 1- to 3 1/2-year range, which is really good," he said. "On top of that you have a lot more awareness [owing to] talk in the media. Then, of course, watching rate increases and the cost of energy rising has also helped raise public awareness."
If you had a chance to buy a fuel card today for a one-time purchase of $5,000 and fill up every car at your house for life, would you take advantage of it?
OR
If your stock broker could guarantee you a 12-13% return a year on your money TAX FREE for the rest of your life, would you be interested?
A Sungrabber solar hot water heater in the Phoenix AZ metro area will provide a great return on investment, save energy, save money, reduce your carbon footprint with green solar energy. A solar water heater can be a power backup for utility system failures, and qualifies for Federal solar tax credit & Arizona State solar system tax credits.
If you have an old water heater that needs to be replaced, it usually costs less to install a new solar water heater as its replacement than to replace it with a new water heater of the same type. Help make America energy independent. Support our nations's Alternative Energy Initiative and buy an American produced Sungrabber solar water heater.
Every home has to have hot water, wouldn’t it be nice to heat it for free? With a Fafco Sungrabber Solar water heater you can!
The Department of Energy teamed up with Fafco to use their more than 40 years of experience with solar to create the most durable and efficient solar panel yet. The Sungrabber solar panel is designed for long life and low maintenance. The polyolefin material is resistant to chemicals in the water and scale build up.
The solar water heater system is a 10-gallon closed circuit, which circulates water through a stainless steel heat exchanger and the solar panel on the roof. The hot water from the solar panel heats the heat exchanger. The cool water in the water heater tank is then circulated through the hot heat exchanger and brought up to temperature for use in the home.
A solar water heater can produce more than 50% of the hot water requirements for a typical residential home (in the Phoenix AZ metro area it can be over 90%), qualify for APS solar rebates or SRP solar rebates, 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit (no maximum cap as of January 1st, 2009), and $1000 Arizona Solar Tax Credit.
Ready for a change? Order your Solar Water Heater Today!
How SunGrabber uses Solar Energy to Heat Your Water
1.
The sun heats the SunGrabber solar panel.
2.
The controller operates the solar water heating system when the solar energy can heat your water.
3.
When the system is operating, the panel channels water through the solar panel to absorb maximum heat from the sun.
4.
The circulation module transfers the heated water from the solar panels to storage in your hot water tank.
5.
The solar heated water is available in your hot water tank for all existing hot water needs (including laundry, dishes and bathing).
6.
When not in operation the water in the solar collectors is stored in the wall mounted drainback tank to prevent any chance for the water to freeze.
The SunGrabber solar thermal system has been designed to work with either an electric water heater or a natural gas water heater.
Note: There are different requirements for each type of installation.
This image reflects the base model.
Speak with your local installer for enhanced performance options.
SunGrabber Electric Solar Hot Water Systems Layout
The single tank configuration is applicable for an electric solar hot water heater.
The diagram illustrates the easiest way to add solar.
(Note: a gas hot water heater requires a separate solar storage tank.)
A solar storage tank is used to hold water heated by the solar collectors through the heat exchanger.
The solar heated water is drawn through the water heater and into your home, causing your water heater to use less energy.
The ideal storage tank is an electric water heater. They are well insulated and already have the required plumbing connections.
Additional system options, such as an additional solar storage tank, two or more solar collectors or an anti-scald valve, are available.
SunGrabber Gas Solar Hot Water Systems Layout
The double tank configuration is required for a gas hot water heater and can provide additional capacity for an electric hot water heater.
A solar storage tank is used to hold water heated by the solar collectors through the heat exchanger.
The solar heated water is drawn through the water heater and into your home, causing your water heater to use less energy.
Additional system options, such as an additional solar storage tank, two or more solar collectors or an anti-scald valve, are available.
Ask your installer for additional information and for information on which options are best for your needs.
Solar Energy Technology
Solar energy refers to the use of the sun's rays rather than electricity, oil, kerosene or natural gas to provide heat for a wide variety of uses. Sunlight strikes and heats an "absorber" surface within a "solar collector". The water to be used flows through the absorber that has been warmed by the sun and picks up the heat from it. An analogy is often made to a garden hose that sits in the Phoenix sun and then heats the initial water passing through it.
For the heating of household water a flat panel is used that is made up of many small tubes. The size and number of tubes as well as the material of the absorber effect how well the sun's warmth is captured and transferred to the water. (This is referred to as the thermal performance rating of the product.)
The smaller the tubes, the slower the water flows through them which in turn enables more heat to be transferred to the water. Likewise, if the number of tubes used is increased, more water can be exposed to the heat and therefore warmed. Most tubing is made of durable, lightweight, ultraviolet-resistant polyolefin material blended with proprietary additives determined by each manufacturer.
The sun's energy heats the solar panel tube
and the energy is transferred to the water.
In addition to the solar panels, the other major parts of a solar heating system include the circulation system and the storage tank. For solar hot water heating systems, the hot water tank is the storage tank and in some situations (e.g., with gas solar hot water systems) an additional storage tank is required.
Fafco's SunGrabber solar panels are made of durable, lightweight, ultraviolet-resistant, polyolefin material blended with proprietary additives at their own USA plant under exacting, quality-control standards.
With many people now focussed on reducing their carbon footprint, there has been increasing interest in renewable energy. Arguably the best and most cost-effective way to do this is to install a solar water heating system.
A solar water heater is over 5 times more efficient at capturing the sun's energy and converting it to usable power than photovoltaic (PV) systems
Water heating accounts for a significant percentage of the total energy used in a typical single-family home. An electric water heater is one of the biggest energy users of all appliances in the home.
Solar energy is an environmentally friendly source of power and in the Phoenix metro area there is a lot of it.
A Solar water heater does not pollute. By investing in one, you will be avoiding carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and the other air pollution and wastes created when your utility generates power or you burn fuel to heat your water.
When a solar water heater replaces an electric water heater, the electricity displaced over 20 years represents more than 50 tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions alone.
Solar energy provides an energy backup, enabling you to continue getting power even when utility electric power or natural gas supply is disrupted.
Lowest maintenance costs (minimal)
Longer lifespan due to fewer moving parts and no corrosion
Cleanest, safest and quietest source of energy
Lowest operational costs (energy is free from the sun)
Solar water heating systems are becoming more and more cost effective due to recent rises in energy prices. Depending on how much hot water you use, the system will generally pay for itself within 5 years in the Phoenix metro area. In addition, houses with eco-friendly features tend to stand out in the market and sell more quickly. You should notice an immediate reduction in your utility bills. Costs can be offset even further by government tax credits and utility rebates which will help people install a solar water heater. If you are looking for a way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money in the long term, solar water heating could be perfect for your needs!
Should I use photo electric panels to power my water heater?
Under average conditions, to get 15 kWh out of photovoltaics you would need a 3 kw system, batteries and inverters. At about ten bucks per watt that comes to $30,000. So cost of energy from the photovoltaic system is six times as high as that from the solar hot water system. Why would anyone put the former on their roof without the latter?
Why use a Solar Water Heater if I am installing PV Panels?
We use lots of devices to convert energy from one form to another. A gas boiler converts the chemical energy of the gas into heat energy to warm your home. A car engine converts the chemical energy of petrol, or diesel, into mechanical energy of motion. None of these energy conversions is 100% efficient, with the missing energy usually appearing as heat. Indeed, an ordinary light bulb only converts about 5% of the electrical energy into light and a typical car engine only manages to turn about 30% into movement. The more times you convert energy from one form to another the more of it is likely to get lost along the way. Solar Thermal uses the sun to directly heat water, which is why it is more efficient, cost-effective, and far more affordable than PV.
Solar Hot Water Systems have a much lower entry cost than PV Systems. Typically, the average household can install a Domestic Solar Hot Water System for under $8,000, offsetting more than 80% of their annual water heating costs, saving you hundreds of dollars. To match these savings with a PV System, an initial investment of tens-of-thousands of dollars would be required, not to mention applications for net metering and connection to the electric utility. There are no such requirements with Solar Hot Water Systems. Additionally, Solar Hot Water Systems make better use of the available roof space than a PV System. A typical Solar Hot Water System will produce the equivalent of 600 watts per square meter, while a PV System will produce only 100 watts in the same space.
The FAFCO SunGrabber system has many benefits over other systems. It can be installed in one day without cranes to hoist heavy panels on the roof. It does not use expensive commodity items such as copper and aluminum. This results in an affordable system with good performance that offers the most BTU's for the dollar.
Additional Solar Energy Resources
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, provides a number of resources by which to learn more about solar energy and solar hot water heating systems for your home. They also offer the Renewable Resource Data Center which provides numerous resources on solar radiation including an extensive collection of renewable energy resource data, maps, and tools. There is also biomass, geothermal, solar, and wind resource data for locations throughout the United States.
The The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, signed by President Bush on October 3rd 2008, offers consumers and businesses federal tax credits beginning in January 2006 for purchasing fuel-efficient hybrid-electric vehicles and energy-efficient appliances and products. Most of these tax credits remain in effect through 2016.
Consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in the home can receive a tax credit of up to $500 beginning in January 2006.
The EIEA also provides a credit equal to 30% of qualifying expenditures for purchase for qualified photovoltaic property and for solar water heating property used exclusively for purposes other than heating swimming pools and hot tubs. The credit shall not exceed $2000.
As of January 1st, 2009 - No maximum cap on the 30% credit !
Improvements must be installed in or on the taxpayer's principal residence in the United States. Home improvement tax credits apply for improvements made between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008 2016.
Gilbert Plumbing installs the Fafco SunGrabber solar hot water heater in the Phoenix Metro area which includes Apache Junction, Avondale, Buckeye, Carefree, Casa Grande, Cave Creek, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Maricopa, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson. The solar water heater panels are mounted on your roof and tie into your current or new water heater. Gilbert Plumbing will install the solar panels in less than one day and you can immediately enjoy the benefit of hot water heated by the sun. The SunGrabber solar water heater works with either your gas water heater (seperate solar water tank required for storage) or electric water heater (no additional solar water storage tank is required). Rebates and incentives are available from SRP, APS, Arizona State, and from the Federal Government. Owning a solar system in Phoenix, as in most of Arizona, can save you money and help the environment. Solar Energy reduces your carbon footprint. A Solar water heater is HOA approved by Arizona state law.
