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Owners Guide
and
Installation Instructions
Solar Loline Conversion Kit
Electric Water Heater
WARNING: Plumber – Be Aware
Use copper pipe ONLY. Plastic pipe MUST NOT be used.
It is a requirement of a solar water heater installation that all
pipe work be in copper and not plastic, due to the effects of
high water temperatures and pressures.
This water heater must be installed and serviced by an authorised person.
Please leave this guide with the householder.
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WARNING: Plumber – Be Aware: The solar cold and hot pipes between the solar storage tank and the solar collectors MUST BE of copper and fully insulated with Armaflex insulation or similar (minimum thickness 10 mm). Plastic pipe MUST NOT be used, as it will not withstand the temperature of the water generated by the solar collectors under stagnation conditions. The solar collectors can generate extremely high water temperatures, up to 150C, and high water
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CONTENTS HOUSEHOLDER – We recommend you read pages 4 to 17. The other pages are intended for the installer but may be of interest. About your water heater ..................................................................... 4 Regular care ......................................................................................... 9 How your water heater works ........................................................... 10 Save a service call ...........................................
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ABOUT YOUR WATER HEATER MODEL TYPE Congratulations for choosing a Rheem electric water heater and a Rheem solar conversion kit. The Rheem solar conversion kit converts your Rheem electric water heater into a Rheem solar Loline water heater. Your Rheem solar Loline water heater is designed for the solar collectors to be roof mounted and the solar storage tank to be installed at ground level. The solar storage tank is suitable for either outdoor or indoor installation. The system is suita
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ABOUT YOUR WATER HEATER HOTTER WATER INCREASES THE RISK OF SCALD INJURY We recommend, and it may also be required by regulations, that an approved temperature limiting device, such as the Rheem Temp-Set, be fitted into the hot water piping to the bathroom and ensuite when this water heater is installed. This will keep the water temperature below 50C at the bathroom and ensuite. The risk of scald injury will be reduced and still allow hotter water to the kitchen and laundry. This temper
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ABOUT YOUR WATER HEATER TO TURN ON THE WATER HEATER Open the cold water isolation valve fully at the inlet to the water heater. If the solar collectors and solar hot and cold pipes have been drained, it will be necessary to bleed the collector circuit (refer to “Bleeding the Solar Collectors” on page 7). If the electrical supply to the water heater has been switched off: Switch on the electrical supply to the solar storage tank at the isolating switch Switch on the electric
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ABOUT YOUR WATER HEATER ANODE PROTECTION The anode installed in your water heater will slowly dissipate whilst protecting the cylinder. The life of the water heater cylinder may be extended by arranging for an authorised person to inspect the anode and replacing it if required. The suggested time after installation when the anode should be inspected is: Rheemglas 8 years Optima 10 years For softened water supplies or in areas of poor water quality, it is recommended the anode be
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ABOUT YOUR WATER HEATER FLUSHING THE SOLAR COLLECTORS It may be necessary to flush the solar collectors if there is sediment in the water supply. To flush the solar collectors, follow the procedure “Bleeding the Solar Collectors” on page 7, allowing the water to flow from the bleed valve drain line for five minutes before closing the bleed valve. It is recommended to flush the solar collectors every five years. This will assist in keeping the solar collectors, solar cold pipe and sola
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REGULAR CARE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE This valve is near the top of the water heater and is essential for its safe operation. It is possible for the Water valve to release a little water through the drain pipe Heater during each heating period. This occurs as the water is heated and expands by approximately 1/50 of its volume. Never block the outlet of this valve or its drain pipe for any reason. Lift until water flows from the Operate the easing lever on the tempe
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HOW YOUR WATER HEATER WORKS The Rheem solar Loline system has its vitreous enamel lined solar storage tank installed at ground or floor level, remotely from the solar collectors. As the sun heats the water in the solar collectors the increase in temperature activates the circulator. The circulator then moves the water from the solar collectors through an insulated copper pipe to the solar storage tank. The circulator switches on whenever the water in the solar collectors is hotter than t
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HOW YOUR WATER HEATER WORKS SINGLE ELEMENT MODELS Continuous electricity supply This type of connection is suited to where the storage capacity is less than the normal daily usage. Off-Peak electricity supply This type of connection will only allow boosting to occur during set hours. A volume of water sufficient for the day’s total use is heated and stored. This type of boosting may be more economical due to reduced tariffs by the electricity authority. TWIN ELEMENT MODELS
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HOW YOUR WATER HEATER WORKS MANUAL CONTROLS An isolating switch is installed in your electrical meter box for your solar water heater. Rheem recommends as an optional extra a second switch, called the Booster Switch, be installed in a convenient location such as the kitchen or laundry. This switch should be a normal on/off manually operated switch (recommended for Off-Peak electricity supplies to single element models and the bottom element on twin element models) or the Rheem “One Shot
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HOW YOUR WATER HEATER WORKS “ONE SHOT CONTROL” SWITCH The “One Shot Control” switch has been specially developed to help provide maximum savings with electrically boosted solar water heaters connected to a continuous electricity supply. Power must be available to the “One Shot Control” switch before the booster heating unit can be activated. The switch has a push button operation and incorporates a neon light indicator. This neon light will come on when the water in the boosted
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SAVE A SERVICE CALL Check the items below before making a service call. You will be charged for attending to any condition or fault that is not related to manufacture or failure of a part. NOT ENOUGH HOT WATER (OR NO HOT WATER) Insufficient sunlight Insufficient sunlight due to cloudy weather during summer months or low solar energy contribution in winter months may mean you will need to switch on the booster heating unit more often. Booster heating unit not operating I
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SAVE A SERVICE CALL Air in collectors (no solar gain) It is possible under certain conditions, such as when the pipe work has been opened, that air may become trapped in the solar collectors. This will prevent the circulator from moving water around the collector circuit. The air will need to be purged from the solar collectors (refer to “Bleeding The Solar Collectors” on page 7). Are you using more hot water than you think? Is one outlet (especially the shower) using more hot
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SAVE A SERVICE CALL TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE RUNNING Normal Operation It is normal and desirable this valve allows a small quantity of water to escape during the heating cycle. However, if it discharges more than a bucket full of water in 24 hours, there may be another problem. Continuous dribble Try gently raising the easing lever on the relief valve for a few seconds. (refer to “Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve” on page 9). This may dislodge a small
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SAVE A SERVICE CALL HIGH ELECTRICITY BILLS With the installation of your new solar hot water system, maximum electrical energy savings can be achieved with careful planning of hot water usage. Should you at any time, feel your electricity account is too high, we suggest you check the following points: Is the relief valve running excessively? (Refer to “Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve Running” on page 16). Is one outlet (especially the shower) using more hot water than y
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INSTALLATION – SOLAR STORAGE TANK The system is suitable for installation, and offers protection against freeze damage, in areas up to 800 metres altitude. The system has NO WARRANTY for freeze damage above 800 metres altitude (refer to “Warranty” on page 40). THIS WATER HEATER IS NOT SUITABLE FOR POOL HEATING. SOLAR WATER HEATER STORAGE TANK LOCATION The solar water heater storage tank is suitable for either outdoor or indoor installation. Whether located outdoor or indoor, the
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INSTALLATION – SOLAR STORAGE TANK SAFE TRAY It is a requirement of the National Plumbing Code AS/NZS 3500.4.2 that for new installations all water heaters be installed in a safe tray where in the event of a leak, property may be damaged. Installation of such trays must comply with Clause 4.4 and Sub-clauses 1 to 5 of the above mentioned code. MAINS WATER SUPPLY Where the mains water supply exceeds that shown in the table below, an approved pressure limiting valve is required an
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INSTALLATION – SOLAR STORAGE TANK REDUCING HEAT LOSSES We recommend the first 1.5 to 2 m of the hot water line coming out of the water heater be insulated with weatherproof insulation. In addition, the insulation of the hot water line from the water heater must comply with the requirements of AS/NZS 3400.4.2. ANODE TYPES The correct anode type for the water supply being used must be fitted in the water heater (refer to “Water Supplies” on page 38). The black anode is standard.
