DIY ThermoPower™ VTS 30 Tube / 80G Thermosyphon Solar Hot Water Kit for Hot Water
$3,239.94
Introducing the SunMaxx Solar Water Heating System for larger households of 3-5 people. Since 2006, this system has seamlessly blended performance and sustainability, featuring an 80-gallon integrated storage tank for even more hot water capacity.
- SunMaxx backs its systems with a 10-year warranty, demonstrating their commitment to quality.
- The 3/4″ Female NPT connections assure a seamless fit for your home’s plumbing setup.
- Certified by OG-300, this system qualifies for solar tax credits, making it a smart and rewarding choice.
- Uniquely designed without a coil inside the tank, this feature simplifies maintenance and enhances system longevity. Enjoy the simplicity and efficiency of SunMaxx for your hot water needs.
- Description
Description
Thermopower™ Thermosyphon Collectors
SunMaxx Solar offers pre-packaged solar hot water heating systems for both the do-it-yourself customer and the professional installer. Each system includes the primary components required when installing a solar hot water heating system. It is our goal to keep our product cost low in order to ensure that we are making renewable energy products more affordable to the community.
ThermoPower™ VTS thermosyphon collectors are the perfect low-cost, easy-to install solar hot water systems for warm climates. Without the need for a pressurized glycol system, thermosyphon collectors help keep the cost of going solar lower than ever before. Each kit includes high-performance ThermoPower™ evacuated tube collectors, an integrated storage tank and tilt / flush mounting hardware.
Our DIY residential solar hot water systems are complete packages that are ready to install and provide affordable, efficient solar hot water in warmer climates where cold days are few and far-between. Each system includes a heating tank and high-efficiency solar collector integrated together for simplicity and affordability.
SunMaxx VTS thermosyphon Solar Collectors are among the most affordable cost-effective solar collectors available on the market today.
Features & Benefits
- High operational safety
- 80G outdoor rated solar hot water storage tank included
- Simple integration into building structure.
- Perfectly built for warmer, southern climates
Adjusted to mount and connect to large solar installations
- Ready mounting system provided
- 10 years performance warranty
- 15-20 years expected lifetime
- SRCC & Solar Keymark Certified
- Free technical support
Quick Sizing
Calculators & Guides
Technical Details
Specifications:
- Dry Weight: 198.4 lbs
- Filled Weight: 859.8 lbs
- Dimensions: 90 in H x 109 in W
- Packaging: Ships via freight on pallet or available for local pickup (1 pallet is available for residential or commercial delivery)
- Assembly Time: A single collector can be assembled in 1.5 hours
- Manufacturer: SunMaxx Solar™
- Warranty: 10 Year limited
- Expected Lifetime: 15-20 years
- Fitting: 3/4″ Female NPT
Includes:
- Manifold (header)
- 80G outdoor rated solar hot water storage tank
- 30 tub ThermoPower™ evacuated tube solar collector
- Hardware required for collector assembly
ThermoPower™ VTS HP G Series Details:
- Tube Length (in)/(mm) 70.86 / 1800
- Outer Tube Diameter (in)/(mm) 2.28 / 58
- Inner Tank Material Stainless Steel SU316, 1.2mm
- Outer Tank Material Powder–coated, UV–resistant
- Insulation Material PUF 55mm
- Frame Material Aluminum Alloy
- Flow Rate per Tube (gpm/lpm) 0.02/0.0757
- Operating Pressure (psi)/(bar) 58/4
- Maximum Pressure (psi)/(bar) 97/6.68
- Max Operating Temp (°F/°C) 194/90
- Daily Efficiency ≥ 55
- Fittings 3/4’’ Female NPT
Model Details:
- Dimensions with tank (in)/(m) 109 x 90/2.77 x 2.29
- Gross Area (ft2/m2) 47.9/4.45
- Dry Weight (lbs/kg) 198.4/90
- Filled Weight (lbs/kg) 859.8/390
- Fluid Capacity (gal/L) 79.3/300
- SRCC CERTIFICATION # 10002056
Applications:
- Domestic hot water: Normal hot water for a house
- Radiant floor heating: Systems of any size
- Pool and spa heating: Large and small pools
- Residential hot water applications
- Commercial hot water applications
- Industrial hot water applications
- Municipal hot water applications
Glossary:
Tube Length (in)/(mm): The length of each individual tube used in the solar water heating system, provided in both inches and millimeters.
Outer Tube Diameter (in)/(mm): The diameter of the outer tube of the solar collector, given in both inches and millimeters.
Inner Tank Material: The material of the inner tank is stainless steel SU316 with a thickness of 1.2 millimeters. SU316 is known for its corrosion resistance.
Outer Tank Material: The outer tank is made of a material that is powder-coated and UV-resistant, protecting it from sunlight degradation.
Insulation Material: The insulation used is Polyurethane Foam (PUF) that is 55 millimeters thick, helping to retain heat.
Frame Material: The frame of the solar water heater is constructed from an aluminum alloy, chosen for its lightweight and corrosion-resistant properties.
Flow Rate per Tube (gpm/lpm): The flow rate of fluid through each tube of the solar collector, provided in both gallons per minute (gpm) and liters per minute (lpm).
Operating Pressure (psi)/(bar): The recommended operational pressure for the solar water heater, given in both pounds per square inch (psi) and bar.
Maximum Pressure (psi)/(bar): The highest pressure the solar water heater can withstand without damage, provided in both psi and bar.
Max Operating Temp (°F/°C): The maximum temperature the solar water heater can handle safely, given in both Fahrenheit (°F) and Celsius (°C).
Daily Efficiency: The solar water heater is designed to achieve a daily efficiency of at least a specified percentage, indicating how much solar energy is converted to heat.
Fittings: The fittings of the solar water heater are 3/4’’ Female NPT, which stands for National Pipe Thread, a standard threading used for pipes and fittings.
Dimensions with tank (in)/(m): The overall dimensions of the solar water heater, including the tank, provided in both inches and meters.
Gross Area (ft2/m2): The total surface area of the solar collector, given in both square feet and square meters.
Dry Weight (lbs/kg): The weight of the solar water heater without any fluid, given in both pounds and kilograms.
Filled Weight (lbs/kg): The weight of the solar water heater when filled with fluid, provided in both pounds and kilograms.
Fluid Capacity (gal/L): The capacity of the fluid the solar water heater can hold, given in both gallons and liters.
SRCC CERTIFICATION #: The certification number provided by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) indicates that the solar water heater meets certain performance and safety standards.
Through natural convection hot water rises and cold water sinks. This principal explains the basic operation of a Thermosyphon System. Cold water sinks from the storage tank (header) into the evacuated tubes. While in the tubes the cold water is heated. As the water heats it rises back up into the header. Throughout the day all of the cold water within the Thermpsyphon System will be heated in this way.
Each system is designed to produce 80 gallons of domestic hot water per day in a northern latitude climate. The system will produce more hot water in warmer climates which receive additional insolation. Please note that hot water temperatures are designed to reach 130-180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Both Flat Plate and Vacuum Heat Pipe collectors are insulated to prevent heat loss, but due to extremely good insulation properties of the SunMaxx Vacuum heat pipe Solar Collectors, the “only” heat loss is via the SunMaxx Manifold with its small surface area and thick layer of high-quality polyurethane foam
insulation.
How to Size your Solar Hot Water System (DHW):
On average a home requires approximately 20 gallons of hot water per day per person. Using this figure you can calculate which size prepackaged system is suitable for your heating requirements.
If you are looking to utilize a solar hot water heating system for space heating needs please contact our solar hot water sales department so we may provide you with an accurate assessment of your heating requirements. Typically we are able to offset between 40-80% of your home heating needs with a payback period of less than 8 years.
Need Assistance?
If you have questions need help or simply feel uncomfortable placing your order online feel free to contact the product representative at 1-800-786-0329.
While both types of collectors capture the suns energy and convert it to hot water each have there own advantages.
Evacuated Tube Collectors are best used in northern climates where freezing can occur and can be utilized in areas where temperatures drop down to -60°F. Evacuated Tubes are are extremely efficient by virtue of the Tubes themselves. Each Evacuated Tube is hermetically sealed meaning it is highly insulated due to the fact that it is a sealed atmosphere nearly impervious to outside temperatures. Evacuated tubes can also be replaced if damaged, simply by plugging it in, no need to replace the whole unit.
SunMaxx Flat Plate collectors use a highly efficient flat absorber material called Tinox which transfer heat to a series of copper tubes which circulate a 50% glycol/water mix. The collectors themselves are in essence a a sealed insulated box which captures the suns energy and transfers it via the Tinox, then through the pipes filled with glycol and into the storage tanks.
Yes you can. Collectors can be attached to our ballast system, which uses the weight of standard patio blocks to hold the collectors in place. Wind load calculations must be done by an engineer to conform to local building codes. With the proper weight attached, collectors will stay in place without putting any holes in the roof. This has been done with our evacuated tube collectors and our flat plates. Flat plates obviously have a much higher wind resistance, and therefore require greater weight to hold them in place. Our ballast system will work with photovoltaic panels as well.
There are no guarantees with rafters when it comes to distance apart or consistency. The easiest way to deal with this problem is using the ConnectMaxx rail system. Our roof mounts can be secured where the rafters are, and then our rails can be secured to the roof mounts. All of our collectors can then be secured anywhere along the rails using sliding blocks. When using SunMaxx rails, you can worry less about where the rafters are and more about where you want your collectors!
This answer depends on what you are trying to accomplish. For simple Domestic Hot Water systems you should try and position you collectors at the same angle as your latitude. For systems that are tied into the home heating system, as in a combisystem, you should position you collectors 15 degrees higher than your latitude. For summertime use only systems, as in a pool system, you should position your collectors at your latitude minus 15 degrees.
For systems that have a high solar fraction, i.e. 75% or greater, you should increase the angle of incline in order to decrease your summertime production slightly.
Do you want to make this system perform to its highest ability or should it look nice and fit the architecture of the house?
We have all seen those albatrosses on the roof that are cantilevered at a compound angle to get a few extra BTU’s at the cost of aesthetic appeal. Here are some guidelines to consider when deciding what is most important in determining collector orientation and inclination.
For most collectors, tubes or flat plates, the angle of inclination has a 30 degree window of variation and the performance will still be within 95% of the expected maximum. That is, if your collectors should be mounted at 55 deg then you can mount them between 40-70 while losing only a small fraction of energy gain.
As for the collector orientation, that window is 60 degrees for Evacuated tubes and 30 degrees for flat plates. These considerations allow you to fit the collector to most homes’ pitch and orientation without losing too much energy gain.
Obviously you want your client to get the most out of it, but you are more likely to get additional jobs if the collectors are mounted in a way that takes into account the aesthetic appeal. Ask your Sunmaxx Representative for a copy of the Inclination and Orientation performance Chart so you can make informed decisions.
Yes it is. Depending on your type of collector, you can program your controller to manually activate the circulator which will bring heat from your storage vessel and into the collectors, which will radiate that heat back out thus melting the snow. This method only works for FLAT PLATES however and will usually take as much energy as it makes. When the sun is out in full force, the rays passing through thge snow are typically enough to create substantial heat that in turn, melts the snow on flat plates.
For Evacuated tubes however, there is very little you can do to melt the snow. If your collectors are sitting at a tilt off from the roof pitch, you should be okay because the snow will pass between the tubes onto the roof. But for flush mount EVT systems, snow can and will build up. However, in my experience, this will only affect the output for a day or two. Becuase if the sun is out enough to make any amount of BTU”S then there will be enough heat wasted at the roof/collector interface that begins to melt the snow alowing it to slide down from the top of the tubes. With only minimal exposure to the direct sunlight, the small amount of exposed tube will begin to yield significant amount of BTU’s, even though they are mostly covered. So for tubes, dont sweat it, you are not going to lose much unless of course they get covered by a couple feet or so then perhaps you’ll want to sweep them off if you can.
This will be a debate well in to the future. For an more in-depth review please watch this Click here to watch this 1/2 hour webinar. Your decision should be based primarily on the following considerations:
- Temperature demand– What is you existing application? EVT’s will outperform FP’s at higher temp load.
- Climate location- In a general sense, flat plates have more value than evacuated tubes in warmer climates and EVT’s will do better in cold, cloudy climates.
- Aesthetics appeal– This is where there is no “right” answer. Instead, each person has their own personal view. We recommend that you go with it. If they prefer flat plates for that reason then you install flat plates and if they prefer evacuated tubes for their aesthetic appeal, then by all means, you should install Evacuated tubes.
The point is, you really CANT GO WRONG. Each type will yield significant value and in the end, the differences will be negligible.
Fortunately, solar thermal collectors are not nearly as sensitive to light conditions as PV collectors. As for performance, you have roughly a 60 degree window of opportunity to mount the collectors toward south before you begin losing a small bit of total production. In other words, your house can be situated 30 to the east of true south or 30 degrees to the west of true south and your performance will still be at or above 95%.
As far as tilt angle goes, this window opportunity is slightly smaller but still you can have a roof pitched about 20 degrees plus or minus of your particular latitude angle and you will still see results at or above 95% of expected.
Ask a SunMaxx rep to run a Polysun report for your particular conditions to be sure, you will be happy you did and pleasantly surprised.
Replacement Evacuated Solar Tubes
We recommend the below accessories.
Collector Connection Accessories
We recommend the below accessories.
Evacuated Tube Collector Accessories
We recommend the below accessories.
Evacuated Tube Collector Mounting Accessories
How to Order:
If you are confident with your solar hot water heating requirements you can place your order online by clicking on the add to cart button which is located above. All orders are reviewed by our solar hot water heating department and the customers are contacted in order to ensure that you have ordered the correct merchandise for your application. In the event you have any questions our sales staff are available from 8:30AM to 5:30PM EST.
Silicon Solar Inc ships products internationally please ask your sales representative for a shipping rate to your destination.
Need Assistance?
If you have questions need help or simply feel uncomfortable placing your order online feel free to contact the product representative at 1-800-786-0329.