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Solahart 181SP

The 181SP Series is a 180lt roof top solar system.

The 181SP solar water heater is specifically designed to provide economical service in medium to high solar gain areas, and is suitable for frost prone or harsh water chemistry areas. The 181SP series features the Australian designed Envelope solar collector, offering the latest in styling and all weather durability. The smaller volume of the 181SP makes it ideal for applications where low volumes of solar hot water are required, e.g. small units or retirees.

2
Family size
180L
Capacity
1
Collectors
5Years
Warranty

181L Roof Top Solar: Key Attributes

The SP series features the Australian designed Envelope solar collector, offering the latest in styling and all weather durability, and with five patents pending has been designed to meet or exceed Australian and International Standards in areas of strength and durability.

The SP Series features Solahart's revolutionary multi-flow collector to extract the maximum amount of energy from the sun. This is used to heat the Hartgard fluid in the collector which rises into the heat exchanger where the heat is transferred to the water inside of the tank. The ceramic lined tank has a protective anode and the SP Free Heat series features additional protection.

  • Space saving roof mount design
  • Can cut water heating energy use by up to 55%^
  • Reliable, low maintenance operation

Optimal Performance

In medium and high solar gain areas

Frost Resistant

Suitable for frost prone areas

Envelope Collector

Australian designed revolutionary collector technology

Environmental Incentives

Financial incentive to install solar hot water
  • Specifications
    Tank Model - 180L Tank
    Storage Capacity (litres) 180
    Boost Capacity (Electric) (litres) 90
    Weight Empty (kilograms) 69
    Weight Full (kilograms) 249
    A-Width* (metre) 1.62
    Tank Model - 181L System
    Storage Capacity (litres) 180
    Boost Capacity (Electric) (litres) 90
    Weight Empty (kg) 97
    Weight Full (297) 297
    A-Width* (m) 1.67
    B-Length* (m) 2.53
    L Collectors
    Aperture (heating) Area (m2) 1.87
    Length (mm) 1943
    Width (mm) 1027
    Height (mm) 83
    Capacity (litres) 1.2
    Weight Emtpy (kg) 29
    Weight Full (kg) 32
    Working Pressure 1000 kPa
    145 psi
    Absorber Surface Black polyester powder coat
    Absorber Material aluminium
    Riser Material copper tube
    Tray Material 0.7 mm aluminium
    Insulation Material - Base 38 mm polyester blanket
    Glass 3.2 mm tempered low iron glass
  • How it works

    How Roof Top Solar Systems Work – Solar Operation


    The 181SP solar system has its vitreous enamel lined solar storage tank installed on the roof directly coupled to the solar collectors. In the Closed Circuit Series, heat is absorbed by the collector and passed to the ‘Hartgard’ heat transfer liquid inside the collector. As the temperature of the ‘Hartgard’ increases, the hot fluid rises up through the collector by the Natural Thermosiphon Principle, into the heat exchanger jacket around the potable water storage tank. Here, the heat is transferred to the potable water, cooling the ‘Hartgard’ fluid. The cooler fluid is then forced back down into the collectors through the displacement action of further hot fluid rising up into the heat exchanger jacket.

    Orientation of Solar Collectors

    To help maximise system performance, solar collectors should be installed with an optimum orientation facing true north (in the southern hemisphere) or true south (in the northern hemisphere). Always check for true north or true south using a compass or other suitable device.

    To help maximise system performance, solar collectors should be installed with an optimum inclination. This is equal to 90% to 100% of the local latitude angle when collectors are oriented within 60° of true north or true south, and between 10° and 20° if the collectors are oriented between 60° and 90° from the optimum orientation. Generally, improved summer performance is obtained from an angle of inclination less than the optimum angle and improved winter performance is obtained by an angle of inclination greater than the optimum angle. If the angle of inclination varies by 20° from the optimum angle, the solar collectors will receive about 10% less total annual solar radiation.

    Frost/Freeze Protection

    Solahart Closed Circuit Systems are protected against freezing or harsh water conditions by our exclusive ‘Hartgard’ fluid. ‘Hartgard’ is a blue, non-toxic, propylene glycol fluid which, when mixed with water, provides the Heat Transfer Fluid contained in the solar collectors and the heat exchanger jacket around the tank. ‘Hartgard’ is used to lower the freezing temperature of the Heat Transfer Fluid and so provides protection against freezing (Note: for the correct % of Hartgard in the Heat Transfer Fluid, refer to the section on Frost / Freeze Protection). ‘Hartgard’ is a special food grade solution and is the only solution permitted to be used in the closed circuit systems. Hartgard has been approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

    Solar Boosting

    In-Tank Boosting

    An isolating switch is installed in the electrical meter box for an electrically in-tank boosted model. This should be left switched on to allow the booster heating unit to operate if required. The booster heating unit is for heating the water at times of low solar energy gain, such as during very cloudy or rainy weather, or during the colder months. The booster heating unit will only activate if heating is required and power is available from the switchboard. When the water is below the thermostat setting, the booster heating unit will turn on and heat the water. The booster heating unit will automatically turn off when the temperature of the water reaches the thermostat setting. If the water temperature drops below the setting again the booster will re-activate.

    In-Series Gas Boosting

    An in-series gas booster (also known as a continuous flow gas booster) can be installed between the solar water heater and the hot outlets in the house. This booster should be permanently active. The booster senses the temperature of the water passing through it: if the water temperature is above its temperature setting it does nothing; if below it will automatically heat the water up to the preset outlet temperature setting. This gas booster ensures hot water delivery for a variety of hot water demands without the need for user intervention while enabling maximum solar energy contribution to the water heating. For more information on this booster, consult the owner’s manual for the product.

    Over-Temperature Protection System

    The Closed Circuit Series solar water heaters have a means of controlling the maximum temperature of the water in the storage tank. These systems may be installed with a ‘HartStat’ valve located between the hot outlet of the collectors and the inlet to the tank heat exchanger. This valve closes when the tank has reached a sufficiently high temperature, thereby preventing further heat transfer to the tank, and thus limiting its temperature.

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