Installation & Product Info
How the system works
The panels are mounted on, or in the roof, and are made from an Aluminium Manganese one-piece casting, without rivets or screws. The casing is rust proof and the collector is covered with safety glass that is hailstone resistant. Inside the panel is a corrosion resistant absorber plate and a copper heat transfer tube.
The panel contains a specially formulated harmless glycol solution that is within a sealed heat transfer system. The pipework for this system is covered with very tough temperature resistant insulation, to prevent heat loss. The heat is carried through the pipe work and then pumped through your hot water cylinder to heat up the stored water.
When daylight strikes the panel the light is absorbed into the panel and converted into heat. This heats up the heat transfer fluid in the copper heat transfer pipe. When the temperature in the panel is higher than the temperature in your hot water cylinder a digital controller activates the pump. The heat transfer fluid in the heat pipe pumps heat into your cylinder, which in turn heats up the water. When you have sufficient hot water in the cylinder the pump stops. If you draw hot water off (for example by running a bath) as the cold water enters the system the drop in cylinder temperature is sensed by the controller and it starts up the pump to bring the cylinder water temperature to the desired level.
Some questions you might have
Below are some questions that we are asked frequently. If you have a question and it isn't covered, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Its not very sunny today. Will the system work?
Although they work best in direct sunlight, very good performance will be given in the indirect light (or diffuse radiation) of a cloudy day.
How much sunlight is required?
Genersys Solar panels are powered by light. It does not have to be direct sunshine. There is sufficient energy in a cloudy day for the panels to collect energy for your hot water.
We estimate that our collectors will produce around 70% of your hot water over the year. They will produce more in the summer when the days are long, and less in winter - the 70% is an approximate overall figure based on average hot water usage.
We estimate that in December, when the days are short, they will only make a small contribution to your hot water needs. However in the summer, when the days are longer they will produce up to 93% or more of your hot water, all free and all produced in an environmentally friendly way.
At times when there is insufficient light to power the system (for example at night or on a rainy or foggy day in late December) the water is heated by your gas boiler or your electric immersion heater, in the traditional way. These will be the only times that you will be burning fossil fuel when heating your hot water.
Households on average spend between 27% to 35% of their total energy cost on heating water. Panels, which act as a supplement to existing water heating arrangements, significantly reduce bills and at the same time substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Will the system still work in very cold weather?
Yes, the system will work in much colder temperatures than we experience in this country. Some of our collectors are fitted to Alpine Hotels where the really cold weather is experienced; they work perfectly well in conditions of down to minus 30°C.
How much servicing does the system need?
Very little. Inside, keep an eye on the pressure gauge on the pumping station. It should be around 3 to 5 bar. Every month you should check visually that nothing has gone wrong outside. Every three years the integrity of the glycol solution can be checked and tested.
Will I have to source any other products to make the system work?
No, we can supply everything that is needed for a fully working system, including all the controls and pumps. There are also a number of optional extras available to adapt the system to suit individual needs.
I have heard that global warming is caused by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. How much of these gases would your system produce?
The Genersys Hot Water System produces no emissions whatsoever. It is entirely without any discharge of greenhouse gases or other pollution.
How much carbon dioxide does my system save?
We estimate that your system will save one tonne of carbon dioxide per year, which is the equivalent to about a large sack of soot annually. Over the life of the system, dozens of tonnes will be saved.
