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SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION LOG
PROGRESS
REPORT:
November
8, 2002: Pump timers and controls upgrade
When
I added the extra pump and 2nd floor thermostat,
I
found that I was constantly running around to the thermostats
to
be able to turn the pumps on and off for testing.
I
decided to add a switch to my thermostat relay box that
would
let me manually override the thermostat to
OFF,
ON or AUTO (thermostat control).
This
saves a lot of time and allows me to check the operation
of
the system manually.
I
also decided to add timers to the pumps so I could
monitor
how long the system was running each day.
Now
I keep a log of the pump times and outside temperature
so
I can monitor system performance.
It
is already quite clear that the 2 extra collectors have significantly
reduced
my propane consumption. On a clear sunny day
collector
temperatures are from 180 to 250F depending
on
the outside ambient temperatures.
By
the end of a typical sunny day my storage tank temperature
will
be 150F or higher, which means much less propane consumption
to
heat the building the following night! In fact I have found that
the circulation
pumps run for over an hour before any propane is
required
to maintain 140F. Then, gradually the Aquastar propane
heater
automatically contributes more heat as the outflow from the
storage
tank drops below 140F. It takes several hours for the outflow
from
the storage tank to drop down to it's nominal 70F which is the
return
temperature from the radiant floor loop.