Help with solar I boost

[Buchel]

Hi guys & girls I come across this forum whilst searching for help on the solar I boost. I have moved into a new build flat that has this system to heat the water, problem is none of us oldies really know how it works, well I sort of get it but getting conflicting answers, so if anyone could help I would be internally grateful

We have solar I boost+ and eco mega flow cylinder.
I am assuming the timed sessions twice a day are being run by mains electricity (paid for) or if enough solar power it will use that? I am assuming the same for manual boost, but have been told this manual boost only comes from mains electricity (paid for)? Between the morning timed session and the evening timed session it will pull from only the solar as and when needed if enough there but will not pull from mains electricity? So if we toggle and turn off all timed sessions will it just pull from solar as and if there is enough generated? Or does it have to have some timed sessions? Bit confused as the timed sessions, one is early in the morning before the sun is even out. if so what are we best doing, are heating is electric so costing a lot and we obviously don’t want to be paying for hot water if we don’t need to be or because our timers are all to pot, thank you for reading on behalf of me and another 21 tenants

 

[marconi]

Paignton pete: Hello. As I had the time while I waited for my wife I looked up a few things to do with hot water systems. Before I say more is the timer connected to the upper element to provide a guaranteed grid powered daily top up for 'half' the tank for the client's comfort and convenience or is it for a regular guaranteed grid powered pasteurisation cycle to prevent legionella? If the latter then the whole tank must be heated to 60C and kept there for an hour at least once a month but maybe more frequently (eg in a care home) so the lower element is used. This cycle is necessary for those systems for which the primary heat source cannot reliably heat the whole volume water in the tank to 60C often enough eg solar and heat pumps.

 

[Deleted account]

Paignton pete: Hello. As I had the time while I waited for my wife I looked up a few things to do with hot water systems. Before I say more is the timer connected to the upper element to provide a guaranteed grid powered daily top up for 'half' the tank for the client's comfort and convenience or is it for a regular guaranteed grid powered pasteurisation cycle to prevent legionella? If the latter then the whole tank must be heated to 60C and kept there for an hour at least once a month but maybe more frequently (eg in a care home) so the lower element is used. This cycle is necessary for those systems for which the primary heat source cannot reliably heat the whole volume water in the tank to 60C often enough eg solar and heat pumps.

this is for my own property. I’ve just had solar installed and put a pressurised cylender in for all my hot water. I used to have gas combi for hot water.

the intention is to use any spare electric to heat up the cylinder, hence the solar iboost.

setting the bottom immersion to 70 is just a means of storing more of the power from the solar avoiding waist. Also if I have a cloudy day I may not get enough sun to get all the way to full temp.

the top immersion at 55. Is for comfortable hot water when i don’t produce enough in a day. It was also for the legenella.

But you mention 60degrees for 1 hour the whole tank. I have read 55 degrees is sufficient, but didn’t take into account the whole tank. I will do a boost function for once a week on the solar iboost For the lower immersion to coincide with one of the daily boost top ups. Hopefully I can do that once a week.

I will look into the 60 degrees issue and adjust accordingly.

Thanks Marconi, there is always something I don’t consider and always worth getting another perspective.

edit: looks like I read the wrong article on legionella. It stated 55-60 degrees was fine, but all other articles have stated 60 d3grees. I will be altering that.

 

[marconi]

Anti-Legionella systems to consider - Urban Environments - https://www.urbanenvironments.co.uk/2018/04/05/anti-legionella-systems-consider/

 

[Deleted account]

Anti-Legionella systems to consider - Urban Environments - https://www.urbanenvironments.co.uk/2018/04/05/anti-legionella-systems-consider/

That’s really interesting. I was aware of the legionella when converting. Even though I didn’t think it through properly.
how many others are doing what I’ve done with the explosion of solar being fitted and have no concept of legionella control.

the part about the expansion vessel being a place of legionella growth is a bit strange, if it was an issue surely it would have caused some concerns before now Considering how many expansion vessels are out there.
My thinking it may be another money making scheme for a new technology.
to make people think they need something that isn’t needed. inventing a solution to a problem that may not exist.

 

[marconi]

Paignton Pete: if you Google ‘smart immersion heaters’ you will find some elements and smart controllers which include anti legionella modes.

And this example:

How the Nest thermostat helps prevent Legionella bacteria - Google Nest Help - https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9256656?hl=en-GB

 

[Aaron b]

Water in the cylinder will have a temperature gradient called stratification where the bottom of the cylinder can be quite cool. The boost works the top element to give hot water quickly without heating the who tank.

I went out to one last week, there were two outputs for immersions but only one used. It looks like a good idea but I was surprised by the cost and found it odd that it needed active cooling.

 

[Deleted account]

Water in the cylinder will have a temperature gradient called stratification where the bottom of the cylinder can be quite cool. The boost works the top element to give hot water quickly without heating the who tank.

I went out to one last week, there were two outputs for immersions but only one used. It looks like a good idea but I was surprised by the cost and found it odd that it needed active cooling.

Hi Aaron, is this boost that heats the top immersion only, part of a solar iboost system. As instructions state that the boost function will only work by heating both immersions intermittently if they are both wired through the iboost.

Also what is Active cooling? Can you explain that one?

 

[Aaron b]

Hi Aaron, is this boost that heats the top immersion only, part of a solar iboost system. As instructions state that the boost function will only work by heating both immersions intermittently if they are both wired through the iboost.

Also what is Active cooling? Can you explain that one?

The one I was looking at was a boost+ with only one element wired up to channel one.

With active cooling I meant there's a fan in the controller, I know they will be in a hot environment but it seems a bit overkill.

Why not fit a tmv to limit the water at the taps?

 

[Macsamillion]

The active cooling is required as it produces a bit of heat hence the minimum clearance distances. Mine has cut out in high temp a few times.

 

[swaRRR]

Thank you, all we have been told is the top flats have solar panels to heat hot water when enough is generated, but don’t really understand why the timings that have been entered are fist thing in morning and late in the evening

Just came to comment on what a nice neat job that is. Kudos to whoever did it.