outlander
Member
I had an Apricus 40 tuber installed a couple of weeks ago. If all goes to plan I will write up a piece on it later about the experience and pitfalls etc, but for now the temperature is a little concerning.
Figures I'm getting now are
-Header outlet 75c
-Bottom tank 30c
-Top tank 50c
The flow meter just jiggles a bit, never actually moving to the top anywhere above .5L
Could someone with a similar system tell me if their flow meter gets any higher, or even better post a picture?
cnheu
Member
Hi Outlander,
Your best bet is to call up Apricus After-Sales on 1300 277 428.
Having said that there are a couple of possible issues.
1) If you have those figures as you've listed, the pump should be running, it should physically be vibrating. If it's running, this means the controller is telling it to turn on (based on the temperature difference between tank and roof), and therefore the controller is not faulty.
2) Based on the conclusion in number 1). There are two likely issues: 1) An air gap in the solar loop, if the system wasn't properly commissioned and flooded by the installer, 2) if you have long pipe runs, 2/3 storey house, the fricitional head loss may be too much, so try as amun-ra said turning up the pump speed. There is a knob on the black part of the pump.
3) The other alternative is that the controller connection/controller itself is faulty. But if you're still able to operate it, and all the temp values are showing on the screen, its most likely a pump issue (as above).
Let me know how it goes. Feel free to e-mail me cnheu@apricus.com.au
outlander
Member
Good call amun. I thought the screw near the check valve may have been some kind of drain screw so I didn't touch it before, lest I get sprayed with hot water and have my face melted off (aka facial scene from the mummy). I just tried turning it a little now though, and the flow meter shot straight up, so that was my problem. However it happened, the check valve? was cranked shut all the way to the left.After turning it a little to the right, the temperatures started to drop immediately, and now the flow meter shows just under 2.5l/m. horray
Morbo
Member
it should have a bleeding valve installed at its highest point. If there is none and its still under warranty, of just even installed, better get them to fix it.
Had to drain mine a few times since its been installed, never ever had to bleed it afterwards.
no steam no air problem mains pressure open system refill the tank then turn on a tap inside the house no problems air is vented through the tap if your system is other than Apricus then it may require other components because all solar is not created equal every system is different
You forgot the circulation pump. Of course you can pump a little air downhill.
And steam does not matter as it will condense eventually.
Besides as long as the system is under sufficient pressure there will be no steam as long as the temperature is below the boiling point of water at that pressure.
Hoon84
Member
outlander said:
The flow meter just jiggles a bit, never actually moving to the top anywhere above .5L
Could someone with a similar system tell me if their flow meter gets any higher, or even better post a picture?
As an Apricus installer, this is a very simple problem to diagnose that had me puzzled the first time it happened.
Generally, most of the flow meters seem to be factory set at the lowest flow rate.
Simply grab a small flat screwdriver and turn the screw on the flow meter clockwise until the bottom of the red indicator is reading 2.5 l/min.
If your flow & return is quite long ie: more than 20m each way, or a double storey house, it may be necessary to flick the pump to speed 2. However I have only ever had to do this once.
Hope this helps 
Morbo
Member
flow meter, ay. Seems apricus, got a long way. Got an AAE 3 years ago (offspin of apricus they say), no flow meter and dodgy sensors:
Lucky there is apricus installers these days, plumber mocked it up back then, claimed it was different to others he die. But I reckon, the tank connections are all the same.
for the air, still not convinced, happy to have the bleeding valve up there.
Do you have options on your tank these days, or do you still have to get one with electric heating element, even though you will have a gas booster (cause AAE or apricus could not find one to laser cut blanking plates to suit, a few cents each in mirror finished stainless).
Peasants
Member
Hello all...hope you can help...while otherwise all OK for te elast couple of years , just lately we have been experiencing a low hot water flow with our Apricus system ( about two years old) .... we are not on mains and have a pressure pump feeding water to the house and to the system...the pump and pressure airpot have just been renewed .....so all is reasonably new and functional.... I see there was a note fro others with a similar low flow re adjusting flow at the tank...is this relevant to us... or is it possible our new pressure pump and airpot is the problem??..
all the best
Peasants
Greg
Member
Curious. All that comes to mind is filters. If you are on tank water a gross filter is recommended (or strainer ) prior to the pump and if you like a finer filter after the pump. I found in the shower that there were two flow reducer / filters. One was completely blocked and cleaning it solved my problem. I've yet to get the filter install after the pump. Where does the time go ?
Hopefully someone wiser can diagnose your problem. Good luck.
Peasants
Member
Thanks for the comments Greg......called Apricus help line....they put me on to their specialist plumber (Tony) who comes out to check such things...v. good indeed.... v. professional....apparently the sensor lead had not been installed correctly and it had fallen out .....all v good now..
Thanks again
Peasants...
Peasants
Member
Greg ..yes was a temperature sensor...Thanks.... Amun Ra.... I dont understand it at all...Tony said it was something to do with the pump only getting part of its data and we were getting a poor hot water exchange into the tank....the hot being mixed was not really hot at all... with the sensor now in the very high temps now allow a small amount of very hot to be mixed with the existing cold ( and being more of it we get a great shower)... don't understand it really..
