SunMor SM-V30 Solar Water Heater Installation Manual Rev. 1.02 Congratulations on the purchase of your new SunMor SM-V30 from Nature s Comfort LLC! You must read this entire instruction manual before beginning installation to completely understand system requirements. Aquastats, heat exchangers, mixing valves, pex pipe, valves and brass pex fittings are all available from your Nature s Comfort Dealer or you may order directly by calling 608-519-4664. If you should ever have a problem or question refer to this manual and then call your dealer. If your dealer does not have the information you need, request they contact Nature s Comfort and we will further educate them to provide the best possible customer service. Please keep in mind that Nature s Comfort has no control over the installation, water heater configuration, weather conditions, or the efficiency of a building s insulation.
How It Works The SunMor SM-V30 by Nature s Comfort LLC is a solar water heater that uses the sun s radiant energy to heat water through the use of 30 double wall vacuum insulated glass tubes. Each tri-element glass tube has a coating on the outside of the inner layer of glass made up of nitrogen aluminum to absorb heat on top of a copper coating to transfer and hold in the heat. The copper coating provides extra efficiency and is a benefit to the Nature s Comfort brand that other solar evacuated tube systems do not have. As water is heated through the glass tubes it rises into the storage tank and cooler water falls to the bottom of each tube to circulate by thermo-siphoning. The double wall vacuum insulated glass tubes provide the best insulation and won t freeze the water inside during winter nights. Heat production can reach up to 36,000 btu s per day. The cold water line into your domestic water heater will be interrupted to first run to the copper coil heat exchanger in the SM-V30 s storage tank which also must split off with a T fitting to feed water pressure to the auto-fill tank. When a faucet is turned on, water heated by the sun surrounding the coil in the storage tank heats the domestic water as it runs through the copper coil which then enters your domestic water heater. Utility energy is typically kept turned on to maintain water temperature and in case demand overcomes solar production. Safety Notes Always wear gloves and safety glasses whenever installing or working on or around the system. Tubes without water in them can reach over 400 degrees inside. DO NOT LOOK INTO OR PLACE YOUR FINGERS IN A TUBE. CAUTION! Water temperatures can exceed 200F! See additional information throughout this manual. Never close off the vent pipe as the SM-V30 is an atmospheric pressure (non-pressurized) system and damage can occur if the tank is pressurized. Specifications Tank - 66 gallon (auto-fill tank: 2 gallon) 304SS, 23-26ga., 2-1/4 polyurethane integral foam (R-Value of 13.5) Outer Tank Material - Painted Steel, 26-29 Gauge Copper coil - 1/2 or 5/8 diameter, 3/64 thickness, 100 length Heat preservation - 72 hours Vacuum Tube Composition - Triple Target, Magnetron Sputtering Plating, High Borosilicate Tube quantity & size qty: 30, 2-1/4 o.d. (1-13/16 i.d.) x 70-7/8, 2mm thick, hail resistance up to 1 Absorption area - 2 x 65.5 x 30 tubes = 27.3 sqft Frame Material - Aluminum Alloy Frame angle - 45
Placement of the Solar Water Heater The SM-V30 must be positioned facing due-south for maximum exposure to the sun and also kept as close as possible to where your water heater tank is located for the best efficiency. The solar water heater can be placed anywhere that is convenient, including on a rooftop (modification of frame is required due to roof angle). Make sure to follow building codes for weight distribution and use flashing and sealant wherever a wall or roof is penetrated. Assembly Always wear gloves and safety glasses! 1. Assemble the frame and mount level and securely, then mount the storage tank. Put the plastic tube-end holders in place on the bottom of the frame (may be black or white). NOTE! When installing fittings in the tank ports do not over tighten or the welds on the storage tank will break. (Refer to the drawing later in this manual for plumbing hookup) 2. Install a ¾ T on the cold side of the copper coil heat exchanger (blue port). 3. Interrupt the cold water line into your domestic water heater to first run to the ¾ T in the previous step. It is recommended to install T s and valves for isolating and cleaning the copper coil heat exchanger (See example drawing. Cleaning instructions are given later in this manual). 4. Install the nipple in the auto-fill tank and place onto the main storage tank with the rubber spacer underneath. 5. Branch off the side of the ¾ T with a ½ line to the valve port on the auto-fill tank (remove top to confirm which port is the valve). 6. Off the extra port from the auto-fill valve, run a ½ line to drain water that overflows from heat expansion to a desired area (take water scale, staining and temperature into consideration). 7. Insert the long vent nipple into the vent port beside the auto-fill tank. Keep level with auto-fill tank top. 8. Run a line from the remaining copper coil heat exchanger (red port) to the cold water input of the domestic water heater. 9. All water lines must be super insulated using closed-cell foam insulation. Heat tape will be necessary to install on exterior lines BEFORE you insulate. Use a heat tape that has a thermostat so it will only turn on if it gets cold to save energy. 10. Plug any unused ports that are left.
11. ONLY INSTALL THE GLASS TUBES AND FILL WITH WATER IN THE MORNING BEFORE DAYLIGHT. Doing so at any other time will cause the glass tubes to shatter due the extreme temperature difference of the glass tubes reaching over 400 degrees being hit with unheated water. Heat is still produced on cloudy days and if empty, the tubes take a long time to cool down after dark! The other option is to have the water lines installed first and water turned on for the auto-fill valve to let water flow and fill a tube right as it is installed. Keep the glass tubes completely covered from sunlight until ready to immediately install. Before inserting a glass tube into the manifold, coat the end with soapy water before and after putting the black rubber trim ring on and also coat the manifold gasket for ease of installation. Carefully install each tube into the manifold by twisting and pushing in to the manifold as straight as possible. Use controlled, firm pressure. The tubes will suddenly slide easily once fully pushed though the manifold gasket. Use extreme caution not to insert too far so as to bump into the copper coil heat exchanger and causing the glass tube to shatter. Not using enough soapy water can cause the rubber silicone sealing ring to roll in to the tank, requiring draining of the system if not discovered until after filling. 12. Using the same twisting method, pull to seat the tubes in place in the plastic cups on bottom end of the frame. Slide the cups left or right to keep tubes evenly spaced (if applicable). Additional Safety Notes, Installing Multiple Systems NEVER LEAVE OR ALLOW AN ASSEMBLED SM-V30 TO BE EMPTY. If left empty, the empty air space will heat to over 400F and cause the storage tank to warp. The SM-V30 is a non-pressurized system only and must always be vented and water pressure continually fed to the auto-fill valve to keep the main storage tank full of water. Keep snow cleaned off the glass tubes using only a soft bristle brush. Never use hard tools or scrapers. Keep tubes clean and clear of dust for best solar performance For those who have larger demand that want to use multiple SM-V30 systems, put the domestic lines to and from the copper coil heat exchangers of the SM-V30 s in series. Install the line to the auto-fill valve as usual (hot water from the first system is permitted for auto-filling the next system). Up to (2) SunMor SM-H60 s from Nature s Comfort can also be tied in using the extra 1 ports on the main tank. It is strongly recommended to install a water tempering (mixing) valve on the hot water output of the domestic water heater to prevent scalding water temps (available from Nature s Comfort). Use softened water for the longest life and prevention of scale buildup in the storage tank, tubes and copper coil.
Maintenance If the end of a tube is clear or a chalky white instead of silver colored, the vacuum seal has failed and the tube is no longer insulated and must be replaced. To clean scale buildup in the copper coil heat exchanger (Isolation valves must be installed. See drawing earlier in this manual): CAUTION! Water will be scalding hot! 1. Close valves A & D to isolate off the domestic water. 2. Fill the coil with white vinegar through valve B and let water flush out of valve C until coil is full of white vinegar and close valves. Let sit for 4 hours, then open valve C, then A to fully flush out vinegar. 3. Close valve B & C and open valve A & D to put back in service. 4. Repeat if necessary until clean. To clean scale buildup in the main storage tank and/or tubes : CAUTION! Water will be scalding hot! 1. Turn off domestic supply and drain 10 gallons of water from the main storage tank. 2. Add 10 gallons of white vinegar through the auto-fill tank and let sit for 4 hours. 3. Remove bottom plug to drain the main storage tank. 4. Remove each solar tube individually to empty and rinse out vinegar solution (keep covered from daylight until ready to re-install and fill with water!). 5. Rinse out main storage tank by spraying up through solar tube ports. 6. Turn on domestic water supply for auto-fill tank to fill solar tubes as they are re-installed. 7. Re-install tubes and repeat procedure if needed until clean. Warranty 1 year on main storage tank and auto-fill tank/valve and 5 years on solar tubes. This covers manufacturing defects. Enjoy your free hot water! All drawings and pictures are copyrighted material and are the property of Nature s Comfort. No unauthorized use is permitted without written permission from Nature s Comfort LLC, 3790 N SR 5, Shipshewana, IN 46565