Got my solar hot water panel on the roof!

[Gotwind Ben]

Mmm.
I would have thought a full copper tank would 'thud' with a finger tapping indicating full rather than a 'ring' indicating empty?

Nevertheless a lucky escape as you say Shawn.

I hope the final install went succesfully, images are also helpful to explain your journey - takes time I appreciate.

Good luck.

I was once told by a very experienced builder that he was amazed at how many people would mess around with electrics but would not touch plumbing.

The worst that can happen with plumbing (exlcuding gas) is that you get wet. With electrics the worst that can happen is you kill yourself (or even worse someone else).

Good to hear it all worked out ok, I've been in similiar situations myself so I know the feeling. A top tip is that in an emergency a leaking copper pipe can sealed quite well by squashing it flat with a hammer.

It works!
Turned the water on yesterday and the header tank and copper tank filled up. Flooded the solar pipes as well and all was fine.
At 4pm My Cuz came and we started fitting the vacuum tubes by 6pm they were in with no breakages. By the time I fitted the last one my arm was burnt by the copper pipe coming out of it.
This morning the temperature started to climb at 8.15am and by 9.30am I'd had a shower and my wife had washed the pots.
The washing machine is on now on 40 degree economy wash.!

The top pic is nearly my layout minus the pump and with my solar panel falling level with my tank.
The next pic is where the top pipe is spliced into the copper tanks vent pipe.
the next is where the bottom pipe is spliced into the cold feed to the copper tank,and the pipe going off to the left is my overflow/dump pipe for emergency's and winter.

Plastic pipe?

I appreciate your concern for my safety Brian!
So today I took the temperature sensor and taped it to the solar panels output pipe and then insulated it all round. It's top temperature was 51.9°C and the pipe clearly states that it has been tested to 3 Bar at 92°C Its used in central heating systems and I was not about to pay £400 like some do for insulated stainless steel tube.

To prove the thermosyphon affect I can tell you that when the output is hot the input is cold, as is the entire input line.
So thats me done!

[Gotwind Ben]

Remember Shawn,
it is July, what will you do for heat come January, wood burner?

I'm sure you have it covered, just wonndering

Shaun,
I have a sealed fully pumped solar circuit and one day the controller decided that is wasn't going to switch the pump on. and the temperature of the manifold output rose to 130°C.
The thing that would concern me is if your solar circuits flow got reduced(sludge in the pipe or pipes freezing) the temperature of the manifold would rise a lot.
Maybe something to keep your eye on.

BTW 30 tube panel and some spare tubes arrived yesterday will have 50 tubes running soon.

Remember Shawn,
it is July, what will you do for heat come January, wood burner?

I'm sure you have it covered, just wondering

Had a wood burner for about 15 years. Get heating and hot water from it. Log prices are comparable with gas but the system runs hotter so we save the wood for when its really cold instead of turning up the gas.
Got about a tonne of wood cut and ready just from tree's we felled in our garden last year.
Will order another tonne in September so we know its been on the top of the pile and is well seasoned.

My system is vented Brian, in fact its the vent pipe on my tank that I've gone into, Its the actual tap water that I'm heating so no sludge. Its impossible for my system to exceed 100°C as its not pressurised and there are no additives in the water.

Just make sure you can vent the steam safely if it hits 100 degrees.