solar - direct or indirect

[RigidRaider]

Have you seen Viridian Solar? http://www.viridiansolar.co.uk/

Their system is drain-down and looks rather nifty, it's really designed for simple installation in new builds. Their technical staff on the phone are articulate and well trained. I have already installed a second hand unused 160 litre cylinder in the attic in tandem above the existing cylinder with provision for the weight of water and when funds allow we will buy a Viridian panel and setup to run through the coil. This seems like the simplest way for a DIYer like me to add solar at low cost with little disruption to the existing system.

 

[Agile]

You dont have to put the second cylinder above the existing although doing so can increase storage capacity in some situations.

Its very easy to use the first standard cylinder as the solar heat cylinder and feed the output to the existing cylinder which is then heated up further if required by the boiler.

That has the advantage that standard cylinders can be used without having to buy the over priced ones sold specifically for solar.

Tony