Apricus Solar Systems (ECT)

Apricus Solar Systems New Zealand supply evacuated tube solar hot water systems also known as open loop solar systems. Heating water is usually the single biggest energy user in your home, a solar hot water system can reduce your hot water charges and save approximately a quarter of your regular power bill. Customers with solar hot water systems find they have incredibly low bills during summer along with a significant reduction during winter.

You can expect to earn a great return on a solar hot water investment within six to eight years, much quicker that the expected turn around from a solar PV system; currently ten years. Each system has a life expectancy of over 20 years, that means free hot water for more than a decade after the initial payback. This will be quicker as power prices continue to increase.

Passive Solar Tracking: Tubes provide a greater surface area than flat solar panels, they take up less roof space and perform better in shady or cloudy conditions.

Cold Weather Performance: The unique design of an Apricus system can be used in temperatures as low as -15°C. There are special designs available for locations with even lower temperatures.

End of Life Recyclability: Ensure minimal end of life environmental impact. All the key components can be readily recycled in standard, local systems.

Suited for Coast Conditions: The anodised frame treatment combined with marine grade 316SS attachment plates, tube clips, nuts, bolts and washers make the collector extremely durable in coastal installations.

There are 4 models to choose from the ECT10 to the EXT40. The ECT10 model is only suitable for a tiny home. All systems supplied the following components:

• Apricus ETC manifold & evacuated tubes
• Flat to roof anodized aluminium frame
• Grundfos 1520 (standard)
• Controller – Apricus AL E HE (on-board element control) OR SolaSmart S1R (prewired, no element control)
• Non-return valve

Water Storage

Add HWC required. We recommend the Rheem Stainless Steel 300L cylinder. Read more about the Rheem cylinder here.

How It Works:

• The solar hot water collector converts sunlight into usable heat, warming the liquid in the header pipe.
• Once the temperature in the header pipe is measured to be hotter than the water located in the bottom of the storage tank (T2), the pump will turn on. The liquid is slowly circulated through the header pipe in the collector, heating by ~7oC during each pass.
• Apricus systems are usually installed to use the water directly from the hot water cylinder. In some areas, a coil in the cylinder is used to protect against hard frosts or water quality issues. Throughout the day, the water in the storage tank is gradually heated up.
• The temperature in the top of the solar tank (T3) is monitored and the solar system is shut down (or excess heat is dissipated) once a maximum temperature (~75oC) has been reached.
• If the water is not already hot enough from solar input, then traditional heating systems boosts the solar pre-heated water up to the required temperature. Often, the booster is an electrical element inside the solar cylinder, or it can be a wetback, central heating system or gas water heater. Since the water has already been heated by solar energy, less energy is required to heat further.

• Read More about this product here.
• For warranty information please visit our warranty policy..
• Use our online chat facility to ask any questions!