Green Building Forum - Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

Joiner — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:31:48 +0000

http://www.solexenergy.co.uk/

Or have I not been listening?

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

DamonHD — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:38:20 +0000

You haven't been paying attention. JSH was considering them for example, or at least generic solar tiles.

Rgds

Damon

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

Joiner — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:43:56 +0000

I was more interested in the slates though. Never thought to google "slates" instead because I assumed (obviously wrongly) that for some reason the extra bulk was needed. But thanks.

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

JSHarris — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:57:38 +0000

Yes, I had a good look at them. They look to be an ideal solution for integrating ST (and PV, because they do PV ones too) into a slate roof. I went to look at the ST solution and to be honest I wasn't greatly impressed. If this is the same system then it will be a mat made from black rubber with moulded pipes in it. This mat lays between the battens and is covered by glass "slates". The pipes in the mat are connected up at the ends and fed to the system in the normal way.

I'm sure my worries were unfounded, but looking at the system in the flesh didn't inspire confidence!

There are pictures illustrating the system here: http://www.solexenergy.co.uk/userfiles/file/Nu-Lok%20slates%20datasheet_web.pdf

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

borpin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:10:26 +0000

http://www.nu-sustainable.co.uk/

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

thornewyness — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:39:15 +0000

JS, what didn't you like in particular about the solex system...I was thinking of using it.

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

JSHarris — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:53:16 +0000

Posted By: thornewynessJS, what didn't you like in particular about the solex system...I was thinking of using it.

To be honest it just looked a bit Heath Robinson to me, with dozens of rubber to copper pipe joins at the end of each row. I'm sure it's fine in practice, but I had visions of trying to keep the whole thing leak-proof over years and the damage consequences of the thing leaking from all those joints that are under the weatherproof glass covering. I also had reservations about the life time of the rubber mats, as they are going to be exposed to a lot of sunlight and heat.

There wasn't much information on them from the chap from Nu-Sustainable that I spoke to, either. f they've got good evidence that the things don't leak and have a long lifetime them I'm probably just being a bit overly cautious.

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

DarylP — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:58:18 +0000

The Solex (Solar HW) system is a great idea, from what I have seen....

I have a sample 'slate' and a section of the membrane that I demo to prospective clients. The membrane is a thick rubber 'strip' about 8" wide, with several round channels running through it.
Very hard wearing, it has been thrown around the floor of the van for a year or so, with no damage visible....

Of course UV-resistance will be the deciding factor, but I beleive they have got that sorted?
The area of collector is (as a proportion of roof area) greater than ET and FP collectors.

It was used on the PassivHaus on GD, the building under the stone barn.

We have two clients who considering it at the moment.

Cheers..

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

DarylP — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:02:15 +0000

JSH,

I think the system that you saw, with the copper conectors at the end of each row, was incorrectly installed?
The Solex system is rolled out, then turned at the verge, and rolled back across the roof, and so on....

It has copper connectors at the start and end of the membrane 'strip', where the pipework meets the membrane.

Does this make sense..?

Cheers..

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

JSHarris — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:09:36 +0000

Posted By: DarylPJSH,

I think the system that you saw, with the copper conectors at the end of each row, was incorrectly installed?
The Solex system is rolled out, then turned at the verge, and rolled back across the roof, and so on....

It has copper connectors at the start and end of the membrane 'strip', where the pipework meets the membrane.

Does this make sense..?

Cheers..

Maybe you're right, it wasn't an installation I looked at but a demo roof section. I just assumed that those copper connectors ran all the way up to connect each strip.

Out of curiosity, how do they stop the pipes kinking at the ends where it does a U turn back to the next row?

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

DarylP — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:20:20 +0000

JSH,

Well.... they slit the membrane in between the 'pipes', into 8 or so parallel sections, then turn it on itself, and roll it back, it seems that the 'pipes' have enough wall strength not to collapse when they bend and turn.

The section that I have is only about a foot long, and I don't want to split it, but I can imagine that the 'pipes' would hold up..?

Ask me in a year, and I should have some real-world installation examples ....

Cheers

Haven't seen solar slates talked about on here before...

Joiner — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:26:50 +0000

Yeah, if you open the link I give in my OP and follow the link to solar slates you get a pdf which describes the system in detail. It put me off for the same reason as Jeremy.