Apricus 315ltr Tank Questions & Answers
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I have a 30 tube, 315 litre Apricus in Melbourne, installed in 2014. It worked well for a few years but has barely heated water for the last 2 years. I have had the temperature sensors and controller replaced but it still does not heat properly. The roof collector temperature only reaches about 40 degrees in direct summer sunshine. I removed one of the glass tubes and found that there was no grease/paste on the metal bulb at the top of the tube. Could the absence of thermal paste be the problem or do I need to replace the 30 tubes? How can I check that individual tubes are actually working?
Thanks for any suggestions.
Good luck Richard. I had a tank develop a leak and they have done nothing but throw up barriers to accepting any liability. Mine was only five years old and they argue I haven’t maintained it properly!! Lots of words but no real support from Apricus. Buyer beware!!
Hi Richard,
Thank you for your enquiry. Could you please contact Hannah in our Aftersales team on 1300 277 428 or email her at [email protected]. There are some simple tests we can have you run on the system to check the solar components and their performance to see help resolve your issue.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Apricus Australia
I am having as similar problem with my array after 14 years. A new controller did not fix the temperature problem.I now have to keep the boost on continually 24/7 to maintain at least 50C in the tank.
It sounds to me that, like me, you need to replace the copper heat tubes inside the glass tubes. Mine were replaced under warranty by Apricus and the system seems to be working well now. The warranty on the tubes is for 15 years.
Hi Cliff,
Could you please contact Hannah in our Aftersales team on 1300 277 428 or email her at [email protected]. There are some simple tests we can have you run on the system to check the solar components and their performance to see help resolve your issue.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Apricus Australia
Hi, I have the 315 / 30 tube system. North Facing 23deg. installed 2012. Slowly diminishing over the years in fact I don't think it has ever worked properly. Had the Controller changed from the beginning by the seller. Made no difference ( he even said it should be topping out ). a 27 degree day with full sun all day will be lucky to get to 55deg. tried new heat paste, sensors all seem OK. I have a feel it may be crook tubes. would like to rule out.... ? sick of paying for too much gas backup.
Who manufactures the water heaters - 315ltr
Hi Liam,
Thank you for your question. It depends which tank you are referring to. Our Glass-lined tanks are made by DUX whilst our stainless steal tanks are manufactured by Wise Living or Wilson.
Please do not hesitate to contact us on 1300 277 428 if you have any further queries.
Kind regards,
Apricus Australia
Hot water in the morning. Sunny 20 degree days. Water temp only 24 degrees when I get home from work with no usage. What the ? Pump is running when temp at collector is less than temp in tank??? Please explain?
Why was my review, submitted yesterday, Monday 8th Dec. 2022, on the ability to ascertain whether copper tubes have failed or not rejected? The review was constructive and not over critical, If Apricus are to continue in the market place then they need to be more proactive.
RPG
the review submitted had not yet been replied too, however, was not rejected and still showing under your original post. It has been duly answered.
Water is going cold overnight. If we don’t use the booster we have tepid showers. Yesterday was a warm sunny day temperature today in holding tank is 27degrees?
Is the pump functioning to push water up to the roof? I have three of these. Also is the controller still functioning. I had one of those replaced
Hello Phil, How do I ascertain that the pump is working? The controller has digital display so I assume it is working.
How do I tell? Sorry but not very tech or mechanically savvy.
Hi Suzie, we would be happy to assist you with troubleshooting. Please can you call Apricus Customer Service on 1300 277 428 for assistance.
Solid clunk in pipes it clunks three times in succession sounds like someone driving in a steel post?
315 l 30 tube system installed in Toowoomba.this morning I noticed leakage from the bottom left of the collector. Estimate a few litres/hour. Is this just a coupling that was not properly torqued, or failure of a seal/ Oring?
I have a apricus 315l tank. It was installed in 2017....its installed in my garrage under the hoyse. I notice a lot of water leak which wets a quarter of my garrage floor....is this normal?...what could be wrong?
Tempering valve is it adjustable summer to winter?
I am in the New England area on the slopes
I had my 30 tube system installed in 10/09, I say it is a good system when it is working, But in that time i have dad to replace the pump and controller 3 sensors to top manifold 2 sensors to the bottom tank. Now the top sensor has failed again and the with the extremely cold change we had last weekend the manifold has been damaged by frost because of the sensor falling. So new sensors have been installed but now the controller keeps throwing the elcb out. If either sensors are removed the circuit doesn't throw out, so the fault now is in the controller so another new controller required.
So all up in parts alone in 9 years almost $900 and now due for another controller another $320.Plus the manifold.
Is this normal? .Or have I just had a bad trot ?
Ross
I have had same issues with mine in hobart pump number three in 7 years they seem fragile and i always have trouble getting some one to fix so apricus needs to sort out there after sale service
My 30 tube system is not heating, i only get hot water if the over ride power switch is on at night.
I tested the cycle pump for 240 power it ok but i don't think the pump is working certainly doesn't seem like it.
The led light pump power light is on showing it is pumping but it can't be. Should get a new pump or check for something else first.
The plumber has bled the air from the line last week on the roof but still no hot water at the end of the day. Any ideas? Live in SE Qld.
I'm no plumber Do you have ants when it's cold they like warm on the side of water tank sensor shorting circut my plumber cleaned and puffed a little baby powder anound ants do like it. If your panel shows SSD instead of temp more than likely pump.
You should be able to hear the pump cycling. Stand outside the heating system and see if you can hear it. When it does cycle the float value which is yellow and has some kind of spring in it rises to the top. When the pump is off it sits on the bottom. It cycles all day. Last cycle will be when theres not sun.You can also see the temp of the water by taking the cover off the box. This is helpful as it shows what temp the water is. Press the plus sign to record the temps. One temp is whats cycling through, one temp is the heat on the tubes and one temp is what the temp of the water is.If you have any further questions Ill go and tell you exactly what the readings mean by having a look at ours. You should have hot water all year round in QLD. Have you called Apricus? Forget the plumber go straight to the company.
How old is the system?
what is the price on these systems?
Ours was over $6000 then we got a $2000 rebate. We worked out that after 5 yrs of using this system that this would be the breaking point if we had converted to gas hot water heating. Almost at the 3 year mark.
I cannot remember do some research on line. Sorry
We have a 315L Apricus Solar cylinder - 30 evac tubes on roof - with electric backup which is always turned on. System is approx 2 years old. About 4 months ago the length of time of hot water started to reduce and over a 4 week period to mid May averaged 31 minutes per morning then water started to cool. Today (2 weeks later) we are down to only 18 minutes of hot water before water starts to cool. We are in Tasmania so we expect the electric booster to be on most days and nights. Even so 18 minutes of hot water at 6:30am is not very good.
Any suggestions?
Stuart
Hi Stuart sorry for delay we are in sunny Darwin where the Apricus system would work a dream!!! Sounds like your thermostat has gone. Ours did this. System was 2.5 years old. We had it replaced by electrician $150. All back on track now. Could I ask what your electricity bill is with having your system on all day. We are trialling this to compare it against boosting 2 hrs every day. Louise
How does one adjust the water temperature on a Apricus 30 tube 315ltr HW system please? Tony F.
What do you mean by adjusting the water temperature? Our programe was adjusted by an Apricus installer and a regulator was installed by them as well . Our water is quite hot still as the weather has been very warm here during the day and the sensor and gas does not need to be on . I was advised that winter will be the time that the gas will kick in but it is still very cheap hot water. We have had this system for over a year 1 to 2 people using the hot water and still using the same Gas bottle! I would say thats very economical ! If your having a problem get in touch with Apricus they were extremely helpful and fixed all our problems with their own Installer
Regards Lucia.
Hi Tony
The maximum temperature permitted at your Bathroom fixtures is no greater than 50 degrees Celsius but no such restriction at the Kitchen and Laundry tub - as per the Plumbing Code. If you are experiencing temperatures below that then the most likely cause would be that the Tempering Valve (temp control valve) is either faulty or just needs a slight adjustment, it is very unlikely but low hot water temperatures could be VERY dangerous and you should get the issue addressed immediately - same applies to any hot water system. Feel free to call us and we can talk you through some simple troubleshooting steps and there's a good chance we can diagnose it over the phone.
We went away on holiday for 14days over summer and it appears our Apricus hot water system has dumped over 300,000Lts of water through the Expansion valve on the cold side of the storage tank, as my water bill came just after returning home showing the usage for each month. Question is, does the system have a HOLIDAY mode to stop it making hot water and therefore no Pressure to activate the Expansion valve, or can I simply turn the cold water OFF when im away to stop the system using water, or can I turn OFF the controller to stop it transferring water to the collector . In doing any of these am I risking the collector ? thanks
Hello Steve,
I am from Apricus and my Product development manager has advised of his view on your situation below.
We do not supply these expansion valves with our systems and they are bought and fitted by plumbers as part of the installation materials.
The valve may have failed but to expel that amount of water it would need to be running 15 litres per minute 24/7 for the 14 day period.
There would be flooding in the yard if running on the ground.
You would need to contact valve supplier/installer if the valve we did not supply is leaking to this extent.
If you go on holiday the system will still be fine as plenty of our clients would do this. You do not need to shut anything off.
I hope that answers your question.
Kind Regards,
Luke McKay
Customer Service Manager
Apricus Australia
My question is WHEN do you know its on boost or solar, I would like to see a light or something as I have know idea if it is running on solar or not, ???
The best way to wire them up is to install a switch in the power line to the booster and you can turn it off except when you need it. IN Qld that is only after 2 dull days on our unit I also installed a thermometer in the spare outlet in the top of my 250 L tank and so knew the temp of the water we would be using Only cost $14 on Ebay worked a treat The thermostat is supposed to be set at 60C so the solar normally would have it a lot hotter than that. Depending on the controller you should be able to tell the tank temp from the readout on that.
We have 30 tube system and the manifold has had a fault and was replaced but can someone tell us how the plumber can extract the collector rods/ heat pipes out of the manifold without braking them?
Hi i live in Bendigo Vic with west facing roof Peter Carr Plumbing have suggested a 22 Tub 315 Lt Electric Boost Apricus system, I have had a New Energy System that lasted one year, now an Eco Smart it has just not worked and hard to get any help to fix it had it for 7 Years, my concern is all these Solar hot water units have cost me a lot of money so for with little to no cost savings, ? can i get Government rebates on a new system and will this system be good for me
Hi Rinke
Firstly, from my own experience, I think all this green crap is just that: CRAP! We do not have sufficient development of of materials to do what a good clean coal powered generating station can do AT THIS TIME IN OUR DEVELOPMENT TO POWER OUR HOMES. Having said that, i did invest in an Apricus Solar Hot water system, as it impressed me with the way in which it operated. I only got 1 1/2 years out of it before the electric water pump died - and left me with a huge $625 bill for a replacement. That was a very costly 18 months for hot water. I found that by lowering the flow rate to "minimum" put far less stress on the pump, and touch wood, this has now been going for the past 3 years without problems. The system works exceptionally well; but the water pump is its Achilles heel. Also about every 6 to 7 years you will have to have the insulation packing at the end of the tube array going into the heat exchanger replaced to maintain performance. I would not suggest getting a separate floor tank unit, as this still provides water pump problems - as well as consuming electricity. A suitable roof unit would be ideal. It certainly works on dull days, and in winter very well. If you use hot water for more than 1 shower in the early morning, I would suggest you engage the meter box timer to heat the water tank for 1 hour before the sun rises. This would be very important in colder climates down south.
All in all, it is far better than the majority of units I have looked at. with the provisos I have explained. Site the unit on the roof in a NW orientation, as this will give the best results.
I hope this helps you.
Hello Rinke,
An Apricus Solar Hot water system has market leading warranties to protect the customer from what you have been through with the other manufacturers. If there are any issues with our system pre and post sale at any time you are encouraged to call us on 1300 277 428.
Apricus evacuated tubes have been installed through your area and have a lot of happy customers there.
We would recommend 30 tubes with a 315L tank to get sufficient winter efficiency.
Government rebates are not available but STC rebates through companies like Greenbank are available and equate to around $1000-1200 depending on what system you buy.
Kind Regards,
Luke McKay
Customer Service Manager
Apricus Australia
Would recommend that you DO NOT INSTALL an APRICUS system . Our system is exactly 2yo but the Manifold on the roof has split with the frost! However the Controller ( with only a 1yr warranty ) has also failed so WE HAVE NO WARRANTY COVER whatsoever. APRICUS have stated that the cost to replace will be over $1000 and the same thing could happen next winter ! It would be cheaper to pay for your electricity than the cost of maintaining one of these systems.
Thank you all for your help i have decided to get a gas instant hot water no more solar.
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