Thursday 24 June 2021

Understanding Solar Vacuum Tube Technology Used for Solar Water Heaters

Solar vacuum tubes have been used since the early 1900s. But they’re used for solar heating purposes. Nowadays, most solar water heaters utilize solar vacuum tubes for their operation. You must be careful as the vacuum tube temperature can be two times higher than flat panel collectors.

Solar vacuum tube technology works like a thermos bottle that traps heat inside and provides insulation barrier against heat loss. Vacuum tubes work effectively in cold climates especially the places that experience freezing temperatures. Generally, Northern Lights use SunRain solar evacuated tubes for solar water heating purposes. They utilize a copper heat pipe in the center of the tube.

With the special aluminum fins, the system transfers solar energy to the heat pipe containing a small amount of liquid i.e. under a vacuum. According to physics, it’s stated that liquid under vacuum conditions boils at 30 degree Celsius (86F) and turns into vapor.


The vapor goes to the condenser bulb where it gets cold by releasing heat through the bulb into the copper manifold and changes its state back to liquid that sinks back down the heat pipe. Solar vacuum tubes are arranged in series and every tube plugs into a copper header. Heat exchange takes place in the header and moves from the hot condenser bulb to the colder heating fluid circulated throughout the solar heating system.

The copper header is perfectly insulated with mineral rock wool; so there’s a very little heat loss to the surrounding air. Hence, the performance of solar vacuum tube water heating system is much better than other solar collectors.

While investing in solar water heating systems, it’s necessary to make sure that the engine you choose is the most powerful and the long lasting. That’s why Northern Lights Solar Solutions use SunRain patented “3-Hi” solar vacuum tubes. They have absorbing coating on the inner layer that will determine how vacuum tubes operate efficiently. The process and material of the coating determines the expectancy of solar vacuum tubes.

Most vacuum tubes utilize high-tech reactive sputtering process for coating inner tube. More importantly, they have aluminum and aluminum-nitrogen (AI-N/Al) coating. It’s the primary absorbing coating.

SunRain solar vacuum tube technology utilizes internationally patented film coating i.e. “3 Hi”. Generally, three systems are used in every solar evacuated tube for ensuring heat absorption most effectively.


Every solar vacuum tube includes a primary Al-N/Al layer, a second aluminum layer and a third copper layer. The added layers in solar evacuated tubes help in heat conduction in a better way and stabilize the coating while allowing for a much longer lifespan of 20 years or more. 

If you’re thinking to invest in vacuum tubes solar water heating technology, feel free to contact Northern Lights Solar Tubs at +1 (800) 317-9054. We are the leading name in the solar industry providing complete DIY solar heating packages from residential solar water heaters to complete solar home heating systems.

With our modern SunRain solar evacuated tubes, you can provide solar heating systems that supply ample heat for hot water, home heating, pool and hot tub. For more information, don’t hesitate to visit our website at https://www.solartubs.com/.

Thursday 10 June 2021

How Do Solar Evacuated Tubes Pool Heater Panels Work?

Solar evacuated tubes pool heating systems deliver enormous benefits for heating a pool. Generally, vacuum tubes work in cloudy and indirect light conditions effectively. This means, you expect getting useable heat energy for your pool from sunrise to sunset and even in cloudy weather.

Generally, vacuum tubes come with a life expectancy of over 25 years. Hence, you don’t need to get stressed about fixing leaks and replacing mats once in every three to five years. However, vacuum tubes work efficiently in minus 40 degree temperature.

When the ambient temperature is colder than the pool water, your solar water heater gets working. In fact, other pool heating systems only provide heat energy when the outside air temperature is more than the temperature of the pool. With an evacuated tube solar pool heater, you can extend your pool season by two to three months.


How Do Solar Evacuated Tubes Pool Heating Systems Work?

Northern Lights solar pool heaters use a closed loop system for their operation unlike other pool heaters available on the market as they use an open loop system. The pool pump helps in pushing the pool water up against the gravity that causes excess wear on the pump and results in increasing pump operational cost by up to 30%.

The solar pool heating systems provided by Northern Lights Solar Solutions come with a heat exchanger that separates the heating fluid and pool water. A small amount of water or glycol in freezing climates is circulated through the solar evacuated tubes at a rate of .75-1.25 GPM. The advanced evacuated tube helps the systems to absorb solar energy and transfer the energy to the pool through a heat exchanger.

The hi-flow pool heat exchanger puts very resistance on the pump, allowing it to operate at its normal capacity. Rest assured that, your solar pool heating system never comes in contact with the chlorinated pool water ensuring longer life and increasing your investment up to five times than that of an ordinary pool heater.


Northern Lights advanced solar pool heaters are highly efficient that they can start delivering heat energy to pool as soon as the sun rises in the morning. They don’t require direct sunlight; even if there’s light rain, your solar pool heater will be able to deliver heat energy to the pool. With the digital controller, the pool heater provides maximum solar output and safety features like freeze protection, holiday cooling mode and advanced energy monitoring to know your daily savings.

In addition, this system can transmit data to the internet by providing you with real time performance and historical data analysis on your smart phone or personal computer through the Free Resol VBus.net. These pool heating systems come with much longer life expectancy and provide enough energy throughout the season. The overall ownership cost is substantially less that yields optimal savings over fossil fuels and electricity as well as traditional solar pool heaters.

Bottom Line –

Whether you want to reduce your pool heating bills year round or you’re looking for a perfect solution for pool heating during winter, you should look no further than Northern Lights Solar Tubs. We provide solar pool heating systems ensuring maximum ROI and cost savings in the long run. For more information about our solar pool heater panels, feel free to give us a call right now at +1 (800) 317-9054.

Saturday 5 June 2021

How Does a Solar Water Heater System Work?

Solar water heating system is the most used and highly understood solar powered kit around the world. It’s easy to install and economic. That’s why solar water heater system can find its right place in your daily life.

This solar kit works on simple basic principle i.e. absorbing sunlight for water heating purposes. But a question arises that why do you need a solar water heating system? In short and simple words, a solar water heater helps you go green as it utilizes renewable solar energy for its operation.

However, solar water heater is a huge investment. Apart from residential consumption, numerous industries and factories require hot water in humongous quantities on a daily basis. Fossil fuels derived heat sources are pollutants and are depleting quickly.


Hence, this is where a solar water heater comes in handy. A solar water heater is affordable as a maintenance-free deal. Take a look at this post and know how a solar powered water heating system works.

How Does a Solar Water Heater System Work?

Generally, a solar water heating kit requires solar power or sunlight likewise any other solar equipment. Solar water heating panels are mounted on the rooftop where they receive maximum amount of sunlight. This setup comprises of a water storage tank and pipes that connect the storage tank to the heat box.

The heat box is highly insulated from inside and is fitted with copper pipes. The copper pipes help in absorbing heat. A glass cover is used to cover this box so that the heat absorbed from the sun is trapped inside.

When the sunlight enters the insulated box, the heat gets trapped inside because of the glass cover. Once the heat gets absorbed, the copper pipes present inside start heating up. The water from the source from the source starts flowing into these copper pipes. The heated copper pipes start heating up water in the pipes. The hot water goes up because of its lighter density as compared to cold water. After that, the water storage tank collects the hot water, which is ready to be used further.

Generally, solar water heaters work on two technologies i.e. passive and active. The active solar heater pumps out the hot water from the storage tank by using a small pumping system. It’ll also pump out anti-freezing fluids that help the water heating system during extreme cold weather conditions.


A passive system uses the ability of the hot water to go higher. After that, the storage tank collects the heated water and is connected to the house water supply taps and faucets. This system is less costly. But the passive solar water heating kit loses the warmth of water faster, making the heat transfer ineffective.

Final Consideration –

Solar water heaters are highly required in every home. One of the main reasons behind using solar powered system is the government incentives and tax benefits to avail the abundant renewable energy source for residential and pool heating purposes. When it comes to investing in a solar water heating kit, you should look no further than Northern Lights Solar Solutions.

We specialize in providing turnkey DIY solar water heating solutions for hot water, pools, and space heating and commercial heating purposes. Our pre-engineered solar water heating systems save on design and installation costs while providing the highest returns in the solar industry. For more information about our pre-designed kits, feel free to contact us as soon as possible at +1 (800) 317-9054.