TORC Top Tips For Tenants: Solar Panels
There are 310 TORC homes that have the Solic 200 Solar Panels in operation. All TORC homes which run on gas heating also have Solar panels, these are: Cluain Ailbhe, Drom Cuilinn, Clairin, Presentation Gardens and Pairc Ui Mhuirite. The remaining schemes in Roscommon, Skibbereen and Clonakilty have ‘Air to Water’ heating systems.
This month, John our Technical Advisor from the Repairs & Maintenance team has put together some key pieces of information on how the Solar Panels should operate. The Repairs team are called out fairly often for Solar Panel queries so it’s important for residents to know that different colour lights are displayed on the panel at different times as they are changeable with the weather. Only if you have a constant red light under the ‘mains’ should you contact the Helpdesk for assistance.
- Always leave your immersion switched on
- If you observe 3 green lights on the controller the panels are operational and supplying solar power to the house which is then best captured by heating water
- Any variation of lights on the controller is perfectly normal and not a maintenance issue unless there is a constant red light on the “mains”
- Solar operating times will vary due to weather and daylight, summer months will maximise the solar output, winter months will be minimal output
- The maximum power output of the solar panels per house/apartment is 1,800 watts but it can operate as low as 20% efficiency or 360 watts i.e dull/overcast days will be less productive than bright sunny days with clear skies.
The great news is that in summer months, residents can save between €10 and €15 per week from their energy bill.
