two-day course

self-build solar hot water

venue: Hackney City Farm, London

We think that this is the best value for money solar hot water system that you'll find in the UK.
Participants will leave with their entire system, tailored to their needs, plus a manual explaining how the system works, and how to install it. Participants can then install themselves, or they can ask a professional installer to install for them. It is also possible to attend the course without purchasing a system.

cost-effectiveness of solar hot water

Solar hot water is the most cost-effective renewable energy technology that you can install in this country. Panels can be located on a pitch roof, in a frame on a flat roof, or on the ground. Ideally, in the UK they would face south, at an angle of 35° from the horizontal, but they can face south-east or south-west, or at any angle from 15-55°, with a loss in efficiency of less than 5%. In other words, there are millions of roofs in the UK which are ideal for solar hot water.

our system

Our system is constructed using the highest quality materials. The collectors are the flat-plate type, and the system is indirect (i.e. pipes from the panels are connected to a coil in your hot water cylinder).
The system includes:

  • 2 panels, each panel 1.3m², 27kg; you will need an area 2m x 2m on your roof
  • 147-litre vented twin-coil cylinder, dimensions (inc. insulation) 1300mm tall x 500mm diameter
  • self-assembled pump & control set, expansion vessel set and air separator
  • everything else you will need to install and run your system, including screws, washers, fittings, and high-temperature pipe insulation!

Please note: this system is not for you if you have a combi boiler. Also, if you want a mains pressure (unvented) water cylinder, you must get a professional to install the cylinder for you. (You can buy our kit without the vented cylinder, and obtain an unvented twin coil cylinder separately, either from us or another supplier.).

the course

The course begins with a theory session explaining solar water heating and our system in detail.
You will then build and pressure test your own pump & control set, expansion vessel kit and air separator. No plumbing experience is needed - this will build confidence in cutting and soldering copper, using threaded and compresion joints, and fixing leaks.
There are more sessions on installing and maintaining your system, including fixing the panels to your roof, and how to replace a cylinder. There will also be plenty of opportunities to ask specific questions.
Please note that although you will solder and assemble other parts of the system during the course, you will not build the solar water heating panels themselves. For reliability, we have found it best to supply in our kits panels that have been soldered and tested under factory conditions - the panels will be going up on your roof and they would be the worst place to later discover a leak! There is plenty to learn and do during the weekend without the huge task of making the panels (though we did do this on earlier versions of the course, and you can buy a manual detailing how to make the panels if you wish).
At the end of the course you will leave with your entire system - if you have a vehicle large enough (the entire kit fits into the back of my Astra estate - Dave). Otherwise it may require two journeys, or you may need to pay for a courier.
No specialist skills are needed to take part in this course.

course fee

The course fee is £1695 for those purchasing a complete system or £120 for those who just want to come and learn about the production and workings of a solar hot water system. All course participants receive a copy of our manual & installation guide. The course fee may vary depending upon the exact specification of the system being supplied. The guide price of £1695 is for a standard 2-panel system.
Places on this course will be limited. A deposit of £150 secures a place, and we will need a further £1000 at least 6 weeks before the course, to purchase materials. Balance is payable two weeks before the course.
Food and accommodation is not included.
Friends of LILI discount is £40 for people building their own system.

more on solar hot water


how to book:
  

if you can't open the booking form, you need Acrobat Reader - it's free
arrive:
  
around 9.30 each day for a 10am prompt start
depart:
  
after the course finishes each day at 5pm
directions:
  
click here for directions to Hackney City Farm
what to bring:
  
work clothes; pen and notebook; packed lunch (if you're not using the cafe)
let us know:
  
if you have any special needs
lunch:
  
bring a packed lunch each day, or you can get lunch at the cafe
prices:
  
see above
discounts:
 
10% for Friends of LILI (£40 for people building their own system)
deposit:
  
£150 (further £1000 payable 6 weeks before course; balance two weeks before course)
car sharing:
  
visit our car sharing forum to offer or request a lift
 

 

 

 


practical sessions: course participants assemble their pump & control sets, expansion vessel sets, and air separator; this builds confidence in using copper pipe and fittings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


installed system: panels on the roof of a house - you will need an area of south-facing roof 2m x 2m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

theory sessions: participants will learn about the theory of solar hot water systems, and how to install and maintain their systems, as well as being able to ask specific questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

working on your roof: it is essential to hire a scaffold tower for this work, and to think carefully about health & safety