Metro Solar Products

Your decision to purchase a Metro Solar hot water system will reward you for many years to come.The Metro Solar range has seen continuous research and development, resulting in many breakthroughs in the efficiency, reliability and longevity of hot water systems. EcoSmart cylinders are manufactured in Australia in a state-of-the-art facility, using a quality endorsed company production system. This is your assurance that you have purchased the highest quality cylinder available, one that will provide continuous hot water for all your needs - safely, economically, and for many years to come.

Metro Solar systems are very efficient and to maximize this efficiency we recommend in most situations using a direct solar circuit. This means the potable drinking water within the water cylinder is pumped directly through the solar collectors without the need for heat exchangers as this will continue to maximize efficiency. Metro Solar systems are simplistic and constructed to last the test of time with little ongoing maintenance required.The only decision now is which Metro Solar system best suits your needs, and although there are many options its really quite simple;

  • Complete system : A complete new system will achieve the most efficient installation possible.
  • Retrofit system: Enables you to connect Metro Solar collectors to your existing cylinder.
  • Boost options: You can choose electricity, gas or wetback or any combination of these.

Solar Collector

  • Anodized aluminum frame
  • Tough 4mm low iron glass to trap radiation within the solar collector to maximize solar absorption.
  • Black chrome plated copper absorber plates ultra sonically welded to copper risers to last the test of time.
  • Collectors are insulated with rock-wool.
  • Each solar collector is 2 square metres (2m high x 1m wide) and weighs 38kg.
  • System design limits temperature achieved to below 80º degrees. This will prevent discharge of heated water through Over Temperature/Over Pressure/Safety Relief valve (TPR valve) while extending the life of the storage cylinder and also stop noisy water hammer within the house pipes, which is often heard with other solar products when hot water is consumed.

This is a major benefit of Metro Solar systems as we don't want our customers coming home after a hard days work to find they have no hot water because it has all been lost through the TPR valve

Solar Storage Cylinders

  • Vitreous enamel lined carbon steel storage cylinder, with mid height electric boost 3.6 kW element. These utilize sacrificial anodes which make them resilient to an extreme range of water qualities.
  • Duplex stainless steel storage cylinder, with mid height 3.0 kW electric boost element. A very high grade stainless steel resilient to higher temperatures, so is ideal when connecting wet-backs and solar heating systems.

The electric boost element is positioned half way up the storage cylinder so power is not wasted by using electricity to heat the entire contents of the cylinder. Should the upper temperature in the storage cylinder drop below 60º degrees the element will heat and top-up the upper storage area to maintain 60º degrees, but only if there is no solar gain. When solar energy or heat from a wet-back is being produced, the energy is introduced at the bottom of the storage cylinder and the heated water rises and increases the entire water storage cylinder temperature until 80º degrees is reached.

Solar Control

Ecosmarts Hot Logic is an extremely efficient hot water management system that continually monitors the storage cylinder and solar collector temperatures. When water within the solar collector rises 10º degrees above the cooler water in the bottom of the water cylinder, the solar pump begins transferring this energy from the collector back to the bottom of the storage cylinder. This heated water will rise up within the storage cylinder until it reaches its stratification level (thermal temperature layer) This cycle will continue until the solar collector temperature equalizes with the inlet temperature at the base of the storage cylinder or until the upper cylinder temperature reaches 80º degrees. The Hotlogic controller and pump draw a maximum load of only 28 watts when operating.

Hotlogic Frost Protection

Designed for warmer climates where ambient air temperatures only occasionally reach zero degrees. In this situation the Hotlogic will monitor the collector temperature and should this temperature approach 5º degrees, the Hotlogic will circulate a small amount of the cooler water from the base of the storage cylinder up through the solar collector to raise the collector temperature. Due to thermal layering within the storage cylinder, the cool water returned to the base of the storage cylinder does not affect the warmer water above.

In situations where the frost is a little more severe or if there is a power failure, the collector may reach 2º degrees. This will initiate the back-up frost protection by firstly stopping the solar circulation pump and soon after through thermal contraction/expansion cause the frost valve mounted at the top of the collector to allow water, fed from the cold water supply, to pass through the solar circuit and discharge through the frost valve until the temperature is raised about two degrees. The warmer temperature causes the expansion valve to expand and stop the flow of water until conditions change.

MetroSolar Frost & Over Temperature Controller

Designed for colder climates where ambient temperatures drop to sub zero or when storage cylinder temperatures need to be maintained within specific temperature criteria. This additional controller has a sensor for frost protection usually mounted on the solar collector, and an additional sensor for monitoring the upper storage cylinder temperature. Both of these sensors under normal conditions ensure power is supplied to the independent solar controller and Drain down valve connected in the solar circuit which ensures solar gain is maintained.

When any of the following conditions are present:

  • Frost temperatures.
  • Storage cylinder over temperature.
  • Power failure.

The Frost & Over Temperature controller shuts off the power to both the Solar Controller and the Drain Down valve which then results in the water draining from the solar circuit while also stopping hot water loss from the storage cylinder. When conditions return to normal the power is restored and solar gain commences. This Drain Down system can be installed with any solar system as long as the empty solar collector can withstand the resulting temperatures imposed. The Drain Down system consumes only 2 watts of energy when the valve is actuating after power restoration.

EcoSmart Endurance Premium - Instantaneous Gas Heaters

These are premium quality outdoor (Flue less) instantaneous gas water heaters, which come in both Natural Gas & LPG models. These are ideal for connecting after the solar water cylinder so no matter how much hot water is consumed you will never run out. This gives the cost advantage of solar heating and the convenience of gas, but without the expected gas consumption, because the burner only has to heat preheated water if it is less than 70º degrees.

When the heater detects water flow it senses the temperature and fires the burner to raise water temperature to 70º degrees. The heater monitors both water flow and temperature, and will regulate the burner between low & high fire dependent on how much heat is required to maintain, but not exceed 70º degrees.

  • Stainless steel cabinet. Dimensions 350 wide x 610 high x 185 deep.
  • Recessed cabinet option for flush wall mounting.
    Dimensions of recess 370 wide x 1030 high x 150 deep
  • Frost protected to minus 10º & minus 20º wind chill factor.
  • Solar rated to 70º degrees.
  • No need for solar diverter valve as with other brands.
  • Capacity, 26 L per minute.
  • Gas Input 200HJ/h.
  • Output, 44.4 kW/h.
  • Power consumption 110 watts at full load.
  • Five & a half star efficiency rating.