Can the Hills Solar collector heat water to a high enough temperature?
Certainly – in good weather the Hills Solar collectors are capable of bringing water to boiling point. Generally, this is not necessary and so the system should be tuned to provide a peak temperature of around 70 to 80ºC in the summer. Since scalding can occur at 54ºC (130ºF), Australian plumbing regulations limit the maximum temperature of hot water to sanitary outlets to 50ºC (122º F). This is achieved by the use of a solar tempering valve that must be fitted to every installation.
