Can the solar collector heat water to a high enough temperature? What happens when there is negligible solar power available?
Yes, the solar collector can heat the water to a high enough temperature. In good weather it can even bring water to a boiling point. Generally this is not necessary and so the system should be designed to provide a daily temperature rise of around 25-30oC (45-54oF) in the summer. Sizing a domestic system that can bring the cold water up to 60oC / 141oF in a single day is not logical, because if hot water is not used for one day, the following day the system will be boiling and dumping hot water via the temperature relief valve. This is both a waste of energy and water! If the external conditions are overcast the water in the cylinder will be automatically heated by the alternative heat source to the required temperature.
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