Hot Water Controllers

notruck

Help!! I have an AET Indirect system with drainback, 2 collectors and an 80 gallon tank that was installed in 2014. It's on a single story house with 2 occupants in Jacksonville, FL. The system was originally setup with an EagleSun DTC-ES-1 controller which failed around the 4 year mark and replaced with another EagleSun. That unit failed around the 3 year mark and replaced with a Goldline GL-30, which sucks.

I would like opinions on a better controller where I can see and monitor what the system is doing. It would be great if I can also see the information on a PC and/or allow the data to be consumed by another application, i.e. Home Assistant.

I've been looking at Resol (don't know which model), Steca TR0301U, SolFlux SESF3221 and the IMC Solar Eagle2. There are too many choices.

psb75

You need a reply from hot_rod. I think a Caleffi or Resol controller is what you want.

hot_rod

I spent decades playing with Goldline controls. They are very solid but pretty horse and buggy technology compared to microprocessor based controls like Resol, etc.

I'd first like to know what fails on ones you are using? Relay failure is common if the circ pumps are too large.

Most of the new digital controllers have only 1 amp relays. So adding a RIB may be required if you have anything over a 100W pump. Some of the high head drainback pumps are a bit over 1 amp, so they may work for a while. The Grundfos 15-100 was a common DB pump, 1.1 amp so it generally holds.

If you want to vary the speed via an isolation relay you need to get a triac relay. The RIB will not work on the variable speed function.

Resol has some data logging onboard, it can connect to one of their data loggers and store more data also. All the Resols have drainback specific options.

www.VBusnet which is Resols own server, link it to that then you access data there.

A You Tube video takes you through the steps and I believe they have factory support that their engineers monitor

We had a lot of issues trying to connect to the WWW with early versions. They really needed a static IP address or they would lose connection, very frustrating.

I built this simulator, not UL approved, to program the control before you take it to the jobsite. Also useful for troubleshooting when someone is at the jobsite and you are in the shop or office.

Shown is what was called the BS Plus version. Two outputs, 4 sensor inputs.

The BX is a step up with more in and output options.

I think Victor up at Solarnetix is the North America official importer. Many of the solar packagers resell or private label Resol. Caleffi did.

If you shop E-bay make sure it is at least a version 2, it has a small V-2 on the front label.

I'd add the lightning surge arrestor, just a tiny fuse, to the rooftop S-1 collector sensor. Lightning hits possibly blow out solar controllers, especially in Florid😯.

notruck

@hot rod, thank you so much for that info. The pump I have is a Grundfos UP 15-100-F. As for the failed units, I was told they thought the first EagleSun failed due to a lightning strike near the collector. Never saw any damage on the roof but they replaced it under warranty. I assumed the second EagleSun failed for the same reason. I now have a surge arrestor on that sensor.

I emailed with Lin @ ModularHydronics (Solarnetix) and she first suggested the Resol DeltaSol BS/2. I mentioned that I had read another comment where you suggested to someone about using two pumps, a boost and variable speed. I like this idea so he then suggested the Resol DeltaSol BS/4 which has 2 relay outputs.

What are your thoughts between the BS4 and BS Plus?

hot_rod

you get quite a bit more functions with the 4 or Plus version, this tech sheet shows what is included in the various models.

The BS 2 is what we included in the Caleffi basic kits, it works fine for single pump systems.

https://www.resol.de/en/produktdetail/88