Specifications

4
ABOUT YOUR WATER HEATER
WATER HEATER APPLICATION
This water heater is designed for use in a single family domestic dwelling for the purpose of heating potable
water. Its use in an application other than this may shorten its life.
MODEL TYPE
Your Rheem
®
thermosiphon solar water heater is designed for both the solar collectors and the solar storage
tank to be roof mounted. The solar storage tank has a Colorbond jacket. The 52L tank (direct system) is
suitable for installation with Rheem Australis or Titan solar collectors (RL series) and the 52H tank (indirect
system) is suitable for installation with Rheem S200 (52H series), Australis or Titan solar collectors
(RLX series).
The 52L and RL series systems do not have freeze protection. These systems are not suitable for installation
in areas subject to frost or freeze conditions. Freeze conditions occur below 6°C. These systems have NO
WARRANTY for freeze damage (refer to “Terms of the Rheem Warranty” on page 62).
The 52H and RLX series systems are suitable for installation in areas subject to frost or freeze conditions.
Freeze conditions occur below 6°C. These systems have NO WARRANTY for freeze damage if non Rheem
approved closed circuit fluid has been used or if the closed circuit fluid has been incorrectly mixed (refer to
“Terms of the Rheem Warranty” on page 62).
This water heater is designed to be installed as an electric boosted solar water heater with its booster
heating unit connected to a power supply, however it may be installed with an in-series continuous flow or
storage booster.
If this water heater is installed with an in-series booster, then the electric booster heating unit will not be
connected to a power supply and the references to the electric booster heating unit, thermostat and boosting
controls in this Guide will not be applicable to the installation. For information relating to the function and
operation of the in-series booster, refer to the Owners Guide and Installation Instructions supplied with the
booster water heater.
SOLAR OPERATION
The Rheem solar thermosiphon system has its stainless steel solar storage tank installed on the roof directly
coupled to the solar collectors. The 52L and RL series are a direct solar hot water system and the 52H and
RLX series are an indirect solar hot water system with a heat exchanger in the solar storage tank.
52L, RL series: The solar storage tank and solar collectors are connected by copper pipe work and form an
open circuit which is filled with potable water.
52H, RLX series: The heat exchanger and solar collectors are
connected by copper pipe work and form a closed circuit which is
filled with closed circuit fluid. The closed circuit fluid is a solution
of a blue, non-toxic food grade propylene glycol concentrate
mixed with water. The closed circuit concentrate is used to lower
the freezing temperature of the closed circuit fluid and provides
protection against freezing. The closed circuit also provides
protection to the solar collectors and solar pipe work against
harsh water chemistry.
The solar water heater works on the simple scientific fact that hot
fluid rises. As the sun heats the water or closed circuit fluid in the
solar collectors, the increase in temperature causes the fluid to
rise through a copper pipe into the storage tank (52L, RL series)
or heat exchanger (52H, RLX series) where it transfers its heat
into the water in the solar storage tank. This allows cooler fluid
from the storage tank or heat exchanger to flow into the solar
collectors to be heated by the sun‟s energy. This process
continues while solar energy is available.
Automatic safety controls are fitted to the water heater to provide safe and efficient operation.