Installing Thermal Solar: Pipe through roof method?

[Vortex5]

Hi,

I am shortly going to acquire some thermal solar panels to install on my roof and have been pondering how best to penetrate the roof for the pipes. My roof has interlocking clay tiles. They are quite easy to drill.

You can get specialist flashing like this

which will do the job, but I can't help thinking it ought to be a lot simpler and cheaper than that.

My first thought was to simply drill a hole for the (15mm) pipe on a tile ridge and seal it with silicone.

Second thought is to cut a rectangle of lead flashing with a hole "punched" through it from the back to make a lip and glue this to the tile with silicone first

Third thought is as above but to solder an inch of 22mm copper to the aformentioned lead, "siliconing" this to the drilled roof tile and passing the pipe through the lot, with the external armaflex insulation pulled over the pipe and cable-tied in place.

I think I'll have a stab at option 3................unless anybody with experience of said problem can offer a better suggestion that is....

D

[AlanD]

On my system (Navitron panel, but installed by a local solar specialist) he made a lead flashing panel from scratch, which covers a drilled tile entirely, with a circular collar soldered on. Over this goes a right-angle aluminium (I think) cover, packed with insulation, with the copper pipe to the panel inside. It's been installed over 2 years, no leaks.

Alan.

[JimK]

i'd we wondering what the different thermal expansions of the differentt materials would do to the silicone's bonding- maybe in a few years??

TBH =A360 for 2 doesn't sound too bad to me compared to costs ,agro and uncertainties of making your own up..

Can copper be soldered to lead?

Cheers JimK

[Vortex5]

It definitely can.

Actually I did an experiment at the weekend visible here:

variation on this theme is what I will install and AlanD's message confirms the thinking is valid.

I'm picking up the (Navitron) panel tomorrow and installing next weekend...weather permitting.

D

[JimK]

here:

given that solder is/was lead based I kind of expected it to just make a "mould" around the copper rather than make a functional and durable joint? is the one you made tough enough for the job/lifespan etc?

Cheers JimK