Frequently Asked Questions

How much space can 1 unit heat?
The Solar Max is designed to heat about 8,000 Cubic feet of daytime living space or one level of a 1000 sqft. home. (two or more units are recommended for larger homes.)

Of course this is based upon the on availability of direct sunlight, other factors such as large amounts of glass or low thermal values or weather can add to heating requirements.

During the coldest part of the winter this unit should be considered supplemental, and used in conjunction with your central heating system.

Often heating ducts supply much needed heat to areas such as crawlspaces and prevent freezing of plumbing etc. Your central heating system also provides a air exchange function to increase air quality and reduce humidity.  

Can I install the unit myself ?
Absolutely, it is highly recommended to have some knowledge of carpentry or seek assistance of someone who does. (Installing the unit as a wall-mount is a two person operation.)

It is highly recommended to get a professional dealer or heating contractor to undertake any roof mount installation.

An installation guide is available on this website. View Installation page

Under what kind of conditions will the unit start to warm my house?
Yes, the solar panel will warm your house, basically whenever you can see your shadow. On any day when the panel is not producing much heat, your existing heating system will provide the heat.

Does it work year round or mostly just during the spring/fall?
The RA 240 Solar Max is proven to work any time of the year as long as the sun is shining on it.

The temperature output is can be greater during the winter months than during the shoulder seasons due to the angle the sunlight hits the unit.

The solar Max use inside air so there is limited exterior air cooling effect. In winter we are 15 million miles closer to the sun, the angle of incidence is better, and snow and light reflecting off snow is a factor.

Generally the unit will produce more heating hours due to the longer days during the shoulder heating seasons.(spring & fall)

When it's not working, can I lose heat back out the system?
No. There are 2 check valves in the circuit which prevent back flow.

Have you had any problems with them, and are people generally satisfied with them?
Yes, we have tested and improved the unit over many years, installing many features and improving quality to produce the best unit and warranty available on the market today.

This ensures a high satisfaction rate from our product. Please see the Testimonial section of our web site to see what some are saying about our panels.

Do you cover these units in the summer in hot environments?

During the hot summer months in Kelowna where the temperatures can get easily close to 45 Deg C and maybe above, how do you prevent the overheating of your panel.

I am interested in purchasing one, but was wondering how the heat build up is handled during the summer months. I would imagine that the Lexan or the panel itself would overheat...?

Generally the Ra 240 Solar Max units are orientated south trapping fall winter spring sunlight, most of the heat and sunlight is generated east to west during the summer months is not in direct alignment and limits much of the intense exposure. The Solar Max is engineered to take the heat and generally do not require a cover. (occasional cleaning is recommended)

Can your solar be modified to heat water through a large cooling radiator so i can use it to heat water for my radiant heat floor Will these work in our latitude with winter sun?

Yes, this will require a heat exchanger, suggest contacting a qualified heating contractor for additional information.

Will we suffer huge inefficiency if not mounted at latitude + 10 degrees? (45 degrees in Michigan)
There is less than 5% loss between the optimal angle and the vertical.

If mounted parallel to roof what is spacing between shingles and back of panel?
3/8 of an inch.

Will heat created by panel melt or distort roofing shingles?
No if correctly installed.

Which orientation is best ?  (vertical or horizontal)
Vertical wall mount seems to be the easiest and best yield.  Horizontal wall mounts would lose about 15 minutes of blower time daily.
Keep in mind the fan kick in point is 110 degrees.

Is air temp brought into building controllable?
Yes, through a Thermostat controlling fan

What is the maximum length of pipe run after exiting panel?
We have run upwards of 300 feet coming and going combined with approximately 1/3 loss in flow rate.

As a supplemental heat source what is the expected savings percentage when using Cansolair panels?
Approximately 10-15%; some are claiming better.

What is the BTU rating on panels?
Approximately 10,000 BTUs.

What does that knob on the blower actually do?
This knob is a thermostatic control in that when you reach desired room temperature, you turn it counter clockwise slowly until you hear the blower cut out. Turn it clockwise slowly to a point just before cutting the unit back in. That's the point where the unit will automatically cut in from then on.

I would like your honest opinion about my using your Solar Max here in Victoria, BC.
As little as 15-20 minutes of blower time per hour will maintain a comfortable room temperature in approximately 8000 cubic feet of daytime living space, so even intermittent cloudy days can be productive. Basically, if you can see your shadow, you could be getting free solar heat and not wasting your money or polluting the air unnecessarily. Any amount of heat provided by these units is that much heat that you do not have to pay for, once you have recovered the system cost. Some parts of the world are obviously far better suited to harness solar energy but they will work practically everywhere on the planet, even near the poles. They are perhaps the most powerful for their size and flow rate available and therefore the most cost-effective of any solar system available.

How much is your basic unit and how much would it usually cost it install?
We sell to our growing dealer network, in which case the price and installation cost varies. Please see the Dealers section of our web site to locate a dealer near you. If there is no dealer within a reasonable distance or you are unsuccessful in reaching one, please contact us again.

Does the model RA 240 Solar max require electrical hook up for any circulating fan?
No, our unit does not require electrical hookup for the fan. You plug the blower into the nearest outlet.

What is your power consumption?
Power consumption for our AC version is .5 amps, 31 Watts but only when delivering 12-2400 Watts of heat energy.

Do you offer any off-grid options?
We have a DC that is totally autonomous or self-contained, which includes everything complete for installation such as 2 20 Watt PV panels, 17.5 Ah gel-cell battery, charge controller, DC motor and relay. Inside, they look exactly the same. Outside is the same except you will have the 2 PV panels installed nearby.

What is the flow rate ?
100 cubic feet per minute

What controls are used in this system ?
The unit is equipped with a thermostat, which gives you the option of turning the blower turned on or off. You can turn the blower off in hot environments or in the summer so that the panel will not produce heat. We have these panels as far South as the Mojave Desert and lens distortion due to expansion will occur, but no damage will occur to the panel and no excess heat will enter your home. These panels can be used to heat water, so in areas of high summer heat, it may be possible to concert the unit for domestic water heating purposes using such equipment as the dash heater out of a car. During the summer, there is a lower angle of incidence. Therefore, there is less heat.

How much wall penetration is involved?
There is a 6" square and 4" round hole cut as per the Installation Manual located in our Dealers section.

How loud is the fan?
Not as loud as a microwave, about 5 sones.

If more than one is required, do you gang them together or use them independently?
If more than one panel is required, you can manifold panels together to create a very powerful system for commercial buildings.

If more than one panel is required for residential buildings, you can use them independently.

I am interested in learning more about building and installing such a panel in our communities drying house (used for drying herbs). Estimates for the approximate cost, could someone gather materials and build a simple homemade type panel.
Our panels are good for crop or process drying and have an ambient temperature rise of 50-100 degrees F at 100 cubic feet per minute when used for space heating. When used for process or crop drying, you would simply manifold several panels together in a smaller room and provide some ventilation so moisture and excess heat can escape. Our panels are designed and built to overcome thermal expansion and condensation issues which are difficult to address with a home-built solution.

What are the dimensions?
Our panel measures 88 1/2" tall x 44" wide, and can be vertically or horizontally mounted as shown in our Gallery section. The panel is mounted on your house with 4 mounting brackets.

Does the thermostat allow the setting of desired interior temperatures?
Yes, the thermostat allows you to control the inside temperature. It automatically cuts out at the set point once this is reached. It is adjustable like an adjustable base board heater.

My house is heated by a boiler, so I have not air ducts in my home. Will this cause a problem as far as installing a solar panel on the roof and getting the heated air into the house?
No, this will not cause any problems. We recommend wall-mounts but roof-mounts are possible. We do not recommend roof-mounts unless they are absolutely necessary. However, more work is required for roof-mounts for the fact that you have to protect the panel from the wind with an enclosure at the back and sides. The enclosure also kicks the angle of the panel up to latitude +15 degrees to provide optimal angle. Roof-mounts are unnecessary if you have a South-East, South-West or South facing wall free of shadow for 6-8 hours. Please see the Installation Manual in the Dealers section of our web site. Our Gallery has examples of typical installations. The panel measures 88 1/2" tall x 44" wide, and can be vertically or horizontally mounted, as shown in our Gallery section. If you have this free space, you can install the panel on your wall. The Features section has a site orientation diagram.

How long will the panel last?
The lens is rated for 15 years, the blower motor at continuous duty is rated for 11.5 years (in the panel, at intermittent duty, expected service life may be many years more than that). The powder-coated galvalume, stainless steel, and aluminum should last for generations. The absorber coating is rated for 35 years exposed to the elements; in this case, protected by a UV stabilized lens, it too should last for generations.

View installation page for Installation FAQs