Goldline GL-30 schematic?

[bedwards1000]

Does anybody have a schematic for this controller? I'm trying to troubleshoot my system but haven't been there when the sun has been out. The thermistor resistances look right when the collector is cool and the tank temp reads right. A schematic of the controller would help. I've logged the voltage during the day.
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It appears that the collector sensor is not getting as hot as it should as if the thermistor isn't clamped tight to the collector. I'll probably end up making a trip to the roof to investigate.

[J.P.M.]

Does anybody have a schematic for this controller? I'm trying to troubleshoot my system but haven't been there when the sun has been out. The thermistor resistances look right when the collector is cool and the tank temp reads right. A schematic of the controller would help. I've logged the voltage during the day.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3331[/ATTACH]

It appears that the collector sensor is not getting as hot as it should as if the thermistor isn't clamped tight to the collector. I'll probably end up making a trip to the roof to investigate.

I'd suggest checking the collector sensor connection, especially if it has been a long time since last inspection. If affixed directly to the absorber, hopefully you can get at it for inspection, test the output w/ a multimeter and replace/reaffix as necessary. If the sensor is connected to the outlet line of the coll., and if the insulation around the coll. sensor has deteriorated, that will lower the temp. of the sensor and send an erroneous reading to the controller. If so, check the sensor as before, fix the insulation and see what happens. Before I did any of that however, I'd also check the line from that sensor back to the controller. Sometimes a line's integrity is breeched by critters or as a result of maintenance chores, etc.

[bedwards1000]

Yeah, that's the next step. Actually a climb. The collectors are at the top of a 12:12 roof. The sensor is clamped on with a stainless hose clamp. it probably had insulation over it at one time and it probably doesn't now. My first thought was that it was shorting when everything heated up but looking at the voltage logger my guess is that it isn't in good thermal contact with the collector. (2 flat plate 4"x10 AET collectors)

Thanks for the ideas.

[J.P.M.]

Yeah, that's the next step. Actually a climb. The collectors are at the top of a 12:12 roof. The sensor is clamped on with a stainless hose clamp. it probably had insulation over it at one time and it probably doesn't now. My first thought was that it was shorting when everything heated up but looking at the voltage logger my guess is that it isn't in good thermal contact with the collector. (2 flat plate 4"x10 AET collectors)

Thanks for the ideas.

If the coll. sensor has no/less/worn insulation over it, it will report a lower temp. than if it has adequate insulation over it, and the controller will think the Coll. outlet is at a lower temp. than it actually is, perhaps below tank sensor reading minus the turn on differential, thus not turning on. I've had luck by treating both sensors as close to the same as possible in terms of attachment, Location (as near the tank/coll. outlet as possible, I use 6" for easier access), insulation type (1"+ Armaflex/equal) and thickess(lots of it, 2 wraps-= 2" at least, 6" long. either side of sensor) and wire lengths(as little as possible but equal to one another) to give the controller the best chance of doing what it was designed to do. I also put heat trans. cement (Radio Shack has cheapest) between the sensor and the pipe, being careful not to get it anywhere else - a small touch perhaps, but it seems to improve temp. response a bit more than I anticipated.

J.P.M.

[bedwards1000]

Problem solved

It was one of 2 things or a little of both...I climbed up on the roof to investigate. The hoseclamp that tightens the sensor to the top of the collector was slightly loose so I cinched that up. The insulation over the sensor appeared to be in decent shape but I had to remove it to get to the sensor so I ended up putting a second layer over it since I really don't like climbing that steep pitch. It's been windy lately so if it was loose it could have been convectively cooling if the insulation wasn't tight to the sensor. Problem solved.

For others troubleshooting their systems, this one was installed around 2006 and has been working well since (not counting the taco circulator I replaced). The last sunny day I was home I noticed that the pumps weren't kicking on when they were supposed to. On a good sunny day the panel sensor was reading around 90 when I know the panels should have been closer to 180.

If anybody does have a schematic for the GL-30 I'd still be interested.