However there are a few drain back systems that only use water.
Antifreeze solar panels.
It has a long track record over many decades in this application and is widely available from a number of sources.
The photovoltaic solar panels or pv solar panels convert the sun s energy into electricity which then can be used to heat water.
It s non toxic biodegradable and relatively stable.
Using an antifreeze solution.
Solar thermal panels are a closed system of tubes that contain a solution similar to antifreeze.
Most solar thermal systems use antifreeze as the liquid to transport heat from the solar panel to the cylinder.
This is not automotive antifreeze which is a different substance ethylene glycol and is.
5 litres solar antifreeze.
Neat propylene glycol with additive package.
Garrison advised that electrical hot water tanks work the best for solar hot water use.
Recommended dilution 40 providing total volume of 12 litres for use in solar systems.
Most new solar homes feature a variation of one kind or another.
What type of solar system do you have is it sealed or drainback a correctly installed drainback system should not require antifreeze sealed systems require a good quality antifreeze that will not break down with the high temperatures of solar it should also be a premixed antifreeze it is no good injecting a small quantity of antifreeze into the system as it will not mix and so will not.
Closed loop active antifreeze systems are the most versatile and failsafe of all the solar supplemental water heating systems.
Should be sufficient for most single and double panel systems.
Solar water heating systems that use an antifreeze solution propylene glycol or ethylene glycol as a heat transfer fluid have effective freeze protection as long as the proper antifreeze concentration is maintained.
The industry standard for solar fluid is a mix of propylene glycol and water.
However you should always mix as much water as possible with your choice of glycol product as simple water is the ideal solar fluid.
Antifreeze fluids degrade over time and normally should be changed every 3 5 years.
Solar thermal panels collect solar heat and transfer it to hot water tanks.
The antifreeze is normally non toxic propylene glycol as opposed to toxic ethylene glycol.
Glycol or some equivalent antifreeze fluid fills.