Bradford White Solar
Water Heaters Review
Bradford White solar water heaters are a great solution
and investment in the residential water heating, since they are
designed as
the
addition to the
existing system so it can save you money and conserve energy. Solar
heating systems are green, and they use the free
solar energy for heating water in open- or closed-loop systems.
Models and Types
Bradford White designs and manufactures several types and
models of solar
water tank heaters, for residential
use, which can use
the internal exchanger in a closed-loop system or the external
heat exchanger, in the open-loop system. Some Bradford White solar
units
are equipped with the electric heating elements while other units
with
the gas burners, providing
hot water even during the cloudy and cold days. Here is the list and
the review of the
available
models:
EcoStor
SC Electric
| Models | Capacity (GAL) |
Recovery 90 F rise (GPH) |
FHR (GPH) |
Foam THK |
| S-SW2-60R6DS | 60 | 20 | 84 | 2 |
| S-SW2-75R6DS | 75 | 97 | ||
| S-SW2-115R6DS | 115 | 124 |
The
above Bradford White solar water heaters come from the EcoStor
SC
series and are designed for the closed-loop or indirect systems. The
heaters are equipped
with the internal single-wall heat
exchanger where the heated water transfers the heat to the
surrounding water.
The most efficient models utilize two 4500 W,
immersed Incoloy
heating elements, that are used when solar cannot
provide enough heat for water heating.
Its return and supply ports, located in front of the units,
allow easy connection for heating potable water and space heating.
EcoStor2
SC Electric
| Models | Capacity (GAL) |
Recovery 90 F rise (GPH) |
FHR (GPH) |
Foam THK |
| S-DW2-60R6DS | 60 | 20 | 84 | 2 |
| S-DW2-75R6DS | 75 | 97 | ||
| S-DW2-115R6DS | 115 | 124 |
Bradford White solar water heaters from EcoStor2
SC series
utilize the same features as found in the above EcoStor
SC series,
except the internal double-wall heat
exchanger, which protects the potable water from solar heating fluid.
All three models are also used in the closed-loop systems.
EcoStor
DC
Electric
| Models | Capacity (GAL) |
Foam THK |
| S-DC-DW2-55R6SW | 55 | 2 |
| S-DC-DW2-70R6SW | 70 | |
| S-DC-DW2-110R6SW | 110 |
EcoStor DC is the solar indirect
system that uses the
dual coil heat
exchangers, the upper single-wall and lower double-wall,
and electric heating elements as the backup.
Dual coil system provides
great flexibility so water tank heaters can use different types of heat
sources such as: solar, oil, gas... and combined with the space, boiler
heating.
Solar
Saver Electric
| Models | Capacity (GAL) |
Recovery 90 F rise (GPH) |
Foam THK |
| MS65R6SS | 65 | 21 | 2 |
| MS80R6SS | 80 | ||
| MS120R6SS | 119 |
Solar
Saver uses the heated water directly from the solar panels
to heat the
potable water without utilizing the heat exchangers. The Solar
Saver models
are the only models of electric/solar heaters that work in the
open-loop system.
The Solar Saver water heaters have only
one, magnesium rod
for protection and a single heating element for backup water heating.
EcoStor Gas
| Models | Capacity (GAL) |
Recovery 90 F rise (GPH) |
Foam THK |
| S-2-65T6FBN | 65 | 69 | 2 |
| S-2-75S6BN | 75 | 82 | |
| S-2-100T6BN | 100 | 92 |
EcoStor gas is the open-loop
system which does not
require an internal heat
exchanger, as opposed to the closed system, which does. The open loop
allows hot water, which is heated inside the solar panels, to be mixed
with the potable water in the tank. These open-loop models are mainly
used in warmer regions.
The solar water heaters are using the Low NOX gas burner for
supplemental water heating. The gas control valve is Honeywell, which
utilizes the intelligent, self-diagnostic system for easy
troubleshooting.
Defender System with the flame arrestor
and resettable
thermal switch is found on S-2-65T6FBN models only.
EcoStor2
SC Eco-Defender Gas
| Models | Capacity (GAL) |
Recovery 90 F rise (GPH) |
Foam THK |
| S-DW4-U5036FRN | 45 | 43 | 2 |
| S-DW2-U65T6FRN | 60 | 57 |
The EcoStor2 Eco-Defender
is the closed loop solar water heater with the environment-friendly gas
burner that produces 75% less NOx gases than the standard type. It
uses the internal double wall heat exchanger for the safe separation of
the heating fluid and heated potable water.
As the upper gas models, S-DW4-U5036FRN and S-DW2-U65T6FRN are using
the Honeywell self -diagnostic gas control valve that incorporates the
microprocessor for the advanced temperature control, and intelligent
diagnostics with LED indication.
These particular models come with the Eco-Defender
system that includes the advanced ScreenLok
technology, digital thermal
switch and provides maintenance-free operation.
EcoStor2 SC
Gas
| Models | Capacity (GAL) |
Recovery 90 F rise (GPH) |
Foam THK |
| S-DW2-504T6FBN | 45 | 69 | 2 |
| S-DW2-65T6FBN | 60 | 69 | |
| S-DW2-75S6BN | 70 | 82 |
The atmospheric vented water heaters from EcoStor2
Single Coil
series are installed in the closed-loop system and have the double-wall
heat exchanger located inside the
unit.
Defender System with the specially
designed
flame arrestor is
found in 45 and 60-gallon models, while the sediment reducing system,
intelligent gas control valve and the two protective anode rods in all
three.
EcoStor2
SC Power Vent (Open Loop) Gas
| Models | Capacity (GAL) |
Recovery 90 F rise (GPH) |
Foam THK |
| S-2-TW65T6FBN | 65 | 75 | 2 |
| S-2-TW75T6BN | 75 | 82 |
EcoStor2 with the power vented system
comes in two
sizes; 65 and 75 gallons,
both designed for open loop systems. Power vented system provides very
flexible installation, so the pipes can run horizontally or
vertically and with the maximum lengths of 180 ft.
Only the S-2-TW65T6FBN comes with the Defender
System, while
the other advanced features: Honeywell gas control valve, mixing
device, Hydrojet system are present in both
models.
EcoStor2
SC Power Vent (Closed Loop) Gas
| Models | Capacity (GAL) |
Recovery 90 F rise (GPH) |
Foam THK |
| S-DW2-TW-50T6FBN | 45 | 72 | 2 |
| S-DW2-TW-65T6FBN | 60 | 75 | |
| S-DW2-TW-75T6BN | 70 | 82 |
EcoStor2 power vented water heaters
designed for
closed-loop systems are
available in three sizes, where 45 and 60-gallon models utilize the
Defender System.
Other features are the same as found on open loop models.
Top Features
Sediment build-up protection
Hydrojet Total Performance System
is the factory installed, specially designed dip tube, which generates
the turbulent water flow, reducing the sediment build-up at
the
bottom of the tank and on other heater elements. This is what helps
in increasing the
first-hour delivery and maximizing the efficiency. Every model from the
above is equipped with the feature.
Protection against corrosion
Every metal part (i.e. tank, steel coiled exchangers) inside
the
solar water heater is protected from the aggressive water
action.
These include the Vitraglass lining and one or
two protective
aluminum (or magnesium) anode rod, both working together against the
aggressive effects of hot water,
while extending the heater's life.
Thick insulation
As seen from the above tables, all Bradford White solar water
heaters are utilizing the 2"
thick non-CFC foam insulation, which helps in reducing the energy
consumption and heat loss, while
improving the
efficiency.
Integrated Mixing Device
This
feature allows mixing hot and cold water so the outgoing temperature is
not scalding hot, but at the safe and comfortable level, while keeping
the inside temperature high.
Warranty provided for the Bradford White solar units are 6
years on
steel tank and component parts (some can be extended to 10 years). Call
your local dealer for prices,
warranty issues, replacement parts, troubleshooting
and repairs.
(Photos courtesy of Bradford White)
