[Greenbuilding] Ductless Heat Pump Performance - November 2011

[Paul Eldridge]

Hi Richard,

I took a quick peek at our power monitors and the upper and lower level 
units are currently drawing 327 and 252-watts respectively, for a grand 
total of 579-watts.  At the moment, the outside temperature is holding 
steady at 1°C and the indoor set temperature is 20°C.

If the house is at its set temperature and one of the heat pumps can no 
longer supply additional heat without overshooting this setting, the 
circulation fan runs at very low speed and power consumption falls to 
about 25-watts.  When a small amount of heat is required, they typically 
draw in the order of 235-watts and if you force one into "turbo mode" it 
can pull upwards of 1,550-watts, for a maximum of fifteen minutes at one 
time.  A couple of weeks ago when temperatures dipped to -6°C and winds 
were brisk, the upper level unit was drawing anywhere from 750 to 
900-watts.  Still, compared to electric resistance heat, that's less 
than what would be needed to operate a single 4-foot strip.

Bullfrog is great.  I had originally subscribed to Nova Scotia Power's 
"Green Power" plan but it was later withdrawn by the utility (I think I 
was one of only thirty customers in the province to do so).  Shortly 
thereafter, Bullfrog expanded into the Maritimes and I signed up 
immediately.

Regards,
Paul

>Paul:
>
>The running amps for that model are impressive: 2.5 - 11.7 amps. Oil
>furnace burners alone run between 1.5 - 5 amps! Heat pumps with inverter
>technology make this a truly compelling and curve flattening solution. .250
>kwh per unit on a mild winter day is remarkable.
>
>Running Amps Cooling: 10.9 (2.5~10.9)
>Heating: 11.7 (2.5~11.7)
>
>Power Input (W)Cooling: 1,090 (250~1,090)
>Heating: 1,165 (250~1,165)
>
>We have a few townhouse owners on our street with ductless systems for air
>conditioning but I don't think they have heating capabilities. And these
>townhouses are baseboard electric. I'll have to check into this. Nice to
>see Bullfrog getting your business and not Reddy Kilowatt!
>
>Richard