Heat Pump Standby Power Use

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Geek

#1361483 9-Aug-2015 12:21

I've never had it serviced because until recently I never used it. The old owners of this place put it in (second hand at the time) right before selling the place. I only plan to be in this house a few more years, so it doesn't make financial sense to put a new one in considering how infrequently I use the thing. I'm just trying to find ways of cutting my monthly power bill, starting with all that "idle" power use across the house. I've switched the heat pump off, so it'll be interesting to see if that makes any difference when the data is available in a few days.

JayADee

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#1361530 9-Aug-2015 14:34

wsnz: If anyone does decide to turn off the heat pump at the isolator for an extended period of time, make sure that before using the heat pump again, you comply with the minimum amount of time (up to a full day) indicated in the manual for the crank-case heater to warm up the compressor otherwise damage can occur to the compressor. In most cases the warranty will be voided if you don't follow those minimum guidelines.
Also make sure that the unit has been thoroughly dried by using the heat mode for an hour or two, before decommissioning.

Thanks for the advice.

Spyware

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#1361536 9-Aug-2015 14:45

MadEngineer:
kiwichick12:(it's a very old, inefficient one - 12 years+ I think),

When did you last have it serviced? I highly suggest that you do then when the electrician comes to check it out you can ask them to check how much it's drawing when idle. If they're good they'll likely try to sell you on the benefits of upgrading to a modern inverting unit (yours probably just turns off and on to maintain a temperature rather than trickling heat) to which you can consider or politely decline ...

I doubt that heat pump service people are electricians or salespeople.

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#1361721 9-Aug-2015 20:58

Spyware:
MadEngineer:
kiwichick12:(it's a very old, inefficient one - 12 years+ I think),

When did you last have it serviced? I highly suggest that you do then when the electrician comes to check it out you can ask them to check how much it's drawing when idle. If they're good they'll likely try to sell you on the benefits of upgrading to a modern inverting unit (yours probably just turns off and on to maintain a temperature rather than trickling heat) to which you can consider or politely decline ...

I doubt that heat pump service people are electricians or salespeople.

https://www.mitsubishi-electric.co.nz/service_centres.aspx?prod=aircon&area=2 - count the electricians. Would you want a pure 'fridgie' wiring up or servicing a such an appliance? Especially considering it's hard wired and not a plug in appliance.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

Tcam478

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#1377258 31-Aug-2015 17:42

kiwichick12: I've never had it serviced because until recently I never used it. The old owners of this place put it in (second hand at the time) right before selling the place. I only plan to be in this house a few more years, so it doesn't make financial sense to put a new one in considering how infrequently I use the thing. I'm just trying to find ways of cutting my monthly power bill, starting with all that "idle" power use across the house. I've switched the heat pump off, so it'll be interesting to see if that makes any difference when the data is available in a few days.

Cleaning and servicing heat pumps is pretty important, and can really improve performance and energy efficiency. If you never emptied your vacuum cleaner it wouldn't take long before you'd be complaining it wasn't very efficient and using lots of power.
Like vacuum cleaners, heat pumps are moving a lot of air and the filters and internal mechanism will pick up a lot of dust, dirt, pollen etc. All of that can clog a machine over the course of a year.

Apparently it's best to get a professional clean and service, but here's a guide I found if you want to give it a go yourself. http://www.heatpumpsnow.co.nz/whats-hot-at-heat-pumps-now/clean-your-hi-wall-heat-pump-6-easy-steps-to-save-money-improve-efficiency

kiwichick12

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Geek

#1377264 31-Aug-2015 17:58

Doing it yourself is prob the way to go if you don't use it much. Judging by recent power bills, I reckon I'll use about $120 worth of power for 4 months active use in the winter, so no point Pissing for someone you service it. Thanks for the link!

FYI for those that are interested, I've had the heat pump switched off (using the switch outside) for the last couple of weeks. From Genesis energy's usage monitor, it looks like it used about 0.01kwh per hour on standby. 0.24kwh per day/7.2kwh per month, or around $2 depending on your tariff. So not much.

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#1377757 1-Sep-2015 13:12

I have heard several times that leaving appliances on standby keeps them warm and therefore dry, which is good for them.

Any truth in that?

Mike

Fred99

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#1377771 1-Sep-2015 13:52

wsnz: If anyone does decide to turn off the heat pump at the isolator for an extended period of time, make sure that before using the heat pump again, you comply with the minimum amount of time (up to a full day) indicated in the manual for the crank-case heater to warm up the compressor otherwise damage can occur to the compressor. In most cases the warranty will be voided if you don't follow those minimum guidelines. Also make sure that the unit has been thoroughly dried by using the heat mode for an hour or two, before decommissioning.

Is the crank-case heater thermostat controlled or "always on"?
If it's thermostat controlled, then measuring standby power use at one time isn't going to give the right answer.

MadEngineer

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#1377970 1-Sep-2015 23:13

MikeAqua: I have heard several times that leaving appliances on standby keeps them warm and therefore dry, which is good for them.

Any truth in that?

i'd be more concerned about the environment that would lead to appliances being cold and wet

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

MikeAqua

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#1378396 2-Sep-2015 16:27

I was thinking about the airborne moisture in a home.

Several people have suggested to me that if electronics stay warm on standby, they will not be affected by moisture - corrosion etc.

I have to admit I leave things on standby all the time. Too lazy not too.

MadEngineer:
MikeAqua: I have heard several times that leaving appliances on standby keeps them warm and therefore dry, which is good for them.

Any truth in that?
i'd be more concerned about the environment that would lead to appliances being cold and wet

Mike

Pete101

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#1398983 2-Oct-2015 18:05

I came across this thread when I Googgled the question about how much power a heat pump should use on standby.

I've just had a new Mitsubishi heat pump installed, except the electrician can't come for a couple of days. So I've taken the opportunity to wire my own plug onto it (which is what the installer also did to test it). 1st thing I wanted to know was how much power it uses on standby....I have a power usage meter that plugs into a wall socket. I'm shocked at the figure I see, 190W!!! At first I thought it may just be some start-up procedure and it would drop off, it's now been 2 hours and I don't think it's going to decrease.

This is shocking, they sell these inverter heat pumps by saying how they are very energy efficient, yet fail to tell you they use 190W when in standby, which will cost you over a dollar a day. You can be sure I will be turning it's main power off when it's not in use.

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MadEngineer

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#1399106 2-Oct-2015 20:45

See if you can contact Mitsubishi support by phone - let us know what that experience is like :)

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

Batman

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#1399138 2-Oct-2015 21:55

Pete101: I came across this thread when I Googgled the question about how much power a heat pump should use on standby.

I've just had a new Mitsubishi heat pump installed, except the electrician can't come for a couple of days. So I've taken the opportunity to wire my own plug onto it (which is what the installer also did to test it). 1st thing I wanted to know was how much power it uses on standby....I have a power usage meter that plugs into a wall socket. I'm shocked at the figure I see, 190W!!! At first I thought it may just be some start-up procedure and it would drop off, it's now been 2 hours and I don't think it's going to decrease.

This is shocking, they sell these inverter heat pumps by saying how they are very energy efficient, yet fail to tell you they use 190W when in standby, which will cost you over a dollar a day. You can be sure I will be turning it's main power off when it's not in use.

I also plugged the same thing to my PS3 Phat (1st version).
Standby (powered off, red light) shows as 125W.
Till today I am not sure if it's true.

kiwichick12

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#1399139 2-Oct-2015 21:56

Oops. I've just noticed some very unfortunate typos in my last post. Sorry about that! Darn autocorrect!

richms

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#1399145 2-Oct-2015 22:04

Some of the plug in power meters are total crap on low usage switchmode power supplies. I had one that reconed my computer used 75+ watts when off, and then 60 when on. It got warm when on. Didnt when off. So it was all lies.

Also microwave doesnt use 60 watts when just showing the time. Meter said it did. It was one of the first generation elto meters that was full of crap.

Richard rich.ms

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