Dehumidifier that will run at a given time each day

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neb

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#299189 18-Aug-2022 18:00

Being on a free-all-evening power plan and not yet having maxed out what the lines can take, I was thinking of running a dehumidifier in basement rooms during the free-power period, particularly useful during the current soggy period. However it doesn't look like there's any dehumidifier that can do this, they all have timers where you can say "start in two hours" or "run for another two hours", but none where you can specify that they start at time X and stop at time Y.

Does anyone know of a reasonably-performance one that can start and stop at set times? At the moment it looks like my only options are to get a pricey WiFi-enabled one and manually start it, or to put them on a power point timer and essentially yank the power cord out outside the given free-power times.

If the only option is a WiFi one, does anyone know whether the Breville Smart Dry can be driven via something that isn't Google HA or Alexa? Consumer doesn't rate it as well as some of the dumb ones, but it's about the best-rated WiFi-enabled one, and comes with an external drain hose so I can run it into a large external container.

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#2956303 18-Aug-2022 18:06

A dumb one (or at least one that auto starts on power resume), and an external timer would be the obvious pick.

pih

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#2956310 18-Aug-2022 18:20

Scott3: A dumb one (or at least one that auto starts on power resume), and an external timer would be the obvious pick.

I agree but I'd recommend a compressor dehumidifier over a desiccant one for this. The desiccant models need to run for a bit after you turn them off to dry out the desiccant, I presume to prevent mould growth. If it's on an external timer you won't get the dry-off period.

Rikkitic

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#2956323 18-Aug-2022 19:23

Why choose a hi-tech solution for a low-tech problem? I have half-a-dozen of those power point timers that use little tabs to switch the power on and off. I can't think of a better solution than that.

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neb

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#2956324 18-Aug-2022 19:25

Scott3: A dumb one (or at least one that auto starts on power resume), and an external timer would be the obvious pick.

I mentioned that option in my post, however yanking the power on one once a day without letting it do a proper shutdown seems like a warranty-voiding operation, which is why I'd only use it as a last resort.

smcc

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#2956325 18-Aug-2022 19:28

Some of the Goldair ones have wifi control (and an app that can schedule), I have one and it works well. I got mine at Mitre 10.

neb

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#2956327 18-Aug-2022 19:36

smcc:
Some of the Goldair ones have wifi control (and an app that can schedule), I have one and it works well. I got mine at Mitre 10.

Yeah, that was the other WiFi-based one I'd looked at alongside Breville, I'm kinda partial to Breville stuff because they put some careful thought into their designs. Goldair also seem to have pretty good WiFi support for their ones, they mention Alexa and Google HA and allow running on a schedule via the app.

So you're reasonably happy with it? It's another one that Consumer hasn't reviewed yet, so it's an unknown Breville vs. an unknown Goldair.

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tweake

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#2956329 18-Aug-2022 19:38

a dehumidifier is a poor choice for an appliance to run on a timer. they really want to be left on permanently and do its thing. get one you can set the humidity level you want and just let it run.

neb

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#2956330 18-Aug-2022 19:40

tweake:
a dehumidifier is a poor choice for an appliance to run on a timer. they really want to be left on permanently and do its thing. get one you can set the humidity level you want and just let it run.

It's fine in this case, once it's done the initial big moisture-removal it'll barely need to run, so running it for three hours a day on free power to control any new moisture ingress should be fine.

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#2956342 18-Aug-2022 19:53

I ran mine for a couple of days until I got the humidity down, now I run it on my Free 3 hours each night to maintain it. it works well.

I run it longer for a day or so if the inside humidity rises (after a very wet week with high outdoor humidity for example), but 3 hours is generally enough to keep it in check.

Scott3

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#2956437 18-Aug-2022 23:25

neb:
Scott3: A dumb one (or at least one that auto starts on power resume), and an external timer would be the obvious pick.
I mentioned that option in my post, however yanking the power on one once a day without letting it do a proper shutdown seems like a warranty-voiding operation, which is why I'd only use it as a last resort.

On a compresser dehumidifier, my understanding is that there are basically three components electric, a compressor, a fan, and some means of defrosting (hot gas bypass?). In theory it could be set up for the fan to keep running to dry the coils after compressor shutdown, but mine doesn't seem to do that. Only thing mine seems to do on shutdown is close the louvers, so I wouldn't be worried about having an external timer pulling the plug.

To my surprise my dehumidifier Mitsubishi Electric MJ-E16VX, in auto mode, resumes running if you yank the cord, and then plug it back in. (I though you would need to seek out a unit with dials rather than electronic control, which seem to only be used units these days). Lowest humidity setting on mine is 50% (can go lower with laundry mode, but it has a shut down timer in that mode), so might not be the best for your application.

Really hard to find out what has auto restore as this info doesn't seem to make it to spec sheets.

Depending on the area, given you are only running a few hours a day, you probiably want a fairly big unit.

If temperatures are cold, your 7 - 10L/day Desiccant Dehumidifier will outperform a 25L/day compressor unit with ease. Never used one, so can't comment on shutdown procedures. They are more power hungry than compressor dehumidifiers (710W for the below).

There is one can do scheduling via wifi:

https://goldair.co.nz/products/gpdh480

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0371/1693/6327/files/GPDH480_Wifi_Manual_2022.pdf?v=1652309745

TheMightyKiwipeso

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#2956447 19-Aug-2022 02:19

We just run our dehumidifier most of the time near our kitchen and laundry.

It typically has around 14 hours until it fills up from empty.

We don't rush to empty it unless we are not doing other things.

If you want to really do power savings, run your dryer and a heater during the 3 hours of free power.

Running a dehumidifier most of winter is a good idea to keep out mould in the kitchen and bathroom .

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#2956477 19-Aug-2022 08:49

I find it better to prevent the causes of moisture rather than fixing problems. Good extraction in the bathroom, rather than the tiny integrated units. An extractor in the kitchen. Plastic ground sheeting under the house. Ventilation is still important, we have positive pressure which we run on a timer.

But with all that done, or as a stopgap, dehumidifiers are ok.

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#2956489 19-Aug-2022 09:45

Remember dehumidifiers are pretty low power users, buying a new one with wifi etc will easily blow out any potential free power savings.

richms

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#2956515 19-Aug-2022 11:15

Rikkitic:

Why choose a hi-tech solution for a low-tech problem? I have half-a-dozen of those power point timers that use little tabs to switch the power on and off. I can't think of a better solution than that.

Wifi smart sockets are the better option as you don't have to mess about with little pins to set the timers, and some will also log the power usage.

I have my shed dehumidifiers on them so I can only run them when its warm enough for them to do anything rather than perpetually defrost. So just on in the afternoon when the suns going into the shed.

Basement one I leave on 24/7 and it probably only uses about $15 a month.

Richard rich.ms

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#2956517 19-Aug-2022 11:16

neb:
Scott3: A dumb one (or at least one that auto starts on power resume), and an external timer would be the obvious pick.
I mentioned that option in my post, however yanking the power on one once a day without letting it do a proper shutdown seems like a warranty-voiding operation, which is why I'd only use it as a last resort.

I have never seen anything telling me not to do that on them, The built in humidistat just seems to cut power to the compressor as does the tank filling up.

Richard rich.ms

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