Winter warmth
#61
Re: Winter warmth
Reverse cycle AC units are air to air heat pumps.
Efficiency is variable and depends on outside temperature; there are also water to air versions.
This gets very technical very fast.
Efficiency is variable and depends on outside temperature; there are also water to air versions.
This gets very technical very fast.
#62
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,835
Re: Winter warmth
The standing charge is variable and depends on the power that you wish to be able to consume, so if you need an extra few kW to run your aircon you have to pay a higher standing charge, all year round, as well as the electricity when you actually use it. Like a gas cooker, a log burner side-steps this standing charge problem for those on a tight budget.
#63
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Joined: Mar 2014
Location: East Algarve
Posts: 1,000
Re: Winter warmth
The standing charge is variable and depends on the power that you wish to be able to consume, so if you need an extra few kW to run your aircon you have to pay a higher standing charge, all year round, as well as the electricity when you actually use it. Like a gas cooker, a log burner side-steps this standing charge problem for those on a tight budget.
#64
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,835
Re: Winter warmth
We have a large thermal store for hot water (and partial under-floor heating, so it doesn't heat much of our house either) but not large enough to transfer enough of our energy requirements from night to day. If only we could have affordable heat pump powered storage heaters, powered by solar voltaic and/or off-peak electricity.
#65
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Joined: Mar 2014
Location: East Algarve
Posts: 1,000
Re: Winter warmth
We have a large thermal store for hot water (and partial under-floor heating, so it doesn't heat much of our house either) but not large enough to transfer enough of our energy requirements from night to day. If only we could have affordable heat pump powered storage heaters, powered by solar voltaic and/or off-peak electricity.
#66
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,835
Re: Winter warmth
If only the electricity generating companies would pass on the savings they now make by using PV solar farms. I suppose they need to recoup the huge capital outlay they have made. Large scale investment in solar farms is the way ahead in Portugal, not individual households trying to produce their own electricity.
#67
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Joined: Mar 2014
Location: East Algarve
Posts: 1,000
Re: Winter warmth
That's a good point. What does EDP do with all that spare electricity? No doubt there will be too much generated during the hot summer days in the Algarve and that's my worry with a home-based PV setup. My pool does not need any more heat and nor does the house. My mains water from the kitchen cold tap is 28 degrees Celsius in the summer and that's a problem with bread-making if I forget to chill some water.
#68
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,835
Re: Winter warmth
Air conditioning and refrigeration demands obviously go up in high summer but we all still want electricity at the flick of a switch day or night. Managing that supply efficiently is probably harder than we think.
#69
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Joined: Mar 2014
Location: East Algarve
Posts: 1,000
Re: Winter warmth
Ah well, back to the garden and this wonderful weather.
#70
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 26,724
Re: Winter warmth
That's a good point. What does EDP do with all that spare electricity? No doubt there will be too much generated during the hot summer days in the Algarve and that's my worry with a home-based PV setup. My pool does not need any more heat and nor does the house. My mains water from the kitchen cold tap is 28 degrees Celsius in the summer and that's a problem with bread-making if I forget to chill some water.
#71
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Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Tavira
Posts: 496
Re: Winter warmth
I put an ‘Owl’ on to the electric supply about 3 years ago and have been monitoring ever since. With 3 reverse calcule acs running full pelt in winter the average is about 1.5 kWh, but they must be pumping out more than 6kw. If I turn on the oil heater that doubles, just to keep the kitchen warm.
#72
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 265
Re: Winter warmth
Not directly related but this is interesting about the UK power consumption/generation
Live monitoring of the UK electricity National Grid
Live monitoring of the UK electricity National Grid