Why don't you install some sort of device to help you log the periods at which the A/C is running? Or would that complicate things too much for you?... it's possible the A/C has been not been running continuously for those 22 hours..
Why don't you install some sort of device to help you log the periods at which the A/C is running? Or would that complicate things too much for you?... it's possible the A/C has been not been running continuously for those 22 hours..
Our new DH has real trouble getting humidity below 45%. I think your A/C is fine as a DH.Fresh data: 38 cups in the last 22 hours. That's 20.7 ppd, down from the initial value closer to 30.
The humidity in my basement has fallen to the set point of 45% RH, so it's possible the A/C has been not been running continuously for those 22 hours.
But I also suspect that the A/C is less able to pull water out at lower humidity, compared to a dehumidifier. Maybe the A/C coil doesn't get quite as cool as a genuine dehumidifier? It would make sense. A DH should be designed to run in a basement and needs a cooler coil to wring out the water even when the humidity is below 50%. An A/C is designed to move as many BTUs as possible from one side to the other, with generally warmer air.
Still, I'm happy with the experiment so far. Just gotta see how things look 10 years from now.
I just turned it down to 40% so that it doesn't stop.
Our old one had a minimum setting of 35%. I think it did get there at times, but probably not in hot weather like now. You may be right about the DH. I never paid much attention before.Our new DH has real trouble getting humidity below 45%. I think your A/C is fine as a DH.
Typically 2-3¢/kWh. The average is much higher due to a very few excursion up over 20-30¢ on hot summer afternoons. Occasionally it even goes negative!I take it electricity is not that expensive where you live ...
What the... negative you say? How can that be even possible? Also, how many kWh does your A/C consume? That is, how much do you think it will cost you to keep it on 24/7 ?Typically 2-3¢/kWh. The average is much higher due to a very few excursion up over 20-30¢ on hot summer afternoons. Occasionally it even goes negative!
How's that? Does your A/C have a controller connected to the internet that constantly monitors the actual electricity rate?When rates spike over 14¢, my central A/C compressor cuts out.
Is it on windy, sunny days when all the alternative energy is fed into the system (without restriction)and they need someone to consume it? This is a major issue in Germany in recent months, paying Poland to take the excess and now Poland is going to stop taking the excess because it is screwing up their coal industry.It's drawing just under 400W, so less than 10kWh per day. That's only a quarter per day, assuming I can avoid rate spikes on hot afternoons. Well worth it to avoid dampness in the basement.
My rate is subject to real-time pricing. It rarely goes negative but when it does, it's usually in the early morning of a day predicted to get very hot. I believe this causes the utility people to bring extra capacity online in anticipation. But while demand is still low, they'll pay me to take it! When rates spike over 14¢, my central A/C compressor cuts out.
maybe you could move the sensor to the compressor (hot) side of the a/c?Now I just need to figure out a more elegant way to fool the sensor.
My first choice would be to leave the A/C as unchanged as possible, but yes I may have to alter the sensor. I'm hoping to find out what type it is and perhaps I can just tweak it. One complication is that, I think, the ice-on-the-coil sensor is right there in the same spot. I'm not sure if it's the same sensor or if there are two side-by-side. Anyway I don't want to interfere with that.maybe you could move the sensor to the compressor (hot) side of the a/c?
R410a is more typical these days.What is the refrigerant? R134A, R12?
I'm thinking of one of those tiny neon lamps they used to use before LEDs. I like the visual feedback of a light. But I've got a box of old resistors too. It'd be great to put one to a good use.As for a warmer, get a 2 watt 62k resistor and wire it at the end of a 110V cord. Plug that in and it will give you a constant ¼ watt or so of heat.
by Duane Benson
by Jake Hertz
by Jake Hertz
by Jake Hertz