EnerygLover

The Sunsource® home energy system fully integrates solar power in harnessing renewable energy to reduce the electricity used by the entire heat pump or a/c system, and to operate other devices in the home that consume electricity — such as lighting and appliances

http://www.lennox.com/solar-solutions/

Video, Buying a Humidifier, by Consumer Reports

eneryglover — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:33:35 +0000

DocCool at iHeatCool.com recommends:

See this informative video from Consumer Reports on dehumidifiers. Only 2 ½ minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/v/7g9_R0-8j4E&hl=en&fs=1

Detecting Cooling Coil Fouling Automatically

eneryglover — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:30:31 +0000

Article

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5PRD/is_4_16/ai_n55122179/

by Energytwip iHeatCool.com

Measuring Outside Air

eneryglover — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:41:12 +0000

The amount of outside air entering the system between the return air grill and the evaporator coil can be measured and calculated using a pocket thermometer, and by applying a formula. Air flow or temperature measurement accuracy is variable, depending on the skill of the technician and the placement of the instruments.

Sometimes field test conditions don’t allow for accurate or convenient measurement of outside air flow because there may be poor access at the fresh air inlet, or it may be too windy to get a good reading. The percentage of outside air can be calculated by using three temperature measurements: outside air temperature, return air temperature and the mixed air temperature.

OAT – Outside Air Temperature. This is the temperature of the air entering the system or equipment from the outdoors. Measure the air temperature in a shaded area so your thermometer doesn’t absorb the radiant heat of the sun. Also be sure the reading is not affected by the roof temperature or any other source of heat.

RAT – Return Air Temperature. This is the temperature of the return air entering the return grilles. Accuracy will also be affected by non leakage heat gain through the return duct between the return grill and the evaporator coil. Find a test location at the return grill.

MAT – Mixed Air Temperature. This is the air temperature at the air inlet to the evaporator coil past any outside fresh air inlet where the temperatures of the return and outside air have mixed together. Unit casing have considerable air leakage. You may need to test for it in the blower compartment. There are times you may need to hunt using your thermometer readings to interpret the point between return air and fresh air where the two types of air are completely mixed.

The formula:

Outside Air % = (Mixed Air Temp – Return Air Temp / Outside Air Temp – Return Air Temp) x 100%

Example how the formula works:

Outside Air % = (83F – 80F / 90F – 80F) x 100%

Outside air % = (3F / 10F) x 100%

Outside Air % = 30%

In the example 30 percent of the total airflow of the system is being pulled into the system from outside. If the fan is moving 400 CFM per ton, a total of 1200 CFM, the amount of air being introduced from outside would be 360 CFM. The heat content of 360 CFM of raw outside air is significant. This calculation does not include air from infiltration through the building envelope.

The test is not perfect, but when you get accurate readings from other instruments, this test can provide valuable data. When indoor and outdoor conditions are nearly the same, the formula doesn’t provide good results. If the indoor temperature is 80 degrees, the return air is 80 degrees and the mixed air is 80 degrees, the test will always show zero outside air in the system.

The formula works best when there are 10 degrees or more difference between the indoor and outdoor air temperatures. If there is less than a 10 degree difference, measure the air temperatures down to the tenth of a degree to increase accuracy.

HVAC Business, Ductless, Split System, Air Conditioners

eneryglover — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 01:16:43 +0000

Heat Cool iHeatCool.com

Ductless Splits have numerous residential and commercial applications in the HVAC Business. The most common residential applications are in multifamily housing or room additions.

Commercial uses are also numerous. Some applications include elevator equipment rooms, computer rooms, telephone equipment rooms, schools, perimeter cooling for office buildings, additional cooling for restaurant kitchens, and cooling for small offices.

These units combine the zoning flexibility of a conventional window unit (a single air conditioner installed through a wall or a window frame) with the whole house cooling potential of central systems.

They have two main components:

· Compressor bearing condensing unit

· Air handling unit containing an evaporator and a fan. Some units operate as heat pumps and provide both summer cooling and winter heating.

The term, "split system," also describes the common central air conditioners and heat pumps. If you ask about ductless, air conditioners, make sure the dealer understands which system you are talking about. Another common term is "mini splits."

Advantages

The advantages over room and central air conditioners are:

· Easy installation

· Quiet operation

· Versatility in zoning and design

· No duct eliminating loss of cool air as it passes through the ductwork

· Save energy, since only the rooms that are occupied need to be cooled

· Independently controls each zone, operating costs are often lower than those of central systems that cool every room.

· You can buy the system one zone at a time. A single outdoor unit controls from one to four zones, depending on the size of the unit.

· Very high efficient units are available that use VRF, Variable refrigerant flow technology.

· Typically, the Btu per hour rating (Btu/h) of these units ranges from 8,700 to 60,000

· Air handlers can be suspended from a ceiling, mounted flush into a drop ceiling, or hung on a wall.

Disadvantages

· Units must be properly sized for the room to prevent short-cycling, which wastes energy and does not provide the desired temperature control

· Some people may also not like the appearance of the exposed wall mounted air handling unit. While less obtrusive than a window unit, they seldom have the built-in look of a central system.

· There must also be drainage for condensate outside the building. If the drainage is not well placed, the condensate can stain concrete or building materials. Condensate pumps can be required, something else to fail.

Cost

· Cost is about $2,000 per ton (12,000 Btu/h) of cooling capacity.

· VFR variable refrigerant flow units cost up to $6000 per ton.