Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123
Personally, I am not sure how a variable speed heat pump is programmed. Apparently, you are saying that the run speed is based on the outside air temperature? If so, there must be other factors involved. Summers in The Villages seem to have consistently high temperatures in the 90's, so there is not that much deviation in outside temperature when you need cooling. I would also point out that, if you have temperature deviations throughout the house, a variable speed heat pump will not solve that problem. The heat pump can only try to satisfy one thermostat regardless of at which speed it is running. So, if your thermostat is set to 75 degrees, that is what you will get at the thermostat, regardless of whether you have a single speed or a variable speed heat pump. Also, regarding efficiency, I don't agree that running a heat pump continuously is the most efficient method in terms of electricity usage. It takes very little electricity to start a heat pump.
|
You are getting into some fine detail here that I don't know for sure. I don't think the speed it set directly by outside air temperature, I think it is set indirectly by it according to demand. If the thermostat is asking for cooling constantly it will increase the speed. If it asks for cooling less because the house isn't heating up so fast, it will reduce the speed.
Yes, the set point at the thermostat is what you will get regardless of single, multistage or variable speed. Its only a matter of whether the control system is bang-bang (off/on) or proportional.
I think the premise behind multi-stage or variable speed unit is that they are indeed more efficient. To the extent that you are correct then there would be no advantage beyond the ability to zone more easily.