eniacs

Struggling to see how your heat pump is drawing more than 4.5kw? Is it massive? I've got a 12kw heat pump, this draws 2.5kw when running. I time it for the afternoons 1pm to 3pm, the battery is fully charged from solar and there is usually spare solar to run the HP. In times of no sun, i can run it in the octopus night time rate which runs from the grid anyway, or run it on battery in the day then charge the battery at night.

If your system is designed to heat at low temp already with the heat pump, i cant see why you would need a specific cooling buffer tank? My piping is mostly 22-28mm so stores quite a bit of volume of water, im planning to try it and see how it performs and fit a buffer if required.

Exactly this, with masses of insulation in a house suitable for ASHP's summer overheating is likely. I am building my system around cooling being used 50% of the year and am frustrated by the lack of cooling on the BUS so have just bought my own direct. I suspected the government have stipulated this to prevent the BUS being used to install cooling systems that never get used to heat.

More photos needed! Im mid way through doing the radiators and house piping upgrade. Yet to site the heat pump and havent even bought a cylinder yet.

Datasheet shows 5kw charge/discharge from battery. Inverter actually only does this for 15 mins, then drops to 3.6kw.

I've got one, whilst it works, it doesn't work as advertised. I'm looking at changing to a Sunsynk.

I also do, but couldn't think of a way they could help. I did think that driving to Italy, picking them up then claiming back the VAT in the country as you leave (easier to do) then driving them back to the UK and claiming they are used (so not VATable) could be worthwhile. Ultimately I haven't really got time for that though.

HI James, Yes I've left out the valves. Temperature control will be fully via the controller turning on or off the fan. Water will flow in all rads at all times. After the above i had to pay VAT in both italy and the UK (thanks brexit) so final cost is about £680 per rad. Way higher than i wanted, however I've got them now and looks like i cant claim back VAT after purchase either (thanks italy). The company used in italy was www.idroclimashop.com I had to use italian in communication with them (google translate) but they were very good with all replies.

You must be aiming for COP of 5 lol. I'll be happy with 3

No ours do have a drain connection but I haven't made connection to anything yet. Exterior walls i may do a drain to outside, interior walls could use a condensate pump to interior drain or to exterior of the building.

I'm in the sunny south in a town (Plymouth). Like you say for several years we haven't had very cold weather, but the past couple, we've had -5 for a few days. My pool heat pump system froze solid and when i found it I felt terrible thinking how stupid i was to forget it (plan was to run the circ pump in very cold weather). All the pipes/pump/strainer etc were solid. Luckily the heat pump protected itself and prevented its heat exchanger from freezing, which is a god send, otherwise the £2500 unit would be a bit of scrap. I'll be doing my ashp soon and will be using freeze valves, over the lifetime of our previous heating system we've made multiple small changes requiring the system be drained and refilled.

That sounds right, both Panasonic and Daikin rebrand these units from Innova to sell in the UK. I didn't go for the valve option so I hope that isnt a problem! Spec sheet shows them switching on the fan at a flow temp of 35deg. I was hoping to play with running a flow temp of 35 to 45 deg and see what works for the house, i dont think i'll be devastated if they only work at 45deg though. How do you deal with condensation in cooling mode? I've looked at condensate pumps and drilling external drains etc but havent done anything yet.

See attached, apologies I've literally snapped a few photos late in the evening when i had 5 mins spare. Some damage still on walls and piping not 100%, but getting there. Still got a small run to this rad left and the main 28mm run out to the heat pump and the UVC to buy and put in place (have a plumber friend who will actually connect this for UVC rules). All piping is lagged, its taken so much time to do and been very fiddly, still i dont think it is 100%. In the first photo you can see a bare pipe next to an insulated run of piping, my youngest (18 months old) walked in proudly showing us the insulation he had managed to tear off. Once completed the idea is to run the HP in cooling mode through the summer and heating of course in winter, so lagging was one of the most important issues here.

Dave, the panasonic ones are rebranded Innova's. They are good quality. Not sure they are quite worth 800each but im not dissapointed in them. Innova do built into the wall units, Daikin do some of them too. You can also build them into the ceiling.

Joe, these are italian, Innova brand. I got them shipped from italy, they were a good price in italy, (around 450euro each including the controller) however once they got here i paid around £650 each. I was charged 2 x VAT sadly, a victim of Brexit. I also looked at the ivector's, they look good. Daikin do Innova stuff in the UK, no idea on pricing though. Would be worth finding out, i doubt they have to pay 2x VAT to get them in the country so could be good value.

Repiping and radiator install. Insulating every bit of exposed pipe is actually quite a faff. This is one radiator (well FCU). Each has to be done, all new piping, all new insulation and a power connection too.

Ok i'm making progress. The innova units ive got a quote for 7 and are coming in about £500 each. Painful, but our designer normal rads were about £200 each 8 years ago, so probably 300 now. These new rads are electronically controlled and do cooling so maybe i can pursuade myself that they are an upgrade. The supplier has offered valves to close off flow once they are at temp. Is this necesary? The controller will also stop the fan, so minimal heat will be coming out. The valve set is another £70 per rad.

Depends what was asked... If you said "Can you specify me a heat pump for heating in a new build" then it wouldn't include a hot water tank as that's not what you asked. It is possible for new builds to just have a hot water tank with a heating element and a totally separate heating system. As has been said the prices quoted are crazy, they obviously don't want/need the work, or think that you will be a massive hassle to them and have priced as such.

For anyone looking for fan coils in the uk now, coolenergy retail a line of chinese units called "Reverso" made for the italian market mainly, they are eye wateringly expensive but look good quality as well. They can be found on alibaba for far less, but suppliers seem unwilling to send small quantities. They did however supply the full catalogue which isnt on coolenergy's site so I've attached it here. Shame coolenergy dont supply the whole line, it looks good. 1239237613_CatalogoReversoAccessori2022-compressed.pdf

Joule do one: https://www.jouleuk.co.uk/products/cyclone-hi-gain-horizontal/

I will try that, but like you say there may not be very many from italy to the uk, aside from handbags there isnt a huge amount moving that way. I wonder if there is a PO box i could use in france and just pop over and pick them up. Most of them seem happy to ship to the EU, just not to the UK now we are out of the eu!

Also cancelled from hydroexpert. Damn brexit, they say there are too many forms to fill to ship it.

Order cancelled from idriocrimart. Apparently it is in their terms not to ship to UK. Order placed from hydroexpertsrl.it. Rad was only $250euro (no vat i think). Total $459euro with a cheaper controller (expensive one not stocked here sadly). Considered proclima as they stock the better controller but their minimum postage is $250euro! However only 600 delivery for 7 units.

Ordered my fancoil from www.idrocrimart.it. They charged $100 euro shipping to "europe" which included the UK. Bought this model: SL 400 C Total cooling capacity W 7/12 °C / A 27 °C 2,12 kW Heating capacity W 45/40 °C /A 20 °C 2,21 kW Indoor unit dimension↔935 mm↔579 mm↔129 mm Total cost $595. I've gone for the expensive $150 euro full digital control panel. There were cheaper ones. The basic fan coil rad was $350. Its made by Innova who also make the panasonic aquarea's mentioned above. Will let you know how it turns out, if its a good unit i need 6 more! If its not I've lost money lol.