Nibe (or any heat pump) water scheduling

[SBMS]

Has anyone had any success with scheduling when the hot water function on their heat pump is activated? We are on intelligent octopus so get electricity at 7.5p 11pm to 5am. Does it make sense to only schedule the heat pump to heat water during these hours? Are there any downsides to this?

 

And as a bonus question, is it as simple as activating the scheduling function on the nibe f2040?

 

thanks

[JohnMo]

If you have solar PV, schedule when that's active, heat the water for free.

[sharpener]

56 minutes ago, SBMS said:

Does it make sense to only schedule the heat pump to heat water during these hours? Are there any downsides to this?

 

Yes. Not really if it will provide enough hot water for you. If not then an afternoon boost makes sense, if you have PV it will be free, if not at least the air temperature is likely to be higher so you will have a slightly better CoP.

 

Don't know about the Nibe specifically but scheduling the HW is a pretty basic feature and as a high-end product I imagine Nibe will give you the option (perhaps more than one).

 

Edited June 12, 2023 by sharpener

[SBMS]

We do have PV, not commissioned yet. How have others set up their system? Is it better for PV to use a clamp and use the immersion, or just use the PV to assist with running the heat pump?

[Conor]

We run ours exclusively on off-peak. Timer set 5-9am. At the weekends also have on middle of day as we tend to have visitors and higher hot water demand. Yet to ring out.

[sharpener]

Use the PV to run the heat pump, at least to do the heavy lifting, you will benefit by a factor equal to the CoP.

 

Depending on the HP characteristics it may not heat to the temp you want, or start cycling on and off, or not do a legionella cycle unaided, those are situations where the immersion can usefully help out.

[SBMS]

Thanks all. 

[IanR]

1 hour ago, SBMS said:

And as a bonus question, is it as simple as activating the scheduling function on the nibe f2040?

 

Assuming you have either the SMO 20 or 40 controller then there is a Scheduler for Hot Water (and a separate one for Climate (Space Heating/Cooling). In the Scheduler there's a Tab for up to 2 daily periods to schedule the the HW On. If neither are active then it will come on any time it needs to across the day. If you want to restrict the times it will heat water then activate one or two of the tabs and set a time on each day within the tab that you wish it to operate.

[SBMS]

23 hours ago, IanR said:

 

Assuming you have either the SMO 20 or 40 controller then there is a Scheduler for Hot Water (and a separate one for Climate (Space Heating/Cooling). In the Scheduler there's a Tab for up to 2 daily periods to schedule the the HW On. If neither are active then it will come on any time it needs to across the day. If you want to restrict the times it will heat water then activate one or two of the tabs and set a time on each day within the tab that you wish it to operate.

What’s your setup Ian? Have you got the timer active?

[IanR]

27 minutes ago, SBMS said:

What’s your setup Ian? Have you got the timer active?

The Schedule? No, not really. On the SMO40 I block the compressor over night (so that nothing runs) and then allow it to run during the day whenever there is a call for heat.

 

I guess you could call it a timer, but Blocking is not specific to hot water or climate.