Grant Aerona r290

[Beelbeebub]

Grant have released details of their r290 heatpumps

 

https://www.grantuk.com/professional/products/air-source-heat-pumps/r290/

 

As before I think it's a rebranded unit from another manufacturer but I don't think itvs Chofu, who make the current r32 units. 

 

At first glance the performance seems to be about the same (unsurprisingly as r32 and r290 units have very similar performance characteristics)

 

The biggest difference apart from the units being black (yay!) seems to be the size. The r290 units are significantly wider. 

 

Still. Nice to see another entrant in to the fray. 

[sharpener]

3 hours ago, Beelbeebub said:

As before I think it's a rebranded unit from another manufacturer but I don't think itvs Chofu, who make the current r32 units.

 

They have taken their time! I saw the new R290 model on the Grant stand at the NEC in summer 2023, and was told like the R32 model it was made by Chofu and would be on the market winter 23/spring 24.

[Beelbeebub]

2 hours ago, sharpener said:

 

They have taken their time! I saw the new R290 model on the Grant stand at the NEC in summer 2023, and was told like the R32 model it was made by Chofu and would be on the market winter 23/spring 24.

It might be a Chofu unit, but Chofu haven't got it on their website yet (which I would expect). 

 

It's interesting it seems to be bigger (power for power) than the chofu r32 units - which were nice and compact. 

 

They do seem significantly quieter though so maybe the extra size is sound insulation. 

Edited September 24, 2024 by Beelbeebub

[JamesPa]

1 hour ago, Beelbeebub said:

They do seem significantly quieter though so maybe the extra size is sound insulation. 

Notably both the Daikin R290 and the Samsung R290 units are larger and quieter than their predecessors.  I think its reasonable to conclude, as you suggest, that the extra volume is to accommodate sound insulation.

 

Unfortunately in the case of the Samsung unit for certain (not sure about the others) this pushes the volume over 0.6cu m which is the max allowed under permitted development.  Hopefully this figure may be raised soon, as suggested in the consultation carried out by DENZ earlier in the year (before the election). 

[GSV3MiaC]

The Grant r290 models appear to be rebadged Exinda, eg

 

https://exindagroup.com/collections/r290-air-to-water-heat-pump

 

Though the smart controller may be a home brew, can't find details of that on the exinda site. 

 

Has anyone actually used one yet? The spec looks good, especially the potential turn down ratio (under 30%), noise level, and power outputs at stupidly low ambient. 

[andyj007]

i have found  the grant ashp's  really fail to work very well  at anything under 6 degrees , they mostly go into defrost much more frequently than other brands  of same sizing , same conditions house types  .. also the current controller is pretty naff. i have stopped fittinh them in in the houses we build 

[JohnMo]

17 minutes ago, andyj007 said:

they mostly go into defrost much more frequently than other brands  of same sizing , same conditions house types

Defrost is a bit of a physics thing rather than brand thing. Really depends on location, but driven by the humidity in the air and it's dew point plus the amount of energy you are trying to pull out of it.

 

We near the coast (6 miles) and can also get defrost at around 5 degs sometimes. But we generally flow at higher temperatures to batch charge instead of WC at much lower temperature.

 

Try turning you weather compensation curve down a little, that will make the frosting take longer to occur.

 

Or is the unit undersized?

[JoeBano]

My grant anerona3 hardly goes into defrost, it is sat on my garage roof gets plenty of circulation up there. I hope the new ones have a modulating water pump rather than a fixed one on mine.