Heat Pumps and Electric Heating - heat strips
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Dwheeler52
08-21-09, 06:40 AM
I have new a Carrier Infinity 5 ton heat pump. It has taken over a year for my new contractor to fix what the original guy did wrong but I'm almost there. New contractor thinks I need larger heat strips for better heating during colder days (near Richmond Virginia). I am thinking about trying to do this part myself. I thought he said I have 30kw and need 50 kw, but I am not sure - looks big compared to research I have already done. Need help with:
Where are the strips located (I know they are in the outside unit) and how do I determine what size I have and what size I need?
Where can I buy them? What do I need to know about selection?
Anything special about install or program once installed?
thanks
Dale
Where are the strips located (I know they are in the outside unit) and how do I determine what size I have and what size I need?
Where can I buy them? What do I need to know about selection?
Anything special about install or program once installed?
thanks
Dale
airman.1994
08-21-09, 06:45 AM
WOOOOOOOO I am two hours west of you and I only have 10 KW for a 3 ton. 50 sounds huge. Don't know what kind of home you are in but only way to know is to do a heat load on the home. Have your contractor do this.
TigerDunes
08-21-09, 07:08 AM
dwheeler
you need some professional help/analysis including a load calculation for correct sizing of your heat strip.
keep in mind a 30KW heat strip(which should be staged by the way) yields about 102 KBTUs. that's a heck of a lot of BTUs that don't even include BTUs from your outside HP condenser.
Remember that even at 17 deg FAH outside temp, your HP condenser produces about 34 KBTUs.
unless you are a qualified electrician, I do not recommend changing or adding heat strips as a DIY project.
And BTW, heat strips are located in inside air handler, not the outside condenser.
I think you need to recheck your facts/figures and review whatever problem you have experienced as well as the questionable advice you are receiving.
IMO
:(
you need some professional help/analysis including a load calculation for correct sizing of your heat strip.
keep in mind a 30KW heat strip(which should be staged by the way) yields about 102 KBTUs. that's a heck of a lot of BTUs that don't even include BTUs from your outside HP condenser.
Remember that even at 17 deg FAH outside temp, your HP condenser produces about 34 KBTUs.
unless you are a qualified electrician, I do not recommend changing or adding heat strips as a DIY project.
And BTW, heat strips are located in inside air handler, not the outside condenser.
I think you need to recheck your facts/figures and review whatever problem you have experienced as well as the questionable advice you are receiving.
IMO
:(
dac122
08-21-09, 09:34 AM
The heat strips are inside your air handler, and you likely have more than one that can come on in stages. Your numbers are likely wrong on those heat strip sizes. First take a look inside to see what you have, and then let us know.
You might need more capacity or not. What exact issues are you experiencing right now?
You might need more capacity or not. What exact issues are you experiencing right now?