Install a heavy duty dimmer in series with the heating elements of one of the heaters. Use it for local heating (next to you) so you can turn the central heat down even more. The efficiency gain from heating only what you really need to are very significant.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...L/poweruse.jpg

290 watts into the Sanyo will pump in 4,400 BTUh.
290 watts into a space heater converts to 989.5 BTUh.

Once the living areas are warmed up, it might only take 4,400 to 6,000 BTUh to maintain 70 degs..

So, if two people living here both needed space heaters, it might not be all that efficient.

Snow Roof install day
 

Wow! It's 67 deg out there today..

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/NCL/F143.jpg

Perfect weather for a roofing job... Now, I'm ready for the snow! :eek:
I came back inside and the house was so warm, I did a little AC testing.
Cooled things off real fast!!
The legs are off kilter, because when I drove the anchor pegs, I hit rocks!
There are rocks the size of watermelons just 10 or 12 inches under the ground here!
The pegs all ended up going into the wrong spot or at an angle!
Heck, that might hold it down better in the wind.?.
The last step was to drill a hole into the legs (and into the pegs), just
a few inches above the ground, and install a screw to keep the
whole thing from pulling a Wizard of Oz trick..

No side-walls yet.. (To block snow drifts coming in from the sides).
I'm going to wait a while before insulating the line-set valves, I want to
make absolutely sure that no refrigerant or oil is leaking from the connections.
(I saw this happen on a poorly installed AC-only unit at work. 24KS72).


The connection lube/sealant that I used is made of the same stuff that's
used for AC lube, and I've been trying to wipe off any over-flow, so
I can properly inspect for leakage. If clean, in a few days, I'll wrap it up
with insulating tape etc.

For now, I've taped up some foam into a little boot that kinda fits over the valves..
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/NCL/F145.jpg
After I have some good insulation installed, I think about installing the sidewalls/snowdrift shields.

Edit: 11/28/09 Installed insulation over line-set valves.


Before pic (without removable cover).
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/NCL/F169.jpg

After insulating and tape up.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/NCL/F170.jpg

About a year ago, an auto parts store about a block and a half from here had its ground-mounted heat pump stolen for the copper. I heard similar tales of woe from the neighborhood HVAC tech. So when I was looking for the right spot for mine, I thought hard about putting the unit in the back yard,out of sight, but I didn't like the idea of a long line set. On hind-sight a front location was also a good idea because the front yard is always warmer than the back by about 4 degrees, due to the fact that the backyard is perpetually in deep shade and even the earth temp, summer & winter is 4 degrees cooler... good for hot summer days, good for AC, less so for heating.

So here is my Sanyo, installed right in front of my house.


Stealthy, eh?

Regards,

-AC_Hacker

Good Camo.. Looks like a fern to me, and I've got a sharp eye!


I have one security light in the back of the lane between the house and garage.
You can see it on the upper right side of this picture.
It's right under the illegal alien(?) roofer.. :confused:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../rooferguy.jpg

Just under that light is an 18,000 BTU AC.. Humm, that makes 4 extra ACs that
I have floating around.. Oh, I forgot about the big one at my kid's house..


Anyways, I think a second security light on the garage wall, just up and
forward of that little side door, might be good to have..

That seems to be a good spot to light up, when I have to shovel that alley in the winter time.
And, I'll be keeping the snow away from the Sanyo this winter.. :thumbup:

I worry about vandalism more than copper stealer. But, just about every
other house on the street has a big fat central-air AC sitting near their chimney.
And, so far their hasn't been any problems. There are a lot of retired people
on this street and 95% of the traffic is residents. Pretty low risk here.

Put locks on the breaker boxes. Either the thief will give up and look for one that is less secure or try to steal it with power on and get zapped.

Yeah, I've been thinking about that one. I wonder if it's legal in this city.?.
Right now, you will need a knife or wirecutters to cut a cable tie..

I'll have to check with the city inspector to see if it's okay to lock it up.

-AC_Hacker

P.S.: Landscaping does have it's advantages... You might ask the "illegal alien(?) roofer" who was roofing your house, if he knows any body who does landscaping, he surely does. They will probably send a portion of the money that you pay them, back to their home country, where is is badly needed. It seems that Americans who have insisted in driving inconsionably large vehicles, have created a huge demand for fuel, which is in declining global supply, which has forced congress to enact legislation that favors the conversion of food crops (corn in particular) into motor fuel. This has had global implications, since corn is a commodity traded on the international market. The global implications are especially felt by impoverished people for whom corn makes up a large part of their diet. Many of these families can no longer afford their basic food, just so that we can drive huge vehicles. Faced with personal starvation, or starvation of their children, many people are willing to risk death to come to the US to work. Possibly planting shrubbery around your Sanyo.

Isn't it illegal to carry nail clippers now? IIRC, an airline pilot was kicked off his flight
because he wanted his nail clippers in his carry-on..
You can be sure nail clippers aren't allowed in Massachusetts schools..

I'm not sure if those roofers were illegals, but when the boss talks to them really loudly,
that's one sure sign they might now understand English too well. ;)
At least they don't have to pay any payroll taxes..

Don't get me started on the Ethanol scam. It makes me very angry just thinking about it.


Anyways, the cable tie is there in case some 6 year old comes by and wants
to see if there is anything interesting inside that box.
I'm checking the local code about the locking the box now, no reply yet.

The new motion sensor security light has been installed and now both ends of the area are covered.
You could make movies out there at night.. :cool:

Nice Brass Master padlock has been installed on the disconnect box!
I was worried about that shorting bar, since I've never seen this particular power
disconnect box at my local stores.. If the shorter went missing, I would be SOL.

~~~

My next project is to install an Energy Monitor. I hope to be able to measure
the wattage being used at different outdoor temperatures.

That should help me determine at what outdoor temperatures would it
be more efficient to burn oil for heating. (If any).

I've decided to use the Efergy Elite Wireless Energy Saving Monitor.
efergy.com | elite

The unit (a Whole house monitor from the UK) is equipped with a non-electrical-contact
current probe that measures magnetic flux from one of the 230vac
lines going into the Sanyo. It just clips over the wire.
http://www.electricity-monitor.com/i...01_300_262.JPG
(Looks a bit like this one, but it's black and a bit thinner).
Hey! I found a pic of one!
http://www.allthingsgreen.net/market...ite-image1.jpg
It plugs into a small transmitter that sends signals upstairs to the
receiver/display unit. (The Xmitter looks like a bar of soap)!

http://www.laymansreviews.com/assets...fergyElite.jpg

I'll have to add a spacer sleeve around the wire inside the breaker box,
to insure the probe snaps into a good fixed position on the wire.
Then, I'll turn off everything but the Sanyo, measure the wattage using
the electric company meter and calibrate the Elite unit to the meter,
using the voltage select function in the setup menu.

Such a simple plan.. What could go wrong.?. :rolleyes:

Cheers,
Rich