NIBE ASHPs - use 40W 24/7 - when off in the summer!

[DJKent]

Helping to audit an electric-only house with ASHps -NIBE kit installed into the new house in 2012.
2 ASHPs outside -each F2015.

I put on some monitoring of their electrical usage -each takes 40W night and day 24/7. It's August so they are off 99% of the time: but when off, still use 40W!
40W 24/7 is £50-£100 per year ( at today's / next months';s prices )

Q1 - has anyone ever measured the standby power of an ASHP ?
Q2 Do modern ASHPs also have such high standby power? - (Domestic appliances( eg TVs) by law must be < 1W standby - but maybe that law does not apply to ASHPs.... or maybe these units are older than that law?)

PS - I use the Shelly.cloud devices to monitor current in the fusebox - really nice, and low cost system. 247 graphs of electricity usage - excellent for trouble-shooting. They use Current transformers -so are NOT in series with any loads. One device and 2 CTs is £60 - one off. No monthly fee; and a handy App to monitor remotely (assuming you can get wifi inside your fusebox)

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Tbh 40w is nothing by the time you talk of the brains and displays and a pump cycling

 

[DJKent]

Thanks for replying - have you ever measured external heat pump boxes? Would be interesting to know the newest devices consume.
You're right - it's not a huge number.

It's 40W per external heat pump box- so 80W for the install I'm helping with.
That's like leaving LED 20 lights on in the house - 24/7 !

~ £120 per year. Every year

Enough to justify perhaps an upgrade to a newer PCB board in each one, maybe?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

There about the same depending on make / manufacturer anywhere from 36w-100w as there always monitoring / sensors

 

[DJKent]

There about the same depending on make / manufacturer anywhere from 36w-100w as there always monitoring / sensors

Thanks that's useful - where did you read those values?

always monitoring / sensors

Except... in Summer Mode - one of the Pumps will NEVER come on (except if for anti-frost reasons - or maybe to fire up once a week to stop it seizing).

It's poor design to need 40W - even with sensors - modern electronics needs very small power - look at all the RING/ NEST/eEvohome etc sensors that are battery powered and the batteries last months/years. they are down in milli-watts!

 

[DJKent]

I've emailed NIBE - to see if I can buy new PCBs -and if they will use less standby.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Manufacturer instructions

You will find the brain will be mains but the sender / receiver (eg dumb ) will be battery

 

[DJKent]

Manufacturer instructions

Thanks -have you got a web page you can point me to?

You will find the brain will be mains but the sender / receiver (eg dumb ) will be battery

What I measured was the current from mains fuse that powers ONLY the outside boxes. Not the brains or anything inside the premises. Next check... will be to measure those, I guess.