[net.consumers] Smart thermostats and heat pumps

topher@cyb-eng.UUCP (Topher Eliot) (02/14/85)

A smart thermostat might not be such a good idea with a heat pump because
most heat pumps have backup resistive heating, and a two-stage thermostat
that closes one set of contacts (for the pump) when it's only a little
cold, and both sets (for the resistive heating) when it's real cold.  The
problem is that when your smart thermostat decides it's time to warm up the
house, all of a sudden the house is "real cold".  Of course, you'd have to
find a smart two-stage thermostat to start with.

While sitting in a waiting room this morning I stumbled upon the Popular
Science article that was previously mentioned here, and I seem to remember
it saying something about some thermostats that would gradually raise the
setting, so as to nurse the temperature up with just the heat pump.  But
the nurse wouldn't let me copy the article (I've only spent $300 at that
clinic, after all).

(By the way, for those of you waiting for a summary of letters about smart
thermostats, the only item that was mailed to me just suggested that I
consider re-locating as well as replacing the thermostat).

Cheers,
Topher Eliot
Cyb Systems, Austin, TX
{gatech,ihnp4,nbires,seismo,ucb-vax}!ut-sally!cyb-eng!topher