Water Heaters

Wiring is such that the heat pump won't send current to the water heater unless it can't keep up with demand. The new water heater's thermostats won't work without current so there's nothing to turn on the heat pump.

For those unfamiliar with these heat pumps, they are roughly 3 times more efficient than an electric water heater. As a side benefit, they exhaust dry cool air. Not unlike AC. We are serious about dehumidification in our house so normally would see a large drop in electric consumption by running the heat pump, $50-60/mo.

This is frustrating- and expensive. Anybody have any idea how to get these thermostats to work without either 1)replacing the new heater, or 2) unhooking the heating elements?

Go down and pickup a 220 volt contactor and run the wire from the control box to the contactor then to the elements. The electronic control will always be sending a signal out when the water is below the thermostat setting, but the juice will never make it to the elements unless you other heater sends a signal to close the contactor. It still will work safely, because if you contactor is closed and the water gets to hot the thermostat/panel will operate normally.

T_Bone thinks I got some misinformation, however, so we're still checking. I'll post the results. What a PITA!

Looks like I now have a plan C. I'll have to get back to you on just how to implement it though. Somehow these things are going to work together. Thanks.

Your idea was my plan B, if I can't fool the tank control into making the thermostats work. Only problem is that the heat pump also controls when to turn on the tank heater. Different temp settings might solve that but it starts getting complicated. Thanks. I'll post the results.

Ahh controls, ain't it fun :)

Send me a e-mail. This isn't a thread type answer to post here.

T_Bone

I'd be delighted to, but unless Whirlpool will give one up, I haven't a clue. This control, if you haven't seen one, is a solid state circuit board, complete with IC chips. Didn't know it was there until I unpacked the box. There's a lot to be said for the old mechanical thermostats...

not an electrican any more. just have told them how to wire controls for the last 13 years with Honeywell, Johnson and now school system.

I took the liberty of sending you an email with answers to your questions. Doesn't take much knowledge of controls to know more than me. I sure hope it can be worked out.

News tonight was predicting huge natural gas price increases. That'll translate to higher electric generation costs. I think I know who'll get the bill. REALLY time to get everything as efficient as possible. Thanks for your interest.