Narc Heat Pump Control logic

MAIN LOOP

Inputs:
Aquastat - In 50 gal buffer tank. (24VAC)
House Thermostat - on wall somewhere in living space (24VAC)

Outputs:
HP -Heat pump turn on heat pump (24VAC into thermostat connection in heat pump)
-On if Aquatat <OR> Thermostat
Pump for Heat Pump - turn on any time heat pump is on. Often the heat pump will have a switched 120VAC line for that.
Floor valve - valve to floor loop - 24vac to actuate
-If Thermostat <AND> NOT Aquastat
Tank Valve - Valve to 50 gal buffer tank

HEAT EXCHANGER LOOP
-Differential temperature controller between water heater and buffer tank turns on the pump whenever buffer tank is more than a few degrees warmer than the water heater.

Lessons learned on air exchangers

Lessons learned on air exchangers:
1.The cold ductwork must be as short as possible. For every foot of duct, there is a large loss of heat from the dwelling. Using the insulated ducts that are currently available do not seem to help much.
2.Dampers need to be installed on the both sides of the exchanger, otherwise there is basically a hole to the outside of the building which will allow cold air into the building.
3.Any air exchanger must have actively balanced airflow in order for it to run at its optimum efficiency. If the flow isn't balanced, it again acts like a hole to the outside of the building.
4.It is important to install a quality external prefilter on both sides of the air exchanger and maintain them regularly.
5.To be continued....

NARC heat pump sketch

This will only mean something to those of us who drew it.

Robot team

The mani shop played host this evening to the pine river high school
robot team. Tonight it was pizza, training movie and brainstorm session.

Thank God it's not Sewage!

With a bit of forethought, Jake and I tested out the effluent lift station with clean water before letting it fill with sewage.  We are both a bit damp, but glad.

Our first 200 gallons of sewage.

Ain't it a thing of beauty?

Garage door issue.

Here we see further indications of our seals not being complete on this door.  Paul and I went on to design and fabricate some seals to fix this.   In the process of installing, I lifted on the garage door manually causing enough slack in the cables to allow the whole thing to go SPROING.  We figured about that time that we were barking up the wrong tree trying to make our own door with custom mechanics.  We will soon be testing our next idea of buying a professional door and adding a significant amount of quilting to the inside.