With Colorado’s history of lightning strikes, power line and transformer troubles, and the looming threat of brownouts as increasing demand is put on the electrical grid, a line voltage monitor should be part of any variable speed heat pump installation.
Most traditional HVAC equipment has only two speeds—on and off. That constant cycling results in room temperature fluctuations as the thermostat causes the system to cycle over a range of temperatures, typically +/- 1-2 degrees. The blower either runs or it doesn’t and can be noisy and drafty when it’s on. Plus, the constant cycling puts extra stress on the motor, reducing its life.
More sophisticated variable speed whole house and mini-split heat pumps use an inverter to analyze room temperature and adjust their power output from 0-100% as needed. This results in more even room temperatures and quieter operation.
But those benefits come with a risk.
Sophistication Has a Price—and a Solution
Variable speed heat pumps use sophisticated electronics to monitor, operate, and diagnose the unit. Like your home computer and other digital devices, the “brains” of a variable speed heat pump are sensitive to surges and variations in line voltage. And just like replacing a computer’s motherboard, replacing a variable speed heat pump’s control boards can be expensive, many hundreds of dollars expensive, not to mention the inconvenience of having your HVAC system shut down for repairs.
Line Voltage Monitors to the Rescue
A line voltage monitor with surge protection offers a simple, inexpensive way to protect variable speed heat pumps against over and under voltage, rapid short cycling, brownouts, and power surges. A bank of five surge arresters protects against power spikes and other elements add extra controls to monitor and diagnose line voltage issues.
A fault history feature records and retains the most recent faults in non-volatile memory to allow rapid diagnostic tests that point out when and where to resolve any problems in the system on an easy to view backlit digital display. A built-in 40-amp contactor adds extra protection against power surges. Programmable set points allow cutoff parameters to be tailored to your system’s particular needs.
Better line voltage monitors also have waterproof, NEMA-rated enclosures making them easy to install and set up indoors or out.
Allstar Knows Heat Pumps
Allstar Electrical Services has been installing both fixed and variable speed heat pumps and mini-splits since they were first introduced. Our line voltage monitors come with a limited lifetime warranty including up to a 3-year $10,000 connected equipment warranty. A quick, inexpensive installation is all you need to protect your variable speed heat pump or mini-split system against costly, inconvenient repairs caused by various common electrical system problems.
Allstar Electrical Services is committed to helping you enjoy your living and work space safely and efficiently at the lowest possible cost. Our extensive residential and commercial services are there to help you reach that goal. Visit our website to learn more. Then email us or give us a call at 303.399.7420 to schedule an appointment.