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ABOUT HEAT PUMPS...
A heat pump is a mechanical refrigeration system that operates in two
modes, heating and cooling. In cooling mode, the heat pump takes
indoor heat and pumps it outside, just like a standard air conditioner.
In heating mode, the process is reversed: the heat pump takes outside
heat and pumps it inside. Although it feels cold outside, the air still
has heat in it that the heat pump can use as a source of heat. The fact
that the heat pump
moves
heat from one place to the other (as opposed
to
creating
heat directly from electricity or gas) is the key to it's
remarkable efficiency. A heat pump usually produces
over 3 times
more heat per watt of electricity than standard electric heating.
While some heat pumps use outside air as their source of heat, others
use the heat available under the ground or in a water well. These are
called air-source, ground-source, or water-source heat pumps,
respectively. The RC-112 is capable of controlling all of these types of
heat pumps.
The RC-112 controls two stages, or speeds on your heat pump, both in
heating and in cooling mode. This results in quiet, efficient low speed
operation under mild weather conditions, with added high-speed
power when needed for harsher conditions.
In extremely cold conditions, the heat pump may require assistance
from another source of heat, known as "auxiliary heating". Auxiliary
heating is less efficient than the heat pump, so it is best to use the heat
pump instead of the auxiliary heat.
For normal and most efficient operation, the RC-112 should be in
HEAT or AUTO mode so that it can properly control the auxiliary
heat. The heat pump is used first, auxiliary heat is used only if
necessary.
In
EMERGENCY HEAT
mode, the RC-112 will turn the heat pump off
and use the auxiliary heating only. This mode may be used if the heat
pump has failed.
Summary of Contents for OMNISTAT RC-112B
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