Home Automation RC-100B Thermostat User Manual


 
3
ENERGY EFFICIENT CONTROL
Using the programmable or remote control features of your
thermostat, you can save energy costs by setting back the thermostat
during unoccupied times. This reduces the energy loss from indoors
to outdoors. In the past, it has been said that heat pumps should not be
set back because it takes more energy to re-heat the premises than to
keep it at the same temperature. This is true with mechanical
thermostats, because they will use the inefficient auxiliary heat to
recover from the setback. This is not true with the RC-100, because it
uses intelligence to ensure that recovery from setback is done using
the heat pump, and not the auxiliary heat. Because the heat pump
takes longer to recover, heat pumps should not be set back for periods
of time less than 4 to 6 hours.
The RC-100 has microprocessor intelligence that continually monitors
the performance of the heat pump and uses the auxiliary heat only
when necessary. If the RC-100 determines that the heat pump is able
to heat at a rate of 5 degrees per hour or better, the auxiliary heat will
not be used. If the heat pump is unable to heat at this rate, the RC-100
will use the auxiliary heat to supplement that of the heat pump. Under
these conditions, the heat pump will run continuously and the
auxiliary heat will cycle on and off as needed.
If you wish to temporarily override Energy Efficient Control to heat as
quickly as possible, press the Hold key. The RC-100 will use the
Auxiliary Heat as needed to reach the heat setting, then resume Energy
Efficient Control once the setting is reached.
Remember to turn Hold old off to resume programmed operation.