Peak power Aircon Control

Hi all,
We have a Daikin 15.8kW ducted aircon, which has a large amount of capacity, more then what we need most of the time. When it turns on it draws around 4.5kW until it reaches temp and then presumably draws a bit less as a peak when it cycles on and off, as it is an inverter system but who knows. Not exactly great when using solar would rather it was less but more constant etc.

I was reading about DRED devices and daikin support this feature. It seems that it is a mechanism for power authorities to ensure the aircon doesn't use more than 50% or 75% at certain times if connected etc.
https://www.austech.info/showthread.php/85583-Should-we-drea…

There is this 3rd party device on the market which hooks up to your solar and controls the DRED level to sync its peak power with your solar.
https://www.paladinsolarcontroller.com.au/product/dred-solar…

Sounds cool, but does anyone know how to control the DRED setting manually.

I have one of those crappy myhome tablets for aircon control which is limited.

Does anyone know if there is a way to maybe set the aircon to the DRED 50% setting permantly. I can easily hook up the ethernet cable coming from the aircon unit to a laptop and maybe there is a way to ssh or something?

Comments

  • To lower the temp in your house, a certain amount of heat must be removed. Your air con takes the inside heat, and puts it outside. Whether this happens quickly, or slowly, the same amount of energy is moved, therefore roughly the same amount of energy is used. It will just take longer to get to the set temp.

    • Your air con takes the inside heat, and puts it outside.

      I'm not saying it's wrong but this is a really confusing statement.

      • An air con is a heat pump, that's what it does by definition.

  • That's an inverter unit isn't it?

    Edit: nvm

  • You could potentially use something like home assistant to automate.
    If solar is generating above a certain amount, then aircon gets turned on, If it drops below a certyain amount aircon turns off.

    I have electric solar hot water and have done similar. HWS turns on an hour after sunrise and off an hour before sunset.

    • I even don’t need to automate it, just if I could keep it at that reduced power setting permanently.

  • +1

    Set the target temp close to but just below the ambient temp. Given that it's an inverter, it won't as hard if it's trying to bridge a small temperature difference. Then just keep lowering the set point a bit when it reaches it.

  • If it has an eco mode try that.

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