A Hydrobox 2 Hot Water Heat Pump Retrofit Solution in Christchurch
In the urban suburb of Fendalton, a Christchurch family looked to replace their 1970s hot water cylinder that could no longer cater for the hot water demands of the household consisting of 3 teenage children and 2 adults. The Black Diamond Hydrobox 2 Hot Water Heat Pump system now provides the home with reliable, fast and energy efficient domestic hot water.
The Goal
The homeowners wanted a replacement solution that would be kinder on their power bill, while also enjoying quicker recovery times and better pressure so no one in the family suffered cold showers during peak times.
Not wanting to switch to high carbon emitting gas and having heard about hot water heat pump technology providing an energy efficient alternative for potable hot water heating, the homeowners turned to the locally developed and tested Black Diamond Hydrobox 2 for their hot water needs as suggested by their installer Foley's Plumbing.
The Black Diamond Solution – Hydrobox 2 Hot Water Heat Pump System
The Black Diamond Hydrobox 2 system consists of 2 key components; a Mitsubishi Electric outdoor unit and the indoor Hydrobox unit that connects to a third-party cylinder. The outdoor inverter unit uses electricity to absorb freely available warmth from the surrounding air and transfers it through the Hydrobox Heat Exchanger to heat water to 62°C before being pumped into the cylinder.
Heat Pump Technology Enhances Energy Efficiencies
The Mitsubishi Electric heat pump technology that is combined with the Black Diamond Hydrobox is approximately three times more efficient than a typical electric hot water cylinder.
Water is Hot and Ready to be Used Straight Away
When hot water is used from a cylinder in the home, it takes water from the top. A traditional electric system uses electric immersion elements to heat cold water, this means it is heated from elements at the bottom and can take hours for hot water to be available at the top of the tank where it is drawn off.
With a Black Diamond Hydrobox 2 system, because the water is heated to 62°C by the indoor Hydrobox and is pumped directly into the top of the cylinder, the hot water is ready to use straight away and reduces the chance of cold showers during peak times.
An Easy Installation and Compact Dimensions Makes it Great for Retrofits
The Hydrobox 2 system is the ideal choice for retrofit applications as it can be combined with most existing hot water cylinders. However, with the owner's cylinder due for a replacement a new, larger 300L cylinder was installed along with the Hydrobox 2 system. The compact dimensions of the indoor Hydrobox unit meant it could be installed in the hot water cupboard, out of the way.
The 300L is located behind the shelving, allowing the Hydrobox 2 Heat exchanger to sit in front at ground level.
Made in NZ, for NZ's Low Temperature Conditions
The locally developed and tested Black Diamond Hydrobox Hot Water Heat Pump System is specifically designed to provide hot water for the whole family all year long, no matter what the temperature is outside. The Hydrobox 2 can effectively operate in a wide temperature range from -15°C all the way up to 45°C – making it the perfect solution for the cold winters and hot summers the Christchurch climate provides.
Three Operation Modes and Clever Computer Control to Optimise Performance
The Hydrobox 2 system includes three operation modes – Eco Mode for lower power consumption, Standard Mode for very fast recovery and Disinfect Mode for legionella prevention. This allows users to tailor the system to their household's needs, as such this Christchurch family uses Eco Mode for their day to day use, only relying on Standard Mode for when guests stay or they are likely to use more hot water than usual.
The Results – Better Water Pressure, Daily Savings and a Quick Return on Investment
The owners explained that the system has exceeded all their expectations. Straight away their water pressure was improved by switching to a mains pressure cylinder. Water flow rates were also improved from 8 L/m to 15 L/m.
As a family they average five 10 minute showers a day during 7am-8am or 7pm-8pm and run their washing machine on a hot cycle at least once a day. Before the replacement their daily power bill was $16-18 however after having the system installed, they now benefit from daily savings with it only costing $12 per day in Standard Mode and an impressive $10 per day on Eco Mode.
The Hydrobox 2 has been put to the test by the homeowners, after 10 showers a day they are very surprised they still have hot water afterwards. The assurance of having fast and reliable hot water and knowing the unit will quickly have a return on investment in the next few years due to the instant decrease on their power bill, they couldn't turn back to direct electric hot water heating.
Installer
