Disable aux heat?

[jxf011]

I have an Amana heat pump system for cooling and heating and I'd like to disable the aux heat. I frequently set the Honeywell TH8000 from 58 to 61 degrees at random times and to keep the aux heat from kicking in I have to setup the thermostat up 1 degree at a time. I'd like to just set it 3 degrees higher to 61 and let the heat pump raise the temp without the aux heat.

Looking in the TH8000 setup, 0170 "System type" is set to:
7 2 heat/1 cool heat pump (with aux. heat)

If I changed it to:
2 1 heat/1 cool heat pump (no aux. heat)

Would this be harmful to the system hardware? I know if it dropped to -10 (or some other cold number) the heat pump might not be able to heat that much but I could set the System type back to 7 in a pinch. I just don't want to hurt the heat pump, air handler, or thermostat by changing the system type.

Thanks in advance,
jxf011

[Southern Mech]

the proper way to do it would be have a pro come out and install a lock out stat, and lock it out below a certain temp, the way you are thinking everytime you need them you will have to go into stat program and change it back.

no you are not going to hurt anything to say, but it's not the right or even close to the right way.

[cobradb]

jfx
see the pict,, if you kn what you're doing you can add a sw in series with the aux wire,, assuming the control board controls the aux heat during defrost.. and you sw it to aux when it gets ... say below 15 deg.
sorry i cant attach the pict,, i put a small slide sw under my honeywell to turn the aux on and off because i move my temp down at night,, i can send you an email showing the sw.
how to attach a pict,,? i dont yet kn.

ugh,, fill in your profile and email

[SonicExplorer]

I have an Amana heat pump system for cooling and heating and I'd like to disable the aux heat. I frequently set the Honeywell TH8000 from 58 to 61 degrees at random times and to keep the aux heat from kicking in I have to setup the thermostat up 1 degree at a time. I'd like to just set it 3 degrees higher to 61 and let the heat pump raise the temp without the aux heat.

Looking in the TH8000 setup, 0170 "System type" is set to:
7 2 heat/1 cool heat pump (with aux. heat)

If I changed it to:
2 1 heat/1 cool heat pump (no aux. heat)

Would this be harmful to the system hardware? I know if it dropped to -10 (or some other cold number) the heat pump might not be able to heat that much but I could set the System type back to 7 in a pinch. I just don't want to hurt the heat pump, air handler, or thermostat by changing the system type.

Thanks in advance,
jxf011

It will work fine the way you suggest, I do the exact same thing for the exact same reasons. IMO the Honeywell stats are very poorly designed in this one regard as they should have had an adustable aux heat gap/droop option. Completely rediculous such an option was omitted. An aux-heat lockout is not a solution by any stretch because that is something that relies upon OUTDOOR temp relations, not indoor. And to change the level of the aux heat lockout still requires going into the programming mode of the stat, so you end up no further ahead than simply changing the system type as you suggest.

[kenney t]

get the propper stat for that application (ex. honeywells IAQ)

[VTP99]

Can you just kill the breaker to the heat strips ? Check your wiring diagram. Of course you will lose any staging.

[Southern Mech]

It will work fine the way you suggest, I do the exact same thing for the exact same reasons. IMO the Honeywell stats are very poorly designed in this one regard as they should have had an adustable aux heat gap/droop option. Completely rediculous such an option was omitted. An aux-heat lockout is not a solution by any stretch because that is something that relies upon OUTDOOR temp relations, not indoor. And to change the level of the aux heat lockout still requires going into the programming mode of the stat, so you end up no further ahead than simply changing the system type as you suggest.

that's a long clueless stab at things, od sensor lockout is to stop the use of strip heat when o.d temps allow the heatpump to put out enough BTU's to gain temp in house. It's called a balance point, if your heatpump is working out or under the balance point of the home you need aux heating no matter what you change your stat to. That there Sonic is why what you said is not an option there my friend.

[Southern Mech]

Can you just kill the breaker to the heat strips ? Check your wiring diagram. Of course you will lose any staging.

most units the same breaker kill all power to the A/H, that will surely stop heat output, give it a try

[VTP99]

most units the same breaker kill all power to the A/H, that will surely stop heat output, give it a try

Going from memory the last Trane all electric air handler i serviced had heat strips on separate breaker. OEM setup on unit.

[Southern Mech]

Going from memory the last Trane all electric air handler i serviced had heat strips on separate breaker. OEM setup on unit.

it's an option, but still most[/COLOR] do not.

[havdaddy]

We all need to remember that if you reprogram the t-stat to 1 heat/1 cool, you will not have any heat during defrost.

[beenthere]

We all need to remember that if you reprogram the t-stat to 1 heat/1 cool, you will not have any heat during defrost.

Thermostat doesn't control aux heat during defrost. The defrost board does.

[jxf011]

Great feedback all, thanks.

The key point is I'm not in a situation where I set the thermostat to 75 when it's 20 outside and the aux heat would be required to come on to reach 75.

I'm moving the temp up from 58 to 61 when it's 20 outside and with "2 heat/1 cool" I get the aux heat kicking on because the temp delta is over 1. The heat pump alone can reach 61 from 58 given enough time (like 7-10 minutes) but the thermostat sees a more than 1 degree difference and my electric bill gets whacked so I reach 61 quicker (maybe 4 minutes).

I don't mind waiting for the heat pump to less expensively move heat from the outside in instead of more expensively creating heat inside the house with the aux elements.

To bad the Honeywell doesn't have a setting like "kick aux heat on when thermostat temp to setting delta is 4 or greater" but it doesn't (does it?). Up to now to go 58 to 61, I set it to 59, wait, get up and set it to 60, wait, then get up and set it to 61. Now that I've set it to "1 heat/1 cool heat pump (no aux. heat)" I crank it to 61 when it's 58 and kick back and let the heat pump magic happen!

I just wanted to be sure that my new Amana asz14024 heat pump and Amana aspf1830 air handler unit wouldn't be damaged in some way by setting the Honeywell to 1 heat/1 cool/no aux. You guys think it won't hurt anything and the no aux heat setting sure is more convenient! :D

[Southern Mech]

as long as your happy.

[energy star]

We all need to remember that if you reprogram the t-stat to 1 heat/1 cool, you will not have any heat during defrost.

The thermostat will not turn on the axillary heat on during defrost. The outdoor unit will do that. The stat will still be calling for heat while the sensors on the outdoor unit will dictate defrost.

[Southern Mech]

The thermostat will not turn on the axillary heat on during defrost. The outdoor unit will do that. The stat will still be calling for heat while the sensors on the outdoor unit will dictate defrost.

echo in here. LOL

[energy star]

echo in here. LOL

oop's

[SonicExplorer]

that's a long clueless stab at things, od sensor lockout is to stop the use of strip heat when o.d temps allow the heatpump to put out enough BTU's to gain temp in house. It's called a balance point, if your heatpump is working out or under the balance point of the home you need aux heating no matter what you change your stat to. That there Sonic is why what you said is not an option there my friend.

There's nothing clueless at all in my reply, it's DEAD ON ACCURATE for the purpose that both myself, and the OP are after. And probably many other customers. When you KNOW your home and KNOW you aren't trying tax your system and KNOW your electric bill is getting unecessarily jacked due to Honeywell's logic, then you need to disable the aux heat. And the easiest way to do that by far is to simply change the system type, rather than screw around with buying and installing an outdoor sensor and then STILL having to go into the stat's programming anyway. I fail to see why you have any problem with my original reply, it was completely fair and appropriate given the context of the OP's question (his needs and intentions).

[Southern Mech]

There's nothing clueless at all in my reply, it's DEAD ON ACCURATE for the purpose that both myself, and the OP are after. And probably many other customers. When you KNOW your home and KNOW you aren't trying tax your system and KNOW your electric bill is getting unecessarily jacked due to Honeywell's logic, then you need to disable the aux heat. And the easiest way to do that by far is to simply change the system type, rather than screw around with buying and installing an outdoor sensor and then STILL having to go into the stat's programming anyway. I fail to see why you have any problem with my original reply, it was completely fair and appropriate given the context of the OP's question (his needs and intentions).

cause it's not the ''professional'' way to do thing's, and you being 1 homewner to start 10 threads on the lack of professional contracting you had at your house. There is nothing jacked on honewell's logic, just another simple component to aid eficiency and comfort to heating systems. It's all design and spec issues, which where I am at all this type of issue is by the wayside. Again the design of the system should have aux heat lockout until such temperature called the ballance point of a home in said climate the heatpump itself won't keep up, in which at that temperature one would need aux heat. Now if this is in warm sunny Fla. where the cooling load was much much more than the heating load the aux heat should be very minimum or non exhistant, again design flaw.

[jxf011]

cause it's not the ''professional'' way to do thing's, and you being 1 homewner to start 10 threads on the lack of professional contracting you had at your house. There is nothing jacked on honewell's logic, just another simple component to aid eficiency and comfort to heating systems. You in Fla. and Him in the great white north are 2 totally different animals.

The mear fact his heatpump alone in 20degree weather can raise his house 4-5 degree's in 7-10 minutes is another issue he may have.

Hmm, interesting. I'm a homeowner, not a "professional" in this context but I do want to get the best HVAC value possible without doing anything damaging to my gear or the environment. Maryland isn't exactly the great white north but it feels like it at 20 degrees!

I know a heat pump can only produce an inside temp rise for a particular outside temp. Since I got the new system (last 8 weeks about) the aux heat only comes on when I request a 2 degree or greater temp increase. That's not what I want aux heat for and the heat pump is able to heat properly when it's 20 outside and the thermostat is set to 61. The aux heat has come on just to speed the temp rise, not to facilitate the given thermostat setting when the heat pump can't hit it on it's own.

I'm not adverse to the "professional" way: I've had a master plumber once, master electrician twice, and now cabinet and tile experts. I'll pay for the "right" way. But, if I don't want to aux heat coming on and the heat pump alone can (sometimes slowly) hit the right temps, why not just change the system type to "no aux heat"?

BTW, my heating times were just examples; the numbers are different but the idea (aux is faster) is the same.

Thanks again for all the great feedback, this is my HVAC go to forum now. :p

[Southern Mech]

Hmm, interesting. I'm a homeowner, not a "professional" in this context but I do want to get the best HVAC value possible without doing anything damaging to my gear or the environment. Maryland isn't exactly the great white north but it feels like it at 20 degrees!

I know a heat pump can only produce an inside temp rise for a particular outside temp. Since I got the new system (last 8 weeks about) the aux heat only comes on when I request a 2 degree or greater temp increase. That's not what I want aux heat for and the heat pump is able to heat properly when it's 20 outside and the thermostat is set to 61. The aux heat has come on just to speed the temp rise, not to facilitate the given thermostat setting when the heat pump can't hit it on it's own.

I'm not adverse to the "professional" way: I've had a master plumber once, master electrician twice, and now cabinet and tile experts. I'll pay for the "right" way. But, if I don't want to aux heat coming on and the heat pump alone can (sometimes slowly) hit the right temps, why not just change the system type to "no aux heat"?

BTW, my heating times were just examples; the numbers are different but the idea (aux is faster) is the same.

Thanks again for all the great feedback, this is my HVAC go to forum now. :p

no pun intended toward you. I totally understan where you are comming from. You are not hurting a thing, just inconvenient. You are operating your system outside design specs, as a house must be designed to heat to at least 68 degrees on the coldest degree day's. A few dollar investment and some tweaking on an adjustable O.D. stat would allow you to just sit back and relax and not ever have to touch your stat;s programming again, then in the event of a 10 degree morning you won't be a popcicle.

My issue with the Sonic Xplore is he has 10 threads on sub par work, and questionable service from said contractor, then comes here and gives you ''unprofessional advise'' and want's to talk bad about 1 of the premier devices on the market. I think he literaly argue's with his manual for the heatpump he had installed.

Sorry to rant off on your thread. Good luck with the snow comming your way.

[SonicExplorer]

no pun intended toward you. I totally understan where you are comming from. You are not hurting a thing, just inconvenient. You are operating your system outside design specs, as a house must be designed to heat to at least 68 degrees on the coldest degree day's. A few dollar investment and some tweaking on an adjustable O.D. stat would allow you to just sit back and relax and not ever have to touch your stat;s programming again, then in the event of a 10 degree morning you won't be a popcicle.

My issue with the Sonic Xplore is he has 10 threads on sub par work, and questionable service from said contractor, then comes here and gives you ''unprofessional advise'' and want's to talk bad about 1 of the premier devices on the market. I think he literaly argue's with his manual for the heatpump he had installed.

Sorry to rant off on your thread. Good luck with the snow comming your way.

First, the device is DESERVING of criticism in this one area in question because it is clearly deficient in providing what is essentially an obvious and helpful feature that many customers have complained about, both on this forum and elsewhere. And it is an option Honeywell could easily add to the higher-end stats. Second, I was simply trying to share what I KNOW about how to solve the OP's problem, which I also surmized myself just as the OP did, and which was reaffirmed by other members back when I posed the same question a few weeks ago. I was simply giving back to the OP what others on the forum were kind enough to previously share with me.

It would be wise to make more of an effort to stick to the facts of the OP and avoid directing your personal feelings into unproductive attacks on members of the forum. It not only looks unprofessional it causes threads to run off topic as well.

[beenthere]

Disabling the aux heat, by setting the thermostat to 1 heat 1 cool won't hurt your heat pump. Of course, if your away, and the heat pump would have a failure, your house will be a bit cool when you get home.