Yes, Rheems HPWH's will override your settings.

Larry Weingarten

Hi @JakeCK , Can you tell, or remind us what software you're using to know what your Rheem heater is doing? Thanks!

Yours, Larry

mattmia2

If it uses the resistive elements or not has to do with how much the tank stores and the hot water demand, not the climate other than perhaps a warmer incoming cold water temp.

JakeCK

That isn't a home automation app that runs on your phone. In my case it is running on a VM on one of my servers, and it is called home assistant. Rheem offers their cloud based econet app that has most of this information on it that uses an app the way you anticipate and wouldn't require you to build out your own local hardware.

Based on the questions you have asked all of this currently well beyond your skill set. Please hire out the install of any electrical appliances like water heaters and level 2 EV chargers.

Also your snow load has next to nothing to do with how much a hpwh has to run unless it is outside for some reason. It maybe true that the incoming water temperature is warm enough year round and your usage low enough not to ever need the elements but that is not a guarantee. Regardless just set it to heat pump mode and leave it be. If it did kick them on for some reason it will make next to no difference in your electric bill for the short time it runs.

hot_rod

I’m not sure hpwh all use 4500 w elements? Certainly the 120v units do not.

ethicalpaul

The app is by Rheem. I use the Apple one but I'm sure there must be an android one.

ChrisJ

hot_rod said:

I’m not sure hpwh all use 4500 w elements? Certainly the 120v units do not.

Your comment made me quickly look up 120v heatpump water heaters.
A line I saw on Rheem's page confused me a tad.

"Because it’s a quick and easy install with minimal clearance requirements and a standard tank footprint, the 120V ProTerra Plug-in is ideal for drop-in gas unit replacement and high-efficiency upgrades without the need to install a 240V electric service. They are available in dedicated and shared circuit models."


Are there houses in the U.S. that do not have 240V service? I thought 240V service was standard in North America.

That aside,
The two I looked at from Rheem didn't appear to have any elements from what I could tell. They require a 15A 120V circuit.

mattmia2

ChrisJ said:

hot_rod said:

I’m not sure hpwh all use 4500 w elements? Certainly the 120v units do not.

Are there houses in the U.S. that do not have 240V service? I thought 240V service was standard in North America.

Yes but it is pretty rare that they have not been replaced with more modern 120/240v services. What is much more common is 120/240v 30a or 60a services where the appliances are all gas and they can't support the additional load. Old businesses and rental property especially have stuff like this.

hot_rod

If you can tune out all the media fake outrage about electrification🥴

Quietly behinds the scenes folks like us and manufacturers are figuring out options on how to make it happen 

From a webinar yesterday, some number crunching using new appliance technology, higher volume hpwh, elevated temperature with mixing valves, EV chargers sized to different needs, it’s possible the many existing panels can work 

slides from Tom Kabats presentation 

ChrisJ

hot_rod said:

If you can tune out all the media fake outrage about electrification🥴

Quietly behinds the scenes folks like us and manufacturers are figuring out options on how to make it happen 

From a webinar yesterday, some number crunching using new appliance technology, higher volume hpwh, elevated temperature with mixing valves, EV chargers sized to different needs, it’s possible the many existing panels can work 

slides from Tom Kabats presentation 

I have 3 concerns and none of them come from the media.

1: My service won't handle it, I'm almost maxing out my 100A service as is and it's half the reason I got rid of an electric dryer and stove. Obviously this can be worked with......but I'd rather not.

2: Do I really want 100% of my energy coming from one source with no alternative? Seems like a bad idea. My feelings are very different from others on here, I do feel "the grid" can be made to handle the load. But there's other things about the idea I'm not caring for.


3: I worked very hard on finding a house I liked with a steam system, and then worked hard on making the steam system work to my expectations. This doesn't appear to be compatible with anything electric.

JakeCK

Then keep the steam.

JakeCK

hot_rod said:

I’m not sure hpwh all use 4500 w elements? Certainly the 120v units do not.

I believe my Rheem does have 4500watt elements and only uses one at a time. Today I ran it in high demand. Immediately before switching on the house was drawing 1kw overall. Immediately after it was a bit over 6kw. Everything I have seen suggests the hp uses around 500-600watts. Add a 4500watt element, and you are right there. But it is a 30amp 240v model, the new 120v would be able to support a 1500watt element, and it'd be close.

hot_rod

Can you see two elements or the covers on the outside?

JakeCK

Two elements, and now that I zoomed in on the picture you can even see that they are listed as 4.5kw each on the boiler plate. Compressor is listed at 1.6a at 240v

Pat_11

Rheem also makes a model with 2250 kw elements for a15 amp circuit. They also make a straight HP water heater, not hybrid no elements.