Geothermal for Residential Home

[electrofelon]

Geothermal Energy vs. Ground Source Heat Pumps: What’s the Difference? - Get Green Now

There is widespread confusion between the terminology of geothermal energy and ground source heat pumps, also known by their acronym, GSHPs. This confusion is understandable when we consider that the two terms are used almost interchangeably, particularly in North America. There is also a true...

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You have to go really really deep, or be in a very special location to get significant heat from the core of the Earth . I will not agree that geothermal is a proper term for a system even with say a 600 ft well.

 

[James L]

You have to go really really deep, or be in a very special location to get significant heat from the core of the Earth . I will not agree that geothermal is a proper term for a system even with say a 600 ft well.

I can agree with that.

 

[junkhound]

geothermal contractor, he will need a 60amp, a 40 amp, and two 30 amp circuits to run his system.

LOL...

get a new 'geothermal' contractor, not a hack hvac group..

I know Boston gets colder than PNW but my own GSHP puts out over 5T (63,000 BTU/hr) and pulls all of 14.2A at 240Vac. Current draw is the same in May or January, evaporator temperature stays the same. COP=5.4

 

[James L]

geothermal contractor, he will need a 60amp, a 40 amp, and two 30 amp circuits to run his system.

LOL...

get a new 'geothermal' contractor, not a hack hvac group..

I know Boston gets colder than PNW but my own GSHP puts out over 5T (63,000 BTU/hr) and pulls all of 14.2A at 240Vac. Current draw is the same in May or January, evaporator temperature stays the same. COP=5.4

I would imagine 3 of those will be backup heat strips and water heat. Not sure what the other would be. I haven't wired a geothermal system in 15+ years

But I'm kinda with you. The extra cost upfront might not ever be recovered in energy savings

 

[ptonsparky]

Our POCO gives substantial incentives for installation of heat pumps. Either new construction and/or replacement of old.

 

[Fred B]

Had a 4 - 1000ft well system that we had to sized for Electrical loads. It had four ground source heat pumps, and using mfg cut sheets total loads came to 214 Amps, most of which was motor loads. Even realizing not every load will be on simultaneously and most systems would only be half that size , that is still a sizable motor loads to add to a typical 200A residential service.
What was quoted above at 60,40,30A sounds more like breaker sizes not necessarily actual loads.

 

[James L]

What was quoted above at 60,40,30A sounds more like breaker sizes not necessarily actual loads.

Most certainly

 

[junkhound]

mfg cut sheets total loads came to 214 Amps

200A service residence ??? 50,000 sq ft mansion or big mfg or processing facility?
214 Amps implies 40 or more TONS (214*240*3.412*3mincop/12000)

 

[Fred B]

mfg cut sheets total loads came to 214 Amps

200A service residence ??? 50,000 sq ft mansion or big mfg or processing facility?
214 Amps implies 40 or more TONS (214*240*3.412*3mincop/12000)

Old stone mansion (c1780) over 10,000 sqft., minimal insulation, no thermal window upgrades as it was prohibited by historical district. MFG load listings Includes all circulation pumps (zonal for radiators), relays, controllers, Heat Pumps, 2 domestic hot water, well pumps, not just the heat pump tonnage.