PenguinChillers
Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2017
- Messages
- 44
- Reaction score
- 27
Bollocks. The advertised HP is the power rating of the compressor the unit employs and that does translate directly to a power draw value. The advertised BTUs/Hr is the measured chilling power under standardised conditions which might or might not match actual operating conditions but that's an entirely different issue that some users have rightfully raised.
The ratio of cooling power to power draw is the only measure of efficiency and I stand by my statement that at least according to the manufacturer's specs your designs are less efficient, contrary to what you keep falsely claiming.
As I said before HP in the small chiller world doesn't seem to make any rational sense if you are making assumptions based on knowledge from other industries/applications. Most of the refrigeration world is measured by the ton (12,000 BTU/hr), not HP.
Ratio of power draw to cooling capacity is the correct measure, but your wrong on trying to say we make false claims. Here's the data, feel free to verify it, ask other owners, I'm sure there's enough people out there that own a chiller and watt meter.
Icemaster 100 - 3/8HP
Tested with load @ 28F = 1350 BTU/hr
Wattage draw at wall @ 28F = 471watts
Efficiency = 2.87 BTU/hr/Watt
Cost ($749.99) = $0.56 per BTU/hr @ 28F
1/2HP Penguin
Tested with load @28F = 2850 BTU/hr
Wattage draw at wall @ 28F = 402 watts
Efficiency = 7.09 BTU/hr/Watt
Cost ($999.99) = $0.35 per BTU/hr @ 28F
What was I claiming previously.... that we were roughly 2x as efficient? I suppose I was selling us short, it's closer to 2.5x more efficient.
Now that you have all the data how would you attempt to accurately compare a 3/8HP vs 1/2HP using HP?
Is the 1/2HP 150% more HP than 3/8HP.... yes.
Does the 1/2HP provide 150% more BTU/hr than the 3/8HP.... no it's 210% more.
Does the 1/2HP consume 150% more power.... no it draws 15% less.
So full circle back to my original statements that apparently offended you -
1. HP is not a good way to compare small chillers.
2. Our chillers are more efficient
3. Efficiency is largely due to the more efficient nature of the type of compressor we use.
Note: wattage draw taken using Kill-a-watt meter at the wall in a 60F shop, draw will be slightly higher for both units in warmer ambient conditions, but ratios should remain fairly consistent