Introducing Dehumidifiers and their Function

Dehumidifiers use a heat pump (similar to an air conditioner's heat pump) or chemical adsorbents to remove moisture from the air without cooling the air.

A heat pump dehumidifier uses a fan to draw indoor air over a heat exchange coil. The coil is almost freezing. The water in the air condenses on the coil and is drained. A second heat exchange coil reheats the air, which the dehumidifier exhausts into the room.

A heat pump dehumidifier dumps heat lost from the compressor and fan motors into the air. It returns to the indoor air the heat generated by the dehumidifier turning water vapour to liquid.

Chemical adsorbent dehumidifiers

This type of dehumidifier is designed for hot, humid climates and is not really suited for use in Canada.

Chemical adsorbent dehumidifiers absorb moisture from the air with a "desiccant"--a drying agent such as silica gel. The desiccant is on a heat exchange wheel. A separate air loop dries the wheel and exhausts the hot, damp air outdoors through special ducting.

A chemical adsorbent dehumidifier uses more energy than a heat pump dehumidifier. It is only cost-effective when it uses natural gas for heat exchange--and then only if natural gas is available at a low summer rate.

Homemade dehumidifier

Some inventive people use bags of road de-icing salt to absorb moisture from the air. The wet salt solution drips into a pan or floor drain, drying the air. Because the salt runs off with the water removed from the air, it must be replaced. The system has no moving parts.

If you try this homemade dehumidifier, remember that salt is highly corrosive to metals and quite hard on the skin.

Dehumidifying ventilators

This type of dehumidifier has a sensor-controller and exhaust fan. You set the sensor-controller to run when humidity reaches a set level. A dehumidifying ventilator is particularly effective if the humidity source is in your basement.

Dehumidifying ventilators don't recover heat but they use less electricity than heat pump dehumidifiers. They are not effective in hot, muggy weather, as they bring more outside air into the house. They can be effective in cold weather.

A dehumidifying ventilator depressurizes your basement, which can cause combustion gas spillage. Make sure your heating contractor checks the venting for your gas furnace, water heater and wood-burning appliances. Consider using a carbon monoxide warning device if you install a dehumidifying ventilator.

Choosing a Dehumidifier

Dehumidifier purchase costs

Heat pump dehumidifiers are complex, low-production machines and are not low-cost items. Spring seems to be the best time to buy: in the last few years dealers have held sales early in the spring with savings of $50 to $100.

The more water a dehumidifier holds --which is measured in litres or U.S. pints a day--the more it costs. You pay more for special features.

In 2000, you can expect to pay between $200 and $250 for a unit rated at 10 L (21 U.S. pints or 2.1 imperial gal.) a day--suitable for a small house with a moderate moisture problem. The price rises to between $250 and $350 for a unit with a capacity of 20 L (42 U.S. pints or 4.3 imperial gal.) a day--suitable for a large house with more severe problems.

Running costs for both units are about the same if they both have the same Efficiency Factor. The next section explains the Efficiency Factor.

Don't try to save money by buying a unit that does not have automatic defrost. If a room is too cool, a dehumidifier can frost over and stop removing moisture. A frosted-over dehumidifier left running for a long time will break down.

Get a unit with a two-speed fan. They are quieter at lower humidity, which reduces the nuisance factor. Test all units in the store for noise level, especially if you plan to use one in or near a bedroom.

For vital information on all things concerned with Dehumifiers and Preventing Molds visit our Basement Dehumidifiers Website

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Wireless Electricity Monitoring and Control System With Monitoring Function of a Home Solar Plant

A home electricity energy monitor is an easy way to see how much electricity you're consuming - as you use it - and what it costs. It provides prompt, convenient feedback on electrical energy consumption. Some devices may also display cost of energy used, and estimates of greenhouse CO2 emissions in real time. It is also known as a "real time display". People who adopt home energy monitors tend to find that their energy usage drops by between 5 percent and 15 percent in the first year of using them. Various studies have shown such a reduction in home energy consumption.

A wireless smart electricity monitor is a device used to monitor electricity consumption, adopting the wireless technology. In a typical wireless electricity monitor configuration, a unit that measures energy output is connected to the electricity meter in a home meter box, and that unit transmits information about energy consumption wirelessly to a display unit. The display unit shows the amount of power being used, the cost of the power and the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the electricity being consumed. Some units also display other information such as ambient temperature and humidity.

Wireless electricity monitors are easier to use than wired electricity monitors because they allow users to place the display unit anywhere in their homes. This way, users can frequently check the amount of energy being used without having to walk to a meter or run wires through their homes. Wireless electricity monitors are usually battery-operated, though some units have direct current (DC) adapters that enable them to be plugged into wall power.

Most people who use a wireless electricity monitor do so to reduce energy consumption. Having a constant visual reminder of how much energy is being used at any given time, how much the energy costs and how much of an effect the energy use has on the environment can help people stay mindful of their energy use and remind them to turn off appliances when they aren't using them. The monitors can also be used to figure out how much energy particular machines and appliances are consuming so users can determine how they can best reduce their energy use.

Sometimes, a wireless electricity monitor only shows how much energy is currently being used, but many wireless electricity monitors also store usage data and enable users to review their daily, weekly and monthly energy use. This tracking ability can help users review how they're using electricity, stay motivated to continue using less electricity and develop strategies for reducing consumption. A wireless electricity monitor is not very expensive, and many users say they recoup the cost of the monitor in just a month or two by using less energy.

Some wireless electricity monitors also have the ability to connect to a personal computer. The transmitter unit can stream energy usage data to a device connected to the computer, usually through a universal serial bus (USB) port. Computer software that comes with the data receiver typically enables detailed electricity tracking and reporting.

More and more homeowners in the world have installed solar power system or wind micro generator in their homes to generate clean power, reduce the electricity consumption cost and protect the environment as well. Photovoltaic Solar Power is, in it's simplest definition, the energy created by converting solar energy into electricity using photovoltaic solar cells. Solar power cells are made out of materials known as semiconductors, usually silicon. A semiconductor has the properties of an insulator, but when exposed to light or heat is capable of conducting electricity.

The electricity energy monitoring and control system with home solar plant monitoring function works 2-way and is developed specially for households installed with home solar plant, providing a good solution for the home owners to monitor both the home electricity consumed in total and the energy produced by solar. Meanwhile, the system displays the balance between the consumption and production to the family members and provide wireless remote control of home electrical appliances when the family members want to respond to unsatisfactory balance data.

How the system works?

The clamp of one power transmitter is attached to the cable from your electricity meter. The current is then measured and transmitted wirelessly to a monitor with display screen that you can keep anywhere in your house. The clamp of the other power transmitter is attached to the cable from the solar power plant to measure its yield. In this case, the data for the consumption and solar production is attained respectively and the comparison is possible.

When the home electricity consumption is higher than the electricity production of home solar system or wind micro generator, the controller of the electricity control system provides an alarm warning, reminding the family members to act to reduce the power consumption.

The LCD screen of the controller display home power consumption data, production output by home solar system, balance data, cost data, history data. It also shows time and date.

The system supports up to 12pcs sensor plug sockets, that means it can wirelessly monitor and control up to twelve connected electrical appliances.

With this system, you can keep track of how your solar system is performing, how much money you are saving in electricity costs, and how much your system is benefiting the environment.

The wireless electricity monitoring and control system with Home Solar Plant monitoring function is consisted by 1pc controller with power adapter, 2pcs transmitters with sensor clamp, A number of sensor plug sockets and 1pc RJ45-USB data cable to provide computer link

* The controller receives data from the transmitters and sensor plug sockets, displays the real time and history information on its LCD screen and sends powering on/off instruction to the sensor plug sockets.

* 1pc of transmitter will be used to monitor the electricity output of the solar home plant, the other transmitter will be used to monitor the electricity consumption of the whole home.

* The sensor plug sockets detect the electricity consumption of connected electrical appliances. The sockets detect the energy consumption data and send it to the controller. The sockets can be controlled remotely and wirelessly by the controller to switch on/off the connected electrical appliances. One system can support up to 12pcs sensor sockets.

* The RJ45-USB data cable (available with software) serves to provide connection between the controller and the computer so that the user can view the real time data, the history data from the computer or remotely switch on/off electrical appliances.

We recommend you to view Sailwider's home solar monitoring system for more details.

Shenzhen Sailwider Electronics Co, Ltd is a high-tech company located in Shenzhen, China. Sailwider focus on latest technologies and develop practical and competitive products for the fields of electricity energy monitoring and control, automobile accessories, wireless communication, and electronics design and manufacturing.

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