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AUTO RESTART AND DEFROSTING FUNCTION
AUTO RESTART FUNCTION
The Alto water heat pump has an auto restart function. When the power supply is switched off accidentally, it will
automatically save the operation mode.
When the power supply is restored, the unit will automatically restart after five minutes and operate in the same
working mode.
REVERSE CYCLE DEFROST FUNCTION
When the ambient air temperature is too cold, the evaporator will start to freeze and frost will appear on the
evaporator fins. If this happens the heater will automatically enter a defrosting mode (Reverse Cycle Defrost) and
the defrost light will show in the control panel.
This function will make the unit run as it would if it were a normal cooling unit by heating the outdoor coil using hot
gas to melt any frost / ice. Once the evaporator temperature has reached over 23C or the set defrosting time, the
defrost function is over and reverts back to heating the pool water.
FAQ
The flow switch is faulty, is there a way to bypass the flow switch temporarily?
Yes. Re-insert the ‘pre-fitted loop (see page 6). Heater will need to be turned on and off manually until a
replacement is sent.
How long will it take to heat up my pool?
The answer to this is dependant on a number of factors; the ambient air temperature; heater being sized correctly;
solar cover fitted; plumbing configuration etc. As an indication, at the start of the summer season (May) you should
be able to obtain a water temperature of 24°C / 75°F allowing for approximately one week heat up time. This is
providing that filtration is running 24hrs per day and an average ambient air temperature of 16°C / 61°F is
achieved.
When I use a heat pump, should I use a pool cover or solar blanket as well?
Yes. Any reduction in pool heat loss directly translates into savings. 82% of all losses are due to convection. Using
a pool cover just at night will save about 40% of the annual heating cost. A thermal pool cover or solar blanket can
significantly reduce pool heating loss. The use of a solar or thermal blanket will also help extend your pool season.
What is the minimum ambient operating temperature?
The Alto Water Heat Pump will actually operate down to an ambient air temperature of 0°C. but with minimal heat
output. Therefore we recommend that the minimum operating temperature should be 5°C. Other conditions such
as wind, shade and physical location will affect the shut-off temperature of the unit.
Will the heat pump require more refrigerant gas?
Unless the Alto Water Heat Pump has a leak in the sealed refrigeration system, the factory charge of Freon should
last for the life of the unit. Freon is very stable and should not degrade or breakdown even under severe operating
conditions. If your unit needs Freon, then it has a leak, and adding Freon will not solve the problem. The leak must
be located and repaired. Fortunately, Freon leaks are very uncommon and usually are due to transit damage.
How Close To Your Pool?
Normally, the pool pump and Heat Pump are installed close together and within 25 feet of the pool. The longer the
distance from the pool, the more heat loss from the piping. Since normally most of the piping is buried, the heat
loss is minimal for runs of up to 50 feet (50 feet to and from the pump = 100 feet total) unless the ground is wet or
the water table is high. A very rough estimate of heat loss per 100 foot is 2500 BTU/hr for every 10° F difference in
temperature between the pool water and ground surrounding the pipe, which translates to about 3% to 5%
increase in run time.
FILTRATION -
BACKWASHING (FILTER) -
ONLY APPLICABLE IF FLOW SWITCH HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED
The Alto water heat pump will continue to run when the filter is being backwashed. Although there is no water flow
through the heat pump it will automatically cut out after a short period of time. Heat pump will automatically restart
when filter is put back to normal operation.
WASTE -
ONLY APPLICABLE IF FLOW SWITCH HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED
If the pool is to be emptied or cleaned through the waste cycle for long periods of time we recommend
that the heat pump is manually turned off until filter is functioning normally..