I received a letter today from Robert Heath “a member of Daikin group”
“We’re pleased to inform you about a complimentary software enhancement that has been developed by our expert product development team at our European development centre. This update will further improve the energy efficiency of your Daikin heat pump system, ensuring you get the best performance possible.
To implement this upgrade, a Daikin engineer will need to visit your property for a short appointment (approximately 1 hour). During this time, we will temporarily need access to your outdoor unit and will have to switch off the system briefly, but we’ll aim to keep any disruption to a minimum.”
Has anyone had this done yet? Do you know what the enhancement is supposed to do?
I haven’t (EDLA08). If I do, I’ll ask for the release notes for the new software (and all releases between that and the current one). The question in my mind is “in what way will efficiency be improved”, followed by “and is there anything which I wont like” bundled in…
I doubt the compressor power floor will change; my understanding is that the efficiency of compressors drops off with frequency due to inescapable physical and enginnering facts. Like most machines, there is an optimal window of performance with degradation at the top and bottom ends. I saw a plot of this from a manufacturer whose name I forget, but most don’t make such info public. I think I saw this in a John Cantor video.
A lower compressor power would be nice but I would be happy if they do something about it’s tendency to slowly ramp up and then spike after 30-45 minutes causing unnecessary cycling.
I do have an EDLA08 but I used to have an EDLA09, I did have them update the model on their records so they should know what model I have.
A chap called Robert Stilby on a facebook group of Daikin owners (Redirecting... if you have an account) has this to say:
“Hello, it is ligit, its to help improve efficiency at low capcity, we did think about just updating the size 9 units only, as its when the property may only have a 6kW or lower heat loss and have fitted a size 9 unit. But it should also help improve efficiency in the shoulder months as well, it could save a few pounds a year. It basically speeds up the expansion valve reaction time.”
Other replies suggest this is only for the larger unit (9, 11, 16 kW).
Thanks @mortstar. When the engineer changed the tape-heater settings on my heat pump, they were supposed to install an early software update that Robert told me would speed up the response of the expansion valve. So perhaps I already have this software, or maybe they have improved it… we’ll see.
It was Mitsubishi that updated the software. It will be interesting to see what/if there is a difference in Diakin, and it will probably be site-specific. i.e. some may make no difference, some will, depending on the operating conditions.
As mortstar says below, its probably to do with expansion valve reaction. I expect that at very low speed, there are times when the control becomes unstable. its quite tricky since one problem is an over-responsive control where it starts to open/close to much causing swings.
Somewhere in the algorythm, they have to decide on minimum speed, and want to avoid a) lubrication problems, and b) low COP. its quite tricky to please everyone’s specific instalation.
The thing I was hoping Mitsi would ‘fix’ is that even on a warm day, if it cycles-off, it restarts only 4 minutes later. If it were sensible it would realise it could rest a bit longer. My thought are that they have not thought this detail through. This doesnt happen on Auto Adapt though.
The engineer just called and installed the new firmware.
Removed case
Connected laptop to a port on the board behind the polythene flap
Used tool to do something
Cycled power
Connected laptop using serial port to X10M - same port as ESPAltherma; I thought he’d be using that; it was the first such users he’d seen, showed him graphs etc while we waited; I just unplugged it and put it back when done
Another power cycle
One more connection and command cycle
Power cycle
Case back on
Total time < 20 minutes. Neither he nor his office announced his arrival, which could have been unfortunate as I was about to go out, but hadn’t. Phew.
I’m in Reading, he came from Portsmouth with a few calls in Berks/Oxon area today, he’s been doing this for 3 months. Apparently his co have 3k? units to do by end August, and they’ll get a load more if they complete those. It’s a completely idiot-proof set up, with the laptop tool prompting for every step.
Indeed. I can’t find an appointment in my inbox, no calls etc etc.
Behaviour - it’ll be the autumn before that can happen, let’s hope it’s dramatically better and obvious!
My Daikin was also installed by Octopus. I assume my registering for the warranty alerted Daikin to my HP’s existence, and provided them with my details.
I forgot to say, he also checked for the link between pins 5-7 on block X7M that I’d had removed to turn off the tape heaters in normal operation. Clearly Daikin have decided that’s a standard setting now - saves a continuous 60+W when the compressor is running!
So they came out today without letting me know in advance they were coming in advance and the engineer was surprised that my EDLA08 did not look the same as the EDLA09’s he had been updating the firmware on so I guess this update is supposed to be primarily for the 9kW and above.
He did update the firmware on my EDLA08 outdoor unit while he was here anyway but not sure what version it was on or what version it’s now on.
“Thank you for your interest in updating the firmware for your Daikin unit. We are currently sending letters to customers to schedule these updates. Please note that Daikin has partnered with an authorized affiliate company to perform these services, so we are unable to schedule appointments directly. Additionally, only select units require a manual firmware update.”
The update seems to have helped our 9kW unit, in that lowest power draw is now just over 700W compared to 950W previously. While running yesterday, it rose from ~700W to ~850W before tripping on flow temperature. That seems to be a significant improvement, especially if it will keep to the lower power end as the ambient temperature drops.
