Force usage of additional_heat_generator?

[tobiasT23]

Does anyone know a way the force the usage of the additional_heat_generator ? My heatpump is connected to a swimming pool and at times of high solar input I would like to add the additional_heat_generator in order to get the maximum Power out the heat pump.

[apf-doit]

the entity water_heater.luxtronik_domestic_water has listed attributes for operation_mode: off, heat_pump, electric, performance
where electric in my case uses the additional heat generator and its entity binary_sensor.luxtronik_additional_heat_generator. I am not 100% sure - but when this entity is triggered, and i saw that several times during frosty weather when the heat pump can not keep up alone for the requested temperature, and my power meter monitoring that extra circuit shows me sometimes up to 6kW usage - i would say that is exactly what you looking for. Thats also matching the documentation (https://mw.ait-group.net/files/docs/EN/A0220/83055400.pdf - page 33) Not sure what performance mode does, i never used that intentionally. Perhaps it triggers both heating modes. Electrical heating is usually a simple heat rod directly connected with the water tank - don't know how your pool setup looks like.

[tobiasT23]

Thank you for your reply. I am aware of that sensor and the domestic water operation mode. It only applies for domestic water and basically leaves it up the Luxtronik when to use the extra heater as support or when it can do it with the heat pump.

What I am looking for: by internal luxtronik logic, it NEVER uses the additional electric heater when luxtronik is in the "Pool/Solar"mode. What I want though, is to manually turn it on in the mode as an extra booster.

https://files.ait-group.net/FILES/Alpha-InnoTec/manuals/01%20heat%20pumps/05%20controller/accessories/83052500gUK_CP_II.pdf
P14:
In a swimming pool preparation, the heat pump is always active. No second heat generator (ZWE) is released.

[d-dsn]

I'm already doing something you're mentioning. In the summertime there's a lot of wasted solar capacity flowing to the network (sometimes for free), so I'm using the following process to push the heat to my bathroom floor with heatpump resistors:

1. First thing is to lower the heating curves to their minimum accepted values. Take a note what the original values were before changing them. I'm writing:

• number.luxtronik2_heating_curve_parallel_shift_temperature = 5 (default 22 in my setup)
• number.luxtronik2_heating_curve_end_temperature = 20 (default 39 in my setup)

2. Set the heating preset mode to "boost". The heating will not turn on because of the lowered heating curves.

3. When you want to enable resistive heating, write the heating curves to "max" values:

• number.luxtronik2_heating_curve_parallel_shift_temperature = 35
• number.luxtronik2_heating_curve_end_temperature = 70

Nothing is really limiting the circulating water temperature in this "hack"-mode, and I've seen the return temps climbing to 50C
You can keep the preset mode in "boost" the whole time when not needing the compressor. The heating curves will act as a Enable/Disable for the heating

EDIT:
This can also be done for the hot water. The resistive load can be turned on on-demand, but currently there's a tiny inconvenience.
Under the "domestic hot water" settings, there's a submenu called "Extra DHW". This "Extra DHW" can be enabled from the menu, but for a maximum period of 24h at a time.
After enabling it, DHW target can be set to 65C and DHW "operating mode" set to "add. heat gen." (= boost). This will enable resistive heating of DHW up to about 64.0C. There are some safety limits kicking in before water reaches the setpoint of 65C, at least in my setup.

If I remember correctly, the DHW will operate on "boost" mode as long as the "Extra DHW" is enabled. So if you're heating water in the night time using the heat pump, it's better to disable the Extra DHW in the evening. That's why I'm actually always enabling the "Extra DHW" only for 10h at a time. This will cover the period in a summer day when there's solar available to push the DHW temp a bit higher.

I also wrote these findings to this discussion topic last year:
#370

Would be nice if someone could implement enabling/disabling the "Extra DHW" into this integration!

[rhammen]

@d-dsn I will add entities to set/lookup the Extra DHW Target temperature, and the Extra DHW active time.
Unfortunately, I do not see a parameter that I can change to set the Extra DHW to ON :-(

[d-dsn]

@d-dsn I will add entities to set/lookup the Extra DHW Target temperature, and the Extra DHW active time. Unfortunately, I do not see a parameter that I can change to set the Extra DHW to ON :-(

Thanks a lot for your help, this is great news!
Is there anything I could do to help find the "Extra DHW ON"?

Now in the summer time with a lot of excessive solar energy, my daily routine in the morning is to set the Extra DHW ON, and adjusting the "duration" if needed. Would be so nice to have Home Assistant handle this routine for me.