Dominion is pushing this program, in which they install a cut switch to your air conditioner that they can turn on/off remotely during peak use times. They claim this won't hurt the compressor, which seems questionable. Can any HVAC types out there comment? I'd think intuitively that turning a compressor on and off more than normal will definitely shorten its life.

Smart cooling is just a new name for a system that has been in place for decades. The power company puts a radio controled device near or on your condensing umit that can shut off the compressor and outdoor fan if it receives a radio signal to do so.
The power company can shut down compressors in a given area for 5 min or so and then switch to another area for awhile. This helps the power provider even out the load which may prevent them from having to start some generators during peak usage periods. The "last resort" generators are often fired by coal or oil which produce higher emissions than other generators.
If anything I think that the device may result in fewer start-ups of the compressor which would result in longer compressor life. The only down side of these devices would be a slight loss of comfort under certian conditions. I would not allow the installation of this device on my upstairs A/c because most upstairs systems struggle in hot weather. If you live in a townhouse or condo with just one system it should be no problem. McMansion folks would be advised to allow the smart cooling device on the downstairs system only.

Short answer: motors like to run, Start up is the hardest part of a motors life. Amp draw typically triples or quadruples on an AC compressor at start up during the hottest part of the day.

I agree with you that VDP only cares about lessening their demand and could give a fuck if your AC conks out a year or two prematurely. I am not participating.

The questions is, how long before participation is mandatory?

>
> The questions is, how long before participation is
> mandatory?

Once they get the politicians in their pockets, it will happen. Unless the public complains and the downsides of the progam (busted compressors) are well known

This is definitely bad option. Just to get $40 you will incur thousands to repair your A/c unit. I opted for this last year. A/c would cut off after every hour and turn on after one hour under this program. It was intolerable hot inside all the time as by the time it cooled, it is turned off by automatic device installed by VA dom. With so much on and off, unit died down. Called the mechanic who charged $300 to repair it. I got that device removed by VA dom. after three months of placement. They refused to pay even $30 for 3 months installation out of $40 for 4 months required.
So think what is the use of this bait. Even if you are away from home during day time, this devise still plays with your a/c unit - on and off every hour.
Don't go for it.

Jay III Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is definitely bad option. Just to get $40 you
> will incur thousands to repair your A/c unit. I
> opted for this last year. A/c would cut off after
> every hour and turn on after one hour under this
> program. It was intolerable hot inside all the
> time as by the time it cooled, it is turned off by
> automatic device installed by VA dom. With so much
> on and off, unit died down. Called the mechanic
> who charged $300 to repair it. I got that device
> removed by VA dom. after three months of
> placement. They refused to pay even $30 for 3
> months installation out of $40 for 4 months
> required.
> So think what is the use of this bait. Even if you
> are away from home during day time, this devise
> still plays with your a/c unit - on and off every
> hour.
> Don't go for it.


Dude, you are responding to a 3.5 year old post and you are completly wrong. Those devices do not harm the equipment in the least.

everyone on this damned thread are cunts

doubting Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dominion is pushing this program, in which they
> install a cut switch to your air conditioner that
> they can turn on/off remotely during peak use
> times. They claim this won't hurt the compressor,
> which seems questionable. Can any HVAC types out
> there comment? I'd think intuitively that turning
> a compressor on and off more than normal will
> definitely shorten its life.

The Sourther States (ie, Texas) are all very well air-conditioned (ie, all those new gov. offices and ryan homes).

That eats up MORE ENERGY that all other energy users flat out. ie cars gas? way behind. lights? not a chance. It's the cooling bills in the South that will get you.

------------------------
I don't beleive your article your full of shit VP didn't send us any such letter. And paying niggas to install expensive cut-out switches would never recover lost money - it woudl show a loss

but pretending it were a real story (your full of shit) - why would you participate before and until gov workers, VP workers, office buildigns of all kinds, participate ?

The smart cooling program should be required by law!!

^^YOU^^ KEEP YOUR LAWS OFF OF MY AC!!

energy expert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The smart cooling program should be required by
> law!!

Go for it! I have "Smart Cooling" and have already bypassed the Dominion receiver that disconnects the a/c compressor contactor during an "event". That's all it does when it gets a signal from the Dominion mother ship. That's why the blower fan still runs but no cold air. But I still get my $40 credit every year. The only way to harm your compressor is to turn it on and off repeatedly without waiting 3-5 minutes in between. Smart Cooling does NOT do that.

EE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> energy expert Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The smart cooling program should be required by
> > law!!
>
> Go for it! I have "Smart Cooling" and have
> already bypassed the Dominion receiver that
> disconnects the a/c compressor contactor during an
> "event". That's all it does when it gets a signal
> from the Dominion mother ship. That's why the
> blower fan still runs but no cold air. But I
> still get my $40 credit every year. The only way
> to harm your compressor is to turn it on and off
> repeatedly without waiting 3-5 minutes in between.
> Smart Cooling does NOT do that.

Would you care to post how your are bypassing the receiver? I think many of us would like to get on that bandwagon. Have considered just smashing it with a hammer but that may be a little obvious.

EE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> energy expert Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The smart cooling program should be required by
> > law!!
>
> Go for it! I have "Smart Cooling" and have
> already bypassed the Dominion receiver that
> disconnects the a/c compressor contactor during an
> "event". That's all it does when it gets a signal
> from the Dominion mother ship. That's why the
> blower fan still runs but no cold air. But I
> still get my $40 credit every year. The only way
> to harm your compressor is to turn it on and off
> repeatedly without waiting 3-5 minutes in between.
> Smart Cooling does NOT do that.


So you have just confessed to a Class 2 misdemeanor in a public forum. Sorry man but we have to forward this to the powers that be. They can get your IP address easily now. Hope you can learn some respect during your ordeal.

https://www.dom.com/corporate/contact-us/forms/career-inquiries

Col. Flag Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> EE Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > energy expert Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > The smart cooling program should be required
> by
> > > law!!
> >
> > Go for it! I have "Smart Cooling" and have
> > already bypassed the Dominion receiver that
> > disconnects the a/c compressor contactor during
> an
> > "event". That's all it does when it gets a
> signal
> > from the Dominion mother ship. That's why the
> > blower fan still runs but no cold air. But I
> > still get my $40 credit every year. The only
> way
> > to harm your compressor is to turn it on and
> off
> > repeatedly without waiting 3-5 minutes in
> between.
> > Smart Cooling does NOT do that.
>
>
> So you have just confessed to a Class 2
> misdemeanor in a public forum. Sorry man but we
> have to forward this to the powers that be. They
> can get your IP address easily now. Hope you can
> learn some respect during your ordeal.

Hey Col. Flagg (spelled it correctly), there is as much evidence of that as there is that I did 100 mph on I-66 today, regardless of the unsigned, anon "confession" and the lack of any witnesses. Does it suck watching people around you get away with stuff you don't have the skills (or balls) to do yourself? You must really hate the guy who has never paid for the 495 HOT lanes.

@Enlighten Us--If I knew you wouldn't be exposing yourself to live uninsulated 240VAC terminal lugs found inside the unit around where Dominion inserts itself in the relay control circuit, I'd give you the details. I don't want to be responsible for your electrocution. Sorry, if the answer is out there, you'll have to Google it for yourself.

Don't touch my AC!

Designed for well of public income Democrats who can afford to change AC units out every 5 years to try to show neighbors how asinine green they are

Why the hell do they think they can interfere with my air conditioner. I always sweat a lot and that's why I keep my house at a constant temperature. The guys from socool.sg don't do that, so I'm thinking of moving on to them. I believe that the customer should receive their services at any time, this is a sign of a very good product and service. I'm willing to pay a little bit more, but I like to get what I pay for.

I think the cooling system is a waste of money.

What makes you think that? Anything that makes life more comfortable is a good thing.

AmyClarkson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What makes you think that? Anything that makes
> life more comfortable is a good thing.


Hello everyone. I believe that we should always be open to progress and new innovations in science. The smart cooling system, in my opinion, is a wonderful thing that makes life much easier. Most of us live in cities where there is a lot of dust and stuffiness, and cooling just solves these problems. The only thing you have to do often is to have dusty parts all the time. But our age of technology has solved this problem as well. I recently found a site where you can learn about repairing and fixing air conditioners in case of emergency - epicductcleaning.com.au. Good luck to you!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2021 07:43AM by BrugCorkes.

The comments here are fairly ridiculous. A/C units cycle on and off all the time. Having the compressor get shut down by one external source, a VP relay, is no more damaging to the unit than having it shut down by another, the thermostat. If you've ever been in a house during a Virginia summer thunderstorm you probably experienced your A/C turning on and off in rapid succession as the power flickered off and on. That kind of action would be more damaging to an A/C unit than a simple shutdown.

The problem with this program is that it makes no sense for the consumer. If saving money was your only goal then turning off the A/C during very hot summer months will save you a bundle. If you see the fallacy in that argument then you also understand the fallacy in programs like VPs. If you also understood that an A/C has to work harder, and therefore use more energy, to lower the temperature of a residence to a certain temperature than it does to maintain the temperature of a residence at that level, then you also know you are ending up paying back some of your savings to VP.

Nobody is going to control my AC except me, ever! Only dopes sign up for this program. Hey, it's 100 degrees today, so let me periodically turn your AC off and save you a few dollars. Fuck that!

Your mother will disagree with you. Plus the basement is usually 5-10 degrees cooler than the rest of the house.

The basement needs to be colder because mom's beaver won't cool down from the relentless banging that I just gave her.