4 port buffer tank connections
@iraknic I used a thermal imaging camera, and the temperature readings were “inaccurate”. I suppose the water inside the copper pipe will be warmer than the exterior of the copper pipe. I assume your copper pipe readings were lower than the COP readings.
Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
You need to adjust the surface emmissivity setting of your thermal camera.
Try this, assuming you have a metal kettle with a polished exterior surface and the copper pipe is also polished.
Boil the kettle - the water will be 100C. Point the camera at it's metal outside and adjust the emmisivity setting to get 100C.
Now take a temperature reading of the copper pipe with the same emmissivity setting.
Normally I'm looking at thermal photos with temperatures around 2000F and surfaces that are rough and none polished. The surface finish can make a huge difference to the measured temperature using cameras. The only way to be sure is to use a contact thermocouple and press it against the pipe to get an acurate temperature reading.
But saying that, all you're really interested in is the temperature DIFFERENCE between the four pipes, and that will be unaffected by surface finish and emissivity (provided all the pipes are the same material and surface finish).
Regards
Bob
Posted by: @bobtskutterYou need to adjust the surface emmissivity setting of your thermal camera.
Excellent suggestion. Didn’t even cross my mind to do that. Thank you.
Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
@iraknic I’m doing a small video on buffers, and am using our badly piped one as an example, but would also like to include yours if possible. If you’re OK with that, can you please send me a video and some photos of your piping and tank, shot vertically, in HD. You can send via WeTransfer.com to editor@renewableheatinghub.co.uk if you’re in.
Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
@iraknic I just had a very quick look. Is that buffer tank on a roof?
Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
- 26 Forums
- 2,242 Topics
- 49.9 K Posts
- 505 Online
- 5,903 Members
Join Us!
Podcast Picks
Latest Posts
-
RE: Ecodan Melcloud Temperature Change
I also find my Ecodan's response to input temperature c...
By downfield , 29 minutes ago
-
RE: End of Summer Time Reminder to Ecodan owners
@morgan did the system time change last night? if so y...
By downfield , 2 hours ago
-
RE: Faulty Clivet heat pump out of the box
@toodles agreed. If there are issues they should be re...
By Steveimpey , 2 hours ago
-
RE: RDSAP10 effect on existing heat pump EPC rating?
@toodles indeed. the question of proof will only get ...
By Tim441 , 3 hours ago
-
RE: Midea ASHP – how to set weather compensation
Most of what you need is in my post above (15/10/2025 7...
By cathodeRay , 4 hours ago
-
RE: My experience with 3 heat pump surveys: Heat Geek, British Gas & Octopus
@jords were you not given a copy of the full heat loss ...
By Chas Barry , 5 hours ago
-
@eliuccio Sometimes changes in electrical regs only app...
By Toodles , 5 hours ago
-
RE: Should Our Water Circulation Pump Be Configured to Run All The Time?
I signed up here due to finding this question via a Goo...
By Unsure , 6 hours ago
-
RE: Mitsu PAR-WT60 Wireless Controller
Aslo, subject to FTC version, Your thermostat will cont...
By ASHP-BOBBA , 9 hours ago
-
@bontwoody Thanks for the info. Quite a spread of value...
By springswood , 9 hours ago
-
RE: Daikin Octopus installation update - I saw my first defrost. 😍😂
Thing is it is one of those intermittent things. Yes I ...
By Jancold , 10 hours ago
-
@transparent Yes to questions 1 to 3. Also, yes to the...
By Morgan , 10 hours ago
-
RE: Octopus Cosy Heat Pump Owners & Discussion Thread
OK thats cheap, the commercial price seems to be £400 p...
By JamesPa , 1 day ago
-
RE: Solar inverters - where does the energy go when clipping?
I think I must query the sources on which Greenmatch ha...
By Transparent , 1 day ago
-
RE: Replacing knackered oil boiler with Samsung ASHP - Perthshire
This is how I run my Samsung 12kW ASHP with a 3rd party...
By Old_Scientist , 2 days ago
-
RE: Testing new controls/monitoring for Midea Clone ASHP
@cathoderay thanks- yes will keep an eye out for the de...
By benson , 2 days ago
-
RE: Renewables & Heat Pumps in the News
Hoping so as well! I am no specialist. The language use...
By Batpred , 2 days ago
-
RE: The Hidden Secret to a Successful Heat Pump: Pipe Size Matters
@old_scientist Just to say that during our retrofit, we...
By Toodles , 2 days ago
-
RE: Daikin Altherma 3M ASHP and British Gas Hive Home
We have a Daikin EDLA08 8kW monobloc (DHW is handled se...
By Toodles , 2 days ago



