Poolex POOL HEAT PUMP NANO ACTION

I had originally rated it with 2 stars, now I have decreased this rating down to one. Explanation is added on the bottom.This heat pump got purchased to heat approximately 300 l of water. The tech specs read very impressive, a COP of 4,37 is mentioned at 26 degC water temperature and 15 degC air temperature. After arrival I left the heat pump for 24h on its palette. The palette itself suggested that the package was not likely to have been transported in anything but an upright position but better be careful, hence the 24h rest.My first test I run with 100l fresh tap water (14degC) and just the pump at approximately 2000l/h. To my confusion there was by no means the expected temperature rise. Outflow was not measurable different to inflow. Calculating the time for the first 10 degC temperature lift I got to ~600W (1K lift for 100l => 116.3Wh), at air temperature at 19 degC some of the heat would even have been absorbed. That is approximately the electric input, which is indeed just below the 520W. The next 10 degC lift calculated to ~900W. So there was hope of things just starting to work together.Unfortunately from there was no further improvement. Good results at 26 degC water temperature are somewhere at 930Wh, translating into a COP of 1.8. Lifting the water temperature to 40 degC there is a dramatic drop to a COP just over 1. Air temperature is always around 19 degC at testing, Humidity ~ 64%. That is miles of the the promised COP of 4,37 and close to the direct water heater.It gets worse, as the vibrations are easily up to par with the big boys. Then, including the filter in the line dropped the the flow rate to just around 1500l/h. That does not suffice to trigger the flow sensor. Funny enough, once triggered, much lesser flow speeds are possible before the heat pump switches off. Although at the lowest flow rate there is a slight lift of the temperature notable (in/out). A much less sensitive flow switch would have done perfectly fine. At least at this device with the given output.The English manual has already been adjusted to the newer models seemingly not having a refrigerant gauge anymore. At least the German and Dutch part still refers to it needing checked. I think, the gauge was a fairly good idea as it could have indicated issues without having to ask a refrigeration engineer, which are not so easy to come by and even less happy to touch things they have not supplied themselves. Yet, as it still cools (after a longer run time it needs defrosting) and there are no typical low refrigerant noises (bubbling etc.) I do not think there is a low charge.The fan itself draws around 24W when the compressor is off and drops to 21W with the compressor running (@480W). That is a clear indication that the required 270 m3/h would already be a stretch, let alone 360 m3/h (26/15 down to 2 degC Air flow for 2750/2150W as per manual). The slightest bit of wind pressure would have dramatic influences, not to mention a fine ripped heat exchanger with frost on it. But with the given outputs of my device there is no reason to worry, the required <120 m3/h are easily achievable. Almost the whole year there is a notable wind pressure against the fan at this location.I have taken several measurements to uncouple the vibrations from the device from its platform as this leads to a tingling in the feet if you are walking nearby the unit. With an almost similar usage I can use my direct heater, which does not produce any vibrations and does not cut out with the filter. I do not advise on this device at its current state. Maybe you are luckier but it is a gamble.At least I had fun playing around with the heat pump. Although it has not really produced any heat for anything else but testing. But there is no real saving as I could not even use the cheaper night tariff because of the vibrations travelling through the building. I am not going to risk that, until I have found a way to further uncouple the vibrations. Likely I will update my review if I found satisfaction.Current state is a platform fixed on two sides to the walls. The underside of the platform is lined with noise dampening plasterboard, which was by now the most effective measurement taken. Further, the feet of the heat pump got extended with antivibration silent blocks. Top layer is a plastic tray with a drain point to discharge the condensation safely. The platform has been built with allowing for a floating platform on top of it, but I am waiting for materials to be ready to be picked up. Most likely I will add layers until satisfactory results are achieved (or I skip the whole idea ;). Most of the load is on the side with the display, which is sited nearly on the centre of my platform.Today's measurements: Closed loop 21.5 degC to 41.5degC (40+1.5 overshooting) @6l => 139.6Wh. Add 20% heatloss (known) => 167.5 Wh. Energy consumption 106Wh => COP 1.6. Air temperature 19 degC, rel humidity ~64%. Exhausted air ~4 degC (@20.5) - 6 degC (@40). At this temperatures we would need ~500m3/h in order to land around 2.2kW but that would lift the exhausted air temperature significantly. I would say, there is no way, this heat pump with this heat exchanger could ever get much better than this. At 2.2 kW the heating process should have been finished after 4 min 30s, instead it took 12min 13s.February 2020:I have had the heat pump running for a while now and I feel safe to say that this "heat pump" is not worth the money. Including the electricity for the pump (much longer run times) the little gain of the heat pump is negligible. There is no measurable gain over an electric heating element, at least within the measuring tolerances of an electric meter. If you keep it running for longer, it could at least act as a dehumidifier, harvesting ~ 180ml of condensate from 19 degree warm air at ~60% rH. You get as well a little bit of fresh air blowing. It certainly is expensive for a toy, otherwise not up to the task.But it was fun to play with and it animated me to get a better understanding of the function and limits of such devices.Another factor against this device is the fact that a visit of a refrigeration engineer will cost you only little less than this heat pump itself and it is doubtful that miracles would result.If you want to give it a go, then quickly test it (but leave it 24h sitting upright after arrival, just to be safe), so you can send it back within the 30 days if you need to.I am sure, it is not a coincident that (BS) EN 14511 is nowhere mentioned in conjunction with this product.End of February:The explanation for the lack of efficiency has been found and is the simple fact that the fitted GMCC compressor is in its class by far the most inefficient device and the least efficient compressor in the whole GMCC product catalogue. The stated COP on their website is 2.9 for the fitted SN68 compressor. That is under optimal conditions, which are practically not achievable with the simple construction of this heat pump. I quote the "Technician" of the seller "This kind of heat pump running perfectly with the air at 26° and the water at 26° and the COP will be 4.5 ."The COP of 2.9 means, at the 480W there would be a measly 1400W instead of the promised 2750W. Add the build in inefficiency of the device (fixed orifice) and we could land around 1000W, which is just over the best result I had achieved so far.Because of the blatant untruth, blaming my circulator pump and the placement and what not, 1 star is the consequential rating and I cannot advise in spending this money just to find out, that the product description fails to match the product performance by far. An electric heating element can easily compete with this device, has a much lower price tag and does not require soundproofing. (And does not need refrigerant, services etc.)