Fitted Air conditioning
Discussion
Nice work. I have two split units left to fit now.
It terms of the non-splits, I wasa bit worried about water ingress on those massive 180mm vent holes. some angled rain could see water in the house.
The easiest way of dealing with this was to use air brick cowls. Not the most elegant solution (some sort of stainless steel bullnose vent would have been better, but I could not find them in the right size), but not utterly awful.
These won't impede airflow much, but should deal with anything except almost horizontal rain. I considered painting them to match the colour of the pebbledash, but decided that if the paint flaked they would look far worse than if I just left them in their original hearing aid beige colour. Sadly only available in brick red, brown or beige - not black.
IMG_20200901_160454 by baconrashers, on Flickr
It terms of the non-splits, I wasa bit worried about water ingress on those massive 180mm vent holes. some angled rain could see water in the house.
The easiest way of dealing with this was to use air brick cowls. Not the most elegant solution (some sort of stainless steel bullnose vent would have been better, but I could not find them in the right size), but not utterly awful.
These won't impede airflow much, but should deal with anything except almost horizontal rain. I considered painting them to match the colour of the pebbledash, but decided that if the paint flaked they would look far worse than if I just left them in their original hearing aid beige colour. Sadly only available in brick red, brown or beige - not black.
IMG_20200901_160454 by baconrashers, on FlickrEdited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 1st September 19:09
Make sure you have a 182cm core drill bit and a 20mm masonry bit for the condensate pipe!
The big core drill particularly seems larger than what most builders carry. If you are in the SE and can get to me, you are welcome to borrow mine...it's a decent quality one and dealt with Victorian brick perfectly well, but may not be up to modern concrete...
The big core drill particularly seems larger than what most builders carry. If you are in the SE and can get to me, you are welcome to borrow mine...it's a decent quality one and dealt with Victorian brick perfectly well, but may not be up to modern concrete...
Edited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 1st September 20:50
Thanks Harry for the update on the fitting of yours. I'm still in two minds as to whether to fit a mini split or a through-wall type like that. It's for a study which gets meltingly hot in the summer but is also a very small room. It also has a flat roof right outside under the window, so fitting a split would be easy enough apart from the need to run external power rather than just plugging it in to a socket inside. And, of course, the need for professional f-gas fitting on the split, which jacks the cost up to more than a wall mount.
Decisions, decisions... the split is undoubtedly the better solution as an AC system, but there are advantages to keeping it all inside in a radiator-size box. I have an existing external unit out there serving the loft conversion, and sod's law says a drama queen neighbour (which I have, on the attached side of our semi) would start asking questions about whether I'd got planning for a second one.
Decisions, decisions... the split is undoubtedly the better solution as an AC system, but there are advantages to keeping it all inside in a radiator-size box. I have an existing external unit out there serving the loft conversion, and sod's law says a drama queen neighbour (which I have, on the attached side of our semi) would start asking questions about whether I'd got planning for a second one.
The normal wiring for a mini split is to feed mains power to the outside unit and from there the power and communications wiring runs from the outdoor unit control board to the inside unit.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/47/8a/b6/478ab6516e...
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/47/8a/b6/478ab6516e...
Pheo said:
Anyone who has the ElectricIQ split systems - do they need power at both units? Or one of them? And if so which one?
Just planning electrical drops for the garden office so want to get those right...
If its a single split the indoor unit is powered via a lead and 3 pin plug, The indoor unit then supplies power to the outdoor unit . Just planning electrical drops for the garden office so want to get those right...
The multi split is the other way round and the external unit is powered and then 3 set of wires are run up to the indoor units along with the AC pipe and condensate pipe.
I have just installed an Electriq single split in my summer house and a 3 way split in the house.
fastbikes76 said:
If its a single split the indoor unit is powered via a lead and 3 pin plug, The indoor unit then supplies power to the outdoor unit .
The multi split is the other way round and the external unit is powered and then 3 set of wires are run up to the indoor units along with the AC pipe and condensate pipe.
I have just installed an Electriq single split in my summer house and a 3 way split in the house.
So to confirm if I where installing this one:The multi split is the other way round and the external unit is powered and then 3 set of wires are run up to the indoor units along with the AC pipe and condensate pipe.
I have just installed an Electriq single split in my summer house and a 3 way split in the house.
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eiq-9wminv/el...
Am I powering the internal or the external unit?
Pheo said:
So to confirm if I where installing this one:
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eiq-9wminv/el...
Am I powering the internal or the external unit?
I used a different electriq model but that was the internal unit that needed powerhttps://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eiq-9wminv/el...
Am I powering the internal or the external unit?
Pheo said:
So to confirm if I where installing this one:
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eiq-9wminv/el...
Am I powering the internal or the external unit?
According to the installation manual you power the interior unit.https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eiq-9wminv/el...
Am I powering the internal or the external unit?
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1210898/Electriq...
This would not be for the North American markets, as our codes require that there is a main disconnect outside so that the fire department can shut the power off in case of fire.
Question for you guys who have installed splits:
I bought this, supposedly self fit.
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eiq-9wminv/el...
The manual is hopeless. The indoor unit has plastic terminations on its pipes, and presumably you need to fit the longer (3m) pipes to it. When I started to unscrew the plastic terminations on the indoor unit to connect the fitted pipes to the 3m extension, gas started hissing out, so I very quickly tightened it all again.
Is the indoor unit meant to be pressurised at this stage? And if so, how on earth do I connect it all up without losing that pressure?
Worth noting that the pipes fitted to the indoor unit end in female nuts and, you guessed it, so do the 3m extension pipes that came with the system? What on earth?
I bought this, supposedly self fit.
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eiq-9wminv/el...
The manual is hopeless. The indoor unit has plastic terminations on its pipes, and presumably you need to fit the longer (3m) pipes to it. When I started to unscrew the plastic terminations on the indoor unit to connect the fitted pipes to the 3m extension, gas started hissing out, so I very quickly tightened it all again.
Is the indoor unit meant to be pressurised at this stage? And if so, how on earth do I connect it all up without losing that pressure?
Worth noting that the pipes fitted to the indoor unit end in female nuts and, you guessed it, so do the 3m extension pipes that came with the system? What on earth?
Harry Flashman said:
Question for you guys who have installed splits:
I bought this, supposedly self fit.
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eiq-9wminv/el...
The manual is hopeless. The indoor unit has plastic terminations on its pipes, and presumably you need to fit the longer (3m) pipes to it. When I started to unscrew the plastic terminations on the indoor unit to connect the fitted pipes to the 3m extension, gas started hissing out, so I very quickly tightened it all again.
Is the indoor unit meant to be pressurised at this stage? And if so, how on earth do I connect it all up without losing that pressure?
Worth noting that the pipes fitted to the indoor unit end in female nuts and, you guessed it, so do the 3m extension pipes that came with the system? What on earth?
It may be filled with nitrogen to keep it dry. The greatest enemy to any a/c system is moisture.I bought this, supposedly self fit.
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eiq-9wminv/el...
The manual is hopeless. The indoor unit has plastic terminations on its pipes, and presumably you need to fit the longer (3m) pipes to it. When I started to unscrew the plastic terminations on the indoor unit to connect the fitted pipes to the 3m extension, gas started hissing out, so I very quickly tightened it all again.
Is the indoor unit meant to be pressurised at this stage? And if so, how on earth do I connect it all up without losing that pressure?
Worth noting that the pipes fitted to the indoor unit end in female nuts and, you guessed it, so do the 3m extension pipes that came with the system? What on earth?
Thanks - I think I need to call them up and fit out what is going on.
Perhaps more fundamental is the fact that the pipes fitted to the indoor unit terminate in a female connection, as do both ends of the pipe extension kit - so may I assume that the pipe extension kit is meant to connect straight to the indoor unit, replacing those pipes, rather than connecting to the pipes already on it?
Perhaps more fundamental is the fact that the pipes fitted to the indoor unit terminate in a female connection, as do both ends of the pipe extension kit - so may I assume that the pipe extension kit is meant to connect straight to the indoor unit, replacing those pipes, rather than connecting to the pipes already on it?
NMNeil said:
Harry Flashman said:
Question for you guys who have installed splits:
I bought this, supposedly self fit.
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eiq-9wminv/el...
The manual is hopeless. The indoor unit has plastic terminations on its pipes, and presumably you need to fit the longer (3m) pipes to it. When I started to unscrew the plastic terminations on the indoor unit to connect the fitted pipes to the 3m extension, gas started hissing out, so I very quickly tightened it all again.
Is the indoor unit meant to be pressurised at this stage? And if so, how on earth do I connect it all up without losing that pressure?
Worth noting that the pipes fitted to the indoor unit end in female nuts and, you guessed it, so do the 3m extension pipes that came with the system? What on earth?
It may be filled with nitrogen to keep it dry. The greatest enemy to any a/c system is moisture.I bought this, supposedly self fit.
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eiq-9wminv/el...
The manual is hopeless. The indoor unit has plastic terminations on its pipes, and presumably you need to fit the longer (3m) pipes to it. When I started to unscrew the plastic terminations on the indoor unit to connect the fitted pipes to the 3m extension, gas started hissing out, so I very quickly tightened it all again.
Is the indoor unit meant to be pressurised at this stage? And if so, how on earth do I connect it all up without losing that pressure?
Worth noting that the pipes fitted to the indoor unit end in female nuts and, you guessed it, so do the 3m extension pipes that came with the system? What on earth?
I bought and fitted one of their "Easy-fit" splits last year. The advert made great play of the "Easy-fit", but basically this just means it comes with the pipes pre--flared, and the gases in the base unit. Fitting still requires a vacuum to be formed in the header+pipes before you release the base unit gases. In theory it SHOULD have been fitted by a registered gas engineer as it has the bad gases!
However, this one they are saying it DOES NOT require a registered engineer to fit, hmmm... sounds like a pure DIY fit then, as they so proudly state.
But, read the advert more closely and there is a comment in the Installation section where they say...
"Unlike most split air conditioners on the market, this air conditioner does not contain fluorinated gases which have high Global Warming Potential and are harmful to the environment. Therefore it does not require installation by an F-Gas registered engineer or specialist equipment for typical installation."
So, it sounds like it still needs to be installed exactly the same as the others, but you can do it yourself.
I had the same WTF moment with mine when I undid the plastic bungs in the header pipes... but fear not, it's only nitrogen (or similar), the fact it's still in there is a good indicator there's no leaks from the factory!
The actual gas you are concerned about is in the base unit and is not released from the base unit until you have connected all the pipes, run a vacuum pump on them(+header), then open the valve in the base unit to allow the gase to spread around the pipes+header unit.
When I fitted mine I had to buy a vacuum pump to pull the vacuum before opening the valves, others have said you don't NEED to do this as the unit will work OK without being vacuumed out first. I don't know about that, but I can believe it.
Harry Flashman said:
Thanks - I think I need to call them up and fit out what is going on.
Perhaps more fundamental is the fact that the pipes fitted to the indoor unit terminate in a female connection, as do both ends of the pipe extension kit - so may I assume that the pipe extension kit is meant to connect straight to the indoor unit, replacing those pipes, rather than connecting to the pipes already on it?
Hmmm... not sure I can remember what my pipes had. I do remember they forgot to send them with the kit and I had to phone and get them sent out, but at least I somehow ended up with 5M of pre-formed pipes and another power cable in the box as well whch was handy as I used that to reverse power the system, e.g. ran power out to the base unit, then powered the header unit with the other power cable run alongside the pipes. SAved having a lead dangling down the wall to the power socket.Perhaps more fundamental is the fact that the pipes fitted to the indoor unit terminate in a female connection, as do both ends of the pipe extension kit - so may I assume that the pipe extension kit is meant to connect straight to the indoor unit, replacing those pipes, rather than connecting to the pipes already on it?
Are you sure you haven't taken out a female to female adaptor when removing the plastic bungs on the end of the header pipes? I can't remember exactly what my kit had on the header pipes ends, but it just screwed together... will you have 'males' left when you've taken the transit bungs off the header pipes, maybe?
Edited by Piersman2 on Monday 14th September 19:01
If you do not remove any gases (air, nitrogen) from the pipework before releasing the refrigerant charge then you will end up with non-condensable gases in the system. Depending on the volume of non-condensables; at best you will end up with reduced cooling capacity, at worst you will repeatedly overheat and trip out the compressor motor leading to early failure or get repeated tripping on the high pressure sensor.
Personally I can't see that the outdoor unit will hold enough refrigerant to adequately purge the lines through (and if you use too much in purging, you will get broadly similar symptoms as the above although for slightly different reasons). Back before the hole in the ozone layer we sometime purged systems in the absence of a vacuum pump, but did so from a bottle of refrigerant, not the system precharge
Personally I can't see that the outdoor unit will hold enough refrigerant to adequately purge the lines through (and if you use too much in purging, you will get broadly similar symptoms as the above although for slightly different reasons). Back before the hole in the ozone layer we sometime purged systems in the absence of a vacuum pump, but did so from a bottle of refrigerant, not the system precharge
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