DIY mini split installation kit

http://www.minisplitwarehouse.com/product/do-it-yourself-12000-btu-ductless-mini-split-heat-pump-air-conditioner-br0412w1a

i found this in another thread and thought I'd share. It seems like a good product and very simple to install. It come pre charged and everything you need. Basically just place everything where it needs to go, then wire it. You don't need an hvac guy coming to your grow site. Its a little pricey but to me security is priceless. Although if anyone knows of a similar product for a better price feel free to share.

http://www.ideal-air.com/products/mini-split-units/mini-split-heat-pump---12,000-btu---15-seer.aspx

here is another than claims no technician is required for installation, although I can't find a price on it. This model has a seer rating of 15 which seems to be significantly higher than other models.

http://www.minisplitstore.com/Pridiom-9-000-Btu-19-9-SEER-120-Volt-Kit-p/pms091hx.htm

And here's another. This one is kind of in the middle of self installation as some of the reviews say they had an hvac guy come purge the lines of moisture. But if that is just something they do to be sure it's safe to run but not necessary then I suppose it's still DIY installation.
What I like about this unit is its lower power consumption but very high seer rating @19.9. So this should be a very effecient unit. For a good price also.

they are great like u say as don't need havc guy coming charging your lines well as long as the lines are shorter than 6m as they come pre charged.

ive set a few up now an love them, wouldn't grow with out them now

machead said:

they are great like u say as don't need havc guy coming charging your lines well as long as the lines are shorter than 6m as they come pre charged.

ive set a few up now an love them, wouldn't grow with out them now

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Exactly, the second two links I posted are kind of in the middle of self installation (you MIGHT not need an hvac specialist). But the first link has a video showing how easy it is to install and get running. It really is as simple as mounting the indoor unit, mounting the outdoor unit, then wiring them together. Plug in and your done. That's dumby proof.

Thanks for sharing your experience though, Im looking into putting one of these in as well. No ducting is just a must if growing.

http://unionaire.us/catalog.php?categoryId=18

Just found another brand that comes with the quick connect wiring. No hvac specialist needed. No price listed but its rated at 20 seer. So it if that accurate this is another very efficient model.

i do HVAC for a living. Mini splits are spendy for what they are but do the job pretty well. Easy Easy install. We use them a lot to add additional cooling to rooms where the mechanical engineers undersized the system. Easy fix.

selfmedicator462 said:

i do HVAC for a living. Mini splits are spendy for what they are but do the job pretty well. Easy Easy install. We use them a lot to add additional cooling to rooms where the mechanical engineers undersized the system. Easy fix.

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Well thanks for stoping in sir. Being a hvac specialist, from the links I posted above, which mini split system would you go with ? Or if you have a link to a better system, go ahead and post it. The unit must come ready to be installed. No hvac specialist coming to purge lines, fill refridgerant etc (sorry, not trying to take away your business).

tons of companies make them now. Lennox, Trane, Mitsubishi, Fujitsu just to name a few. I did a quick ebay search and came up with this http://www.ebay.com/itm/18-SEER-24000-BTU-INVERTER-Ductless-Mini-Split-Air-Conditioner-Heat-Pump-/300858599434?pt=Air_Conditioner&hash=item460c91e80a its also a heat pump. Tons of em on there.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/INVERTER-MINI-SPLIT-AIR-CONDITIONER-COOLING-ONLY-18-SEER-12000-BTU-1-TON-KIT-/230845396963?pt=Air_Conditioner&hash=item35bf7537e3

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-TON-Inverter-Ductless-Mini-Split-Air-Conditioner-12000-BTU-18-SEER-COOL-/281157447111?pt=Air_Conditioner&hash=item41764a2dc7

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Frigidaire-FRS12PYS1-12-000-BTU-18-SEER-SPLIT-SYSTEM-AIR-CONDITIONER-W-HEAT-/221274958009?pt=Air_Conditioner&hash=item338503e8b9

Try not to oversize it too much or it will be really inefficient. Say if your cooling a 600sq ft room Id use roughly a ton (12,000 btu). Then with all the lights and fans generating heat id bump it up to 1.5 to 2 tons. Most of these units are 2 tons so you dont have much of a choice. Not sure if it would be necessary where you are but alot of them are heat pumps so it can add a little heat in the winter if needed. Heat pumps will work down to around 17 to 20 degrees. Most of them have the same warranty...hell they are probably built in the same chinese factory.

I don't want to insult your intelligence seeing your an hvac technician, but some of those you posted seem like one would still need a technician to install the unit.

I guess since your the specialist I should be asking you. What should someone look for in a mini split if they don't want a technician to come to their house?
The first link I posted, in the video o their site you can see the simplicity. You just connect the wires from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit. Then inside, the indoor unit is plugged into a wall socke, which supply's power to the whole system. I'm looking for units like this one for people who are t familiar with mini split systems (such as myself).

Oh sorry I didn't watch the video. I've never worked with one that you didn't have to pull a vacuum on the line set. I'll go back and watch it

That's a little different than the ones I've installed. That's pretty slick. The ones I've done have a nutted line set filled with dry nitrogen. So when you make your connection to the condensing unit you have to evacuate the line set/evaporator. Then open the valves on the condenser. I'm guessing their lines and evaporator have a vacuum on them already.

These have been around quite a few years. home depot carried them in store think they have samsung and sharp models and few others. They work well but are pricey.

in uk they say DIY install on them so you know they are pre gassed. an yes are about £200 more put i have messed one mine up once in moving it, i re charged lines myself an cost me near £150 to buy the R401a Gas so really u would be giving the HAVC guy that cash for installing it anyway so not that much more expensive.

Freidrichs are ok mini split units they dont make them themselves they do however have the best window ac.
I would avoid any minisplit marketed to the hydro industry though.. Aura systems etc
as they are overpriced Chinese crap. Mitsubishi is the best unit followed followed by
in no order Fujitsu, daikin, and Panasonic (formerly sanyo) for non japanese Lg is a middle of the road unit
but a huge step above anything Chinese.
Chinese units have some problems often it is a lack of low ambient operation (able to cool when cold outside)
they are sometimes deceptive in the specs not listing this but listing the lowest ambient for heat mode not cool mode. Chinese electronics suck and there inverter models fuck up easy and often.

Obviously a quick connect unit is easier to install but they are usually overpriced as they don't have as much competition and are selling to a retail market. In all honesty I didn't find hooking up my Mitsubishi
hard. To install the only extra steps being running small (18 gauge wire from indoor unit to outdoor unit)
tightening the line sets with a wrench instead of a quick connect I did use a torque wrench with a crows foot
though and tightened to the given specs and finally connecting a vacume pump for a little while before
turning the valves and releasing the refrigerant..They all come pre charged. When purchasing a unit
it is desirable to have one that receives the indoor unit power from the outdoor unit rather than requiring
a separate circuit for the indoor unit. Also if you are maxing out a unit and running it on high continuously seere rating doesn't mean shit and EER is the spec that will save you money. I do have a automotive background though so that made the install easier but anyone could do it with some thought and the tools etc
that are readily available and can be rented or purchased (harbor freight) etc... and returned later etc.