mini-split indoor units

[Sir-Fixalot]

Greetings.

One of my customers would like to install air conditioning. They have hydronic heat and the house is relatively small. I thought that a mini-split would be ideal. The problem is that most indoor units are 35 to 45 inches wide and I just don't have a home for this. Does anyone know of an indoor unit that is about 24 inches wide. I would be installing this in a free standing closet and blowing the conditioned air out the top into a great room. I probably could install a conventional system, however, because the closet is in the living space, I am concerned about the sound level. Suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

[edward301]

I can't think of a single model that is only 24" wide.

[Huntinwalkerstyle]

Maybe a window unit

[luskys a/c]

There has to be a place somewhere on an exterior wall. If you have that many windows your in trouble.

[Dustykyle]

I know I installed a mini split that was a ceiling mount, can't really rember the name brand tho. But they are out their

[hcong]

I couldn't find one for Mitsubishi but LG has wall frames and ceiling mounted ones... I am sure all the other manufacturers do too...

http://www.lg.com/ca_en/air-conditio...tial/index.jsp

[Huntinwalkerstyle]

Mitsubishi makes a flush ceiling mount air handler unit

[BaldLoonie]

We did a 3 head Mitsu system a few months ago. Due to no place to put a wall unit, one room got a floor mount. Rather pricey but what we had to do.

[mark beiser]

Is there an attic?
If so, some of the mini split manufacturers make ducted air handlers.

[atoreson]

I did a lot of HVAC work while I was in the US Army and most of it was with European and Asian mini split systems.

All of the big brands (Mitsu - Fujitsu - LG) would offer you two options.

A small air handler type unit, that would fit in an attic or a crawlspace, and feed ductwork.

There is also what is called a ceiling recessed unit, that mounts flush with the ceiling.

Tony

[Sir-Fixalot]

The room to be conditioned is a great room with a cathedral ceiling ... no attic. The only exterior wall has a fireplace and a pair of windows ... no space for an indoor unit. The other 3 walls are either covered with furnishings or are archways to other rooms. This is the reason that I chose to put a unit in a closet that separates the great room from another part of house. This closet is 24" deep on the interior and about 40" wide; the 24" side is adjcent to great room. I had cosidered putting a ducted evaporator in the closet, but they all seem to be 35 to 42 " wide ... thus it will not fit. I also considered using one of the ceiling mounted units that are about 24" square. To do this I would have to mount it upside down on top of the free standing closet. I understand that this will not work because drainpan will not catch condensate. Further, these units will not handle the 2 ton that I think we need.


At this point, I think the closet will get a conventional air handler that takes air in at the bottom of the closet and blows it out the top toward the top of the cathedral ceiling. I am concerned with noise levels as the closet is only about 7' high which means the blower will be close to the supply and return to the living space. I'm considering a 2 stage compressor so it can run at a low speed most of the time an only run high when necessary. I have not found documentation concerning what controls the speed.

Is it possible to run a mini-split compressor with an conventional air handler? I don't know what kind of control signals are available to get these 2 units to work together and to modulate speed when necessary. Further, I don' know if any manufacturer woud warranty such a configuration.

I appreciate \your thoughts and thanks for comments to date.

[atoreson]

The room to be conditioned is a great room with a cathedral ceiling ... no attic. The only exterior wall has a fireplace and a pair of windows ... no space for an indoor unit. The other 3 walls are either covered with furnishings or are archways to other rooms. This is the reason that I chose to put a unit in a closet that separates the great room from another part of house. This closet is 24" deep on the interior and about 40" wide; the 24" side is adjcent to great room. I had cosidered putting a ducted evaporator in the closet, but they all seem to be 35 to 42 " wide ... thus it will not fit. I also considered using one of the ceiling mounted units that are about 24" square. To do this I would have to mount it upside down on top of the free standing closet. I understand that this will not work because drainpan will not catch condensate. Further, these units will not handle the 2 ton that I think we need.


At this point, I think the closet will get a conventional air handler that takes air in at the bottom of the closet and blows it out the top toward the top of the cathedral ceiling. I am concerned with noise levels as the closet is only about 7' high which means the blower will be close to the supply and return to the living space. I'm considering a 2 stage compressor so it can run at a low speed most of the time an only run high when necessary. I have not found documentation concerning what controls the speed.

Is it possible to run a mini-split compressor with an conventional air handler? I don't know what kind of control signals are available to get these 2 units to work together and to modulate speed when necessary. Further, I don' know if any manufacturer woud warranty such a configuration.

I appreciate \your thoughts and thanks for comments to date.

Most mini-splits, have what are known as inverter style compressors. This is how they work.

They convert the 240v, 60hz AC, into DC. Then they INVERT that DC into 240V AC, 5 to 120 HZ.

This allows the compressor to be almost INFINITELY variable. When the room cools down, it cranks down to 5 HZ and just trickles in the refrigerant.

Because of this, you will not be able to interface it with a normal air handler.


Most of the big Mini Split manufactures, however, make small air handler type units.

They also have outdoor condensing units, that can connect up to 8 (the most that I have seen) indoor units.

You might also want to check out a product from LG, called their ART COOL.

It is an indoor unit that mounts on an interior wall, that looks like a picture frame. Well, it is an actual picture frame, and you can put whatever picture you want in there.

it is about 4 to 8 inches thick and it looks nice if placed well.

It also gets up into the 20 SEER range.

If you have anymore questions, please feel free to ask.

Tony

[jb-eng]

Mitsubishi makes a 2-ton vertical air handler that is 18" wide and 21" deep. It would connect with a 3-ton condensing unit. It is from their City Multi line, which allows multiple evaporators with a single condenser.

http://usa.mylinkdrive.com/uploads/d..._Submittal.pdf

http://usa.mylinkdrive.com/uploads/d..._Submittal.pdf