Recommend a Reverse-Cycle Airconditioner

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  altomic on 15/05/2017 - 11:30

  I bought my panasonic units from a retailer. at the time panasonic were offering a great cash back promo. negotiated the cheapest possible price with store A and then price beat with store B.

  then had my friendly sparkies install.

  tips-
  1) what insulation do you currently have? (both in ceiling and walls).
  2) what blinds/curtains on the windows?
  3) how old is the wiring in your house? my house was built in the 1940s and the lead-in cable from the street was not rated for the additional draw of AC so it had to be replaced. at the same time I had the fusebox replaced as well. from old wire fuses to safety switches (money well spent, I believe).

  • 

    BensonP on 15/05/2017 - 12:12

    Wow. Upgraded incoming mains just to add an aircon?

    A whole 10 amps (or 75% of the air-conditioning rated load) pushed you over the edge?

    Someone did a terrible job of your wiring.

    Can I ask what size circuit breaker you had?

    Also, you can remove the fuse holders and get a replacement miniature circuit breaker the plugs into the fuse holder for about $20.

    • 

      altomic on 15/05/2017 - 13:43

      +1

      Can I ask what size circuit breaker you had?

      obviously you already know everything about the wiring of my house so your question a bit pointless.

      • 

        BensonP on 15/05/2017 - 14:06

        I apologise if I've come across as patronising, I was actually interested in what warranted the upgrade, as it's not a common occurrence.

        All good, mate.

  • 

    rickb on 15/05/2017 - 13:21

    Thanks for the tips.

    The house is quite old but it was renovated about 15 years ago, along with the wiring
    The main room has east facing windows, all with curtains and batts insulation in the walls and ceiling.

• 

  BensonP on 15/05/2017 - 12:15

  Either way you go, you'll need roughly 125 watts per square metre of cooling capacity.

  You have roughly 60sq metres to cool x .125 = 7500 watts, or 7.5 kilowatts. This is cooling capacity, or output. Don't get these confused and buy an extremely big unit. Most inputs will be 2400 watts or less.

  This is for one big split system. I wouldn't go for a multiple aircon/single compressor arrangement unless absolutely necessary. (Body corporate limitations etc.)

  And single units will be cheaper than a huge compressor feeding multiple sitcoms. Also, if the compressor dies you'll have no aircon/heating at all.

  • 

    rickb on 15/05/2017 - 13:25

    Thanks for the advice.

    I should have mentioned that my residence is a house so no body corporate issues. My plan is to install a head in the main room with an outdoor compressor that gives me room to grow if I install additional heads in the bedrooms.

    The main purpose of the air conditioner will be for heat as I expect there will be a higher percentage of heating needed versus cooling (I live in Melbourne).

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  ExtraSalt on 15/05/2017 - 13:50

  If you aren't going to do a multi-head system now, i'd only be looking at a standard split system. It'd be damn hard to find a reputable installer who is willing to install another head down the line and even then, you've lost a couple years of manufacturers warranty.

  If you haven't had any electrical's done in say the last 5-10 years, theres a possibility you might need an RCD replaced. You can replace both if you want, but they will generally get you to replace the one the AC is on.

  PM me if you have questions. happy to help

  • 

    rickb on 15/05/2017 - 16:08

    Thank you for this advice. You probably saved some future heart-ache. Much obliged.

    BTW - are you an installer/electrician? Just curious.

    • 

      ExtraSalt on 16/05/2017 - 07:01

      I've been selling them for years and picked up a couple of things from the installers. PM me if you are in Melbourne and i'll see if i could point you in the right direction

  • 

    BensonP on 15/05/2017 - 17:39

    I'm going to comment here, at risk of being flamed.

    Air conditioning only need RCD protection if plugged into an outlet (like what you plug a toaster or vacuum into). The RCD isn't actually for the air conditioner, it's for the outlet.

    If the aircon is hard wired, then no RCD is required.

    • 

      ExtraSalt on 16/05/2017 - 07:00

      I think you are mistaking an RCD with a Circuit Breaker. every home usually has 2 Main Safety switches with up to 3 circuits on each…..i think. Don't quote me on that shit but i think thats right lol.

      So the Circuit Breaker monitors the loading on that particular group of outlets/electrical and if that overloads then it cuts that circuit. The Safety Switch (or RCD) monitors stops you from electrical shocks and stuff and cuts all 3 circuits within a micro-second.

      again i could be wrong, but thats my understanding

      • 

        BensonP on 16/05/2017 - 07:34

        You're almost there!

        A home has 1 MAIN safety switch, which turns the whole house off. After that it can have numerous other circuits.

        Now a circuit breaker flicks off if the circuit is drawing more amps than is rated. Basically if you plug in too much stuff.

        An RCD on the other hand, is looking for an imbalance of current between active and neutral. Of 30 milliamps. So if you, for some reason, stick a knife into a toaster you become the current path. The RCD will sense the imbalance and hopefully switch off.

        If the aircon is plugged into a powerpoint, AS3000 states all powerpoints must have RCD protection. The aircon makes no difference to that rule. You could drag a vacuum onto your roof and use the same power point, but it still needs RCD protection.

        But if it is hard wired, no RCD is required.

        I'm an electrician, so If you need clarification feel free to ask!

      • 

        ExtraSalt on 16/05/2017 - 09:20

        @BensonP: sweet as! thanks mate, its not my thread, but im glad i got that clarified.

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  Mad Max on 16/05/2017 - 20:16

  Just wondering why a multiheads system is not reccomended.
  I was thinking of installing one with one outside unit and 3 inside units about 2.5kw each.
  Mitsubishi heavy industries has a good one on the catalogue.
  It would save the unappealing look of many units outside the house and be cheaper to buy and install as only one electrical supply is required.
  Only negative is that they are not on Super special from the mainstream retailers as the simple splits often are.