Mini Split heat pumps
- Thread starter rhack
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ksanders
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I looked really hard at mini splits when I installed AC this spring.
The problem i had was where to mount the indoor units
So... I bit the bullett and bought marine AC systems and have been happy ever since.
Blissboat
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If space permits for the indoor and outside components, I think mini-splits are the way to go. For every air-cooled HVAC unit, that's one less through-hull, strainer and impeller to maintain.
Comodave
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I wonder how the unit would hold up in the salt air?
cardude01
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I’ve been interested in installing a mini split on a boat since I installed one in my garage. My garage unit is solar powered, and it can also be tied into AC power if needed. It does require 4 big panels to run off solar however, and my current boat isn’t set up for that many panels. If I ever get a bigger boat I would definitely try to install one.
The idea of being to float at anchor and enjoy some cold AC without the noisy generator running is very appealing to me.
This is similar to what I have in the garage, but mine didn’t have the pre charged lineset.
https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-hybrid-ac-dc-solar-air-conditioner-1-ton/
The idea of being to float at anchor and enjoy some cold AC without the noisy generator running is very appealing to me.
This is similar to what I have in the garage, but mine didn’t have the pre charged lineset.
https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-hybrid-ac-dc-solar-air-conditioner-1-ton/
twistedtree
Guru
I had waterfront property for 10+ years, and things like grills, even so-called SS grills which it turns out are only partly SS, were good for maybe 5 years before they started to fall apart from rust. So I would go into it with low expectations. If things turn out better, well, that would be great, but don't count on it.
psneeld
Guru
Didnt say they would last forever.
But like many things, you research which ones might be geared towards different environments.
I am pretty sure there were old school air conditioners that were made to withstand the salt environment better... we installed one on a barrier island condo I owned a few years back.
There are also aftermarket ways of making some things last longer if its worth it.
mvweebles
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These are sold everywhere in Mexico for under $700. Even grocery stores have them. We live near the water in Florida - as TT says, even the coastal versions rust after 7-8 years it seems. Cheap enough and easy to replace once the lines are run. Note - there are also ceiling insert cassettes so there are options to wall mount. Larger yachts often have dead space for infrastructure between the ceiling of a room and the floor above so this may be workable.
If I were building a larger boat from scratch, I'd find a way to hide mini splits. Very energy efficient. And work extremely well.
Peter
If I were building a larger boat from scratch, I'd find a way to hide mini splits. Very energy efficient. And work extremely well.
Peter
cardude01
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I recently installed a cheap $688 12k btu mini split at my father in laws’s house here in Texas. These things are so cheap and easy to install, a 5-7 year life on a boat for the condenser doesn’t seem too terrible.
mvweebles
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Clarification - I have a condo in Playa del Carmen, on the coast south of Cancun. A/C units last about 7-8 years there. In Florida, 10-years seem to be more like it. Would expect similar in Texas.
Peter
twistedtree
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mvweebles
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We have a couple of rentals plus a few remodels. Have installed about a dozen units over the past 15 years. Of the three I remember, LG, Daikin, and Mitsubishi, the Mitsubishi seem to be the least troublesome. We started with LG because my wife had some sort of political rant against Mitsubishi at the time, which was greatly lessened by LGs finicky (and expensive) behavior. Their participation in the AC market seems to wax and wane.
Un Mexico, we have a very good HVAC guy and just go with whatever he recommends. Mexico, at least where we are, is at least 2x as harsh as Florida so comparison is difficult. Last ones installed there are Daikin which have been trouble free but look pretty beat up and a bit rusty after just 5 years.
I'd avoid brands that have not had a firm presence for years. I'd buy Mitsubishi again, and probably Daikin. But I'd be very careful about who I'd hire. That said, even after just 15 years, installers in the US come and go, and the quality of worker has varied widely.
To tie-in to another thread, our next units will have hardwired remote controls. Trying to find replacement battery powered remotes because the battery did a Kamikaze take-down is a PITA.
Peter
cardude01
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This is what I put in my father in law’s house. I went with the 115v unit because he had that wiring handy where the condenser was to be mounted. https://www.highseer.com/products/w...-mini-split-air-conditioner-heat-pump-115-vac
Also got this to help me bend the lines and it worked well.
https://www.highseer.com/products/easy-flexible-bender-kit-for-split-system-copper-linesets-13-ft
We had 12 tons of mini-split cooling on our 2,000sf villa in the Middle East. Condensers up on the roof sitting in 130 to 160°F temperatures (measured) exposed to the sun. The a/c guy was up there every couple of months replacing another blown capacitor, but still it wasn't bad considering the harsh environment and about 8-10 units. Rarely had to top up the refrigerant over 5 years of use. The hundreds of dhows in the harbor and all the smaller commercial boats used them, not marine water-cooled units. This is common all over SE Asia as well, it's just not an "American yacht thing."
REMOTES: I agree that battery operated remotes are a pain. Hardwired is best.
FILTERS: I didn't like having to constantly be cleaning that many filters inside the villa, pretty much every other weekend. You can buy units which use HEPA filters if you're in poor air quality areas and are sensitive.
MOTOR: For a boat I absolutely recommend the digital inverter models which you'll save energy on, and be able to easily run off a small inverter (no huge locked-rotor loads).
SPARES: Definitely grab some capacitors, they are inexpensive.
CONNECTIONS: Electrical connections in the exterior condenser are more exposed to salty humid air than the interior components. Do a robust job of protecting them... dielectric grease, heat shrink wrapping, gasket sealed connection boxes (J-boxes if they use them), etc.
REMOTES: I agree that battery operated remotes are a pain. Hardwired is best.
FILTERS: I didn't like having to constantly be cleaning that many filters inside the villa, pretty much every other weekend. You can buy units which use HEPA filters if you're in poor air quality areas and are sensitive.
MOTOR: For a boat I absolutely recommend the digital inverter models which you'll save energy on, and be able to easily run off a small inverter (no huge locked-rotor loads).
SPARES: Definitely grab some capacitors, they are inexpensive.
CONNECTIONS: Electrical connections in the exterior condenser are more exposed to salty humid air than the interior components. Do a robust job of protecting them... dielectric grease, heat shrink wrapping, gasket sealed connection boxes (J-boxes if they use them), etc.
AlanT
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I'll chip in on life expectancy. I bought a small sailboat with an RV roof top type a/c unit previously installed on it. Boat spent 90% of its time in fresh water 1 mile from a Galveston Bay, a salt water bay. The unit lasted a total of 5 years (3 years under my ownership).
~A
~A
Mr. Cool has DIY systems available, 12K BTU ceiling cassette unit can be purchased from Home Depot for about $1200. https://mrcooldiy.com/
rhack - I am presently looking into Cruise N Comfort. Battery powered a/c mini-splits. They answered my first questions via email thoroughly. They do make a marine (water-cooled) a/c but I'd prefer not to add thru-hulls.
https://www.cruisencomfortusa.com/
Cheers,
Mrs. Trombley
https://www.cruisencomfortusa.com/
Cheers,
Mrs. Trombley
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