I'm building a house with a 1780 sq ft garage. Based on my calculations, I would need a 40K BTU A/C unit. Because of the layout of my garage (L-shaped) I'd like to have multiple air handler units but all on one zone. I can find units with multiple air handlers but all with their own zones. Does anyone know of a unit that size with multiple air handlers (3+) that are all on one zone and work together to control the temp in a single room?
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Mini Split with multiple air handlers
- Thread starter premis
- Start date
shade
Well-known member
You'll gain more efficiency using multiple units then a single 3 zone.
May want to consider that as well as redundancy
May want to consider that as well as redundancy
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
You'll gain more efficiency using multiple units then a single 3 zone.
May want to consider that as well as redundancy
X2. I'd spec out individual units on something like that, too.
Tommy
SALIV8
Well-known member
Not sure about all on one zone, as they are each independent, but you can set the temp the same on all of the indoor units.
I like both of my multi zone systems.
I like both of my multi zone systems.
Not sure about all on one zone, as they are each independent, but you can set the temp the same on all of the indoor units.
I like both of my multi zone systems.
Do you mean I can sync the remote so changing the temp on one remote will change the temp for all zones? Or would I need to change the temp on the individual remotes for each zone?
chrispyny
Well-known member
No, he means each unit has its own thermostat. Set all three heads for the same temp, and walk away.
You won’t find a mini split system which has multiple heads controlled by one thermostat.
Why would you want that anyway? In your example, if you set the temp to 68, what happens when one corner of your garage hits 68 or way less while on cooling mode? You’ll have one corner way cooler than the others, because you don’t have a thermostat controlling each head unit. It just doesn’t work that way.
You won’t find a mini split system which has multiple heads controlled by one thermostat.
Why would you want that anyway? In your example, if you set the temp to 68, what happens when one corner of your garage hits 68 or way less while on cooling mode? You’ll have one corner way cooler than the others, because you don’t have a thermostat controlling each head unit. It just doesn’t work that way.
You have to understand the operation of the multi and also understand how they are rated.
A three head multi with the compressor properly matched to the space load with all the heads running will be more efficient vs three singles running out of the range as they mostly will do. The units get rated at the most efficient point ... you never want to oversize a multi-head. Since they are really zoning -- you want them on the lower side of the total load.
As others have said -- they will all work independent of each other as far as temp -- that's what you want (even if you don't think you do)
With the multi -- some refrigerant is always flowing to all the heads. Even if a head is off -- it has to ... this is some of the loss of efficiency. Ideally, you want them all on
A three head multi with the compressor properly matched to the space load with all the heads running will be more efficient vs three singles running out of the range as they mostly will do. The units get rated at the most efficient point ... you never want to oversize a multi-head. Since they are really zoning -- you want them on the lower side of the total load.
As others have said -- they will all work independent of each other as far as temp -- that's what you want (even if you don't think you do)
With the multi -- some refrigerant is always flowing to all the heads. Even if a head is off -- it has to ... this is some of the loss of efficiency. Ideally, you want them all on
Tunar
Well-known member
Maybe there's a way through home automation to control all the units at once through one remote or your phone. I don't know anything about it, but mini splits are so popular there has to be some way to control through home automation.
Maybe there's a way through home automation to control all the units at once through one remote or your phone. I don't know anything about it, but mini splits are so popular there has to be some way to control through home automation.
It will be a smart home (using Home Assistant) so I have explored that and it appears there may be a way to do it. But, others have brought up good points about actually wanting individual control.
Another question, do I need to use the included copper lines that come with the unit? I'd prefer to put the compressor on the far side of my house as what the garage is on. It would be a 80-90ft run from the compressor to the farthest unit. Is that doable/recommended?
Every manufacturer has a line set limit for the whole system ...
If this is a DIY unit with precharged -- you would have to see the limitations. They make fittings to link two lines together .. you would need help.
Most of the pre- insulated line sets limit out at 50' --- need to be lengthened.
Mini splits need to have extra charge done by weight ..... they use a table and add based on the length added. You can't just add based on how a typical split is charged.
If they leak or you screw up they get pumped down and it all gets put back in by weight.
If this is a DIY unit with precharged -- you would have to see the limitations. They make fittings to link two lines together .. you would need help.
Most of the pre- insulated line sets limit out at 50' --- need to be lengthened.
Mini splits need to have extra charge done by weight ..... they use a table and add based on the length added. You can't just add based on how a typical split is charged.
If they leak or you screw up they get pumped down and it all gets put back in by weight.
When I first selected ms' for my home I was going to go with a triple. I priced it out and found that for the cost of a 36 and three evaps I could buy a 24 dual unit and one separate much higher efficiency unit for the same cost. The 36 and 24 were both 16 seer and the single unit 12 was 25 seer. I put the dual unit in for the bedrooms and the single in the main living area. I doubt any manuf will have a 80-90' line set length and if they do not allow it you do not want to do it on your own. There lies madness. Fujitsu offers I believe it is a max of 65' on their dual/tri/quad units. You will have an individual evap max length and a total developed length of all evaps on the dual/tri/quad units.