Where did you get yours? I'm looking at justminisplits.com. I have a set of gauges and a vacuum pump from doing a car a/c repair a couple years back, so that part should be ok.
Where did you get them and were the lines already charged?You need a set of R410 gauges, 410 runs at much higher pressures and the gauge set should not be cross-contaminated between refrigerants.
The mini-splits I purchased came with everything needed for the install and are precharged. The only thing you have to provide is the dedicated 20amp 240v power feed and disconnect to the outdoor unit.
Most of them are pre-charged, from what I've seen. Some have quick-connect line fittings that I believe are pre-evacuated and don't require pulling vacuum on for the diy'er, but I'm pretty sure you could get away with it on others.
If you look at the link below, you see that their lines are pre-charged as well. I was looking at energy star models to take advantage of the tax credit, which the 18k btu shinco meets.
http://www.justminisplits.com/products/18000BTU_shinco_standard_ductless_mini_split.php
I checked out the 18K Shinco system, it is energy star rated, but that does not necessarily mean it is eligible for the rebate. I didn't see any documentation specifically saying it was eligible for the rebate, most sites do. The inside unit and lines need to be evacuated before the valves on the charged outside unit can be opened. Also, there is a max height difference of only 5ft between inside and outside units. I need a unit that will that will handle a max height difference of 15ft.
I looked at the Ramsond units, did not see that they were inverter units or that they met the rebate requirements. They did show that they use quick disconnects in the lines and the lines, inside unit and the outside units come fully charged. Though they can handle a 16ft difference between inside and outside units.
I recently installed two of the Shinco inverter heat pumps in my garage. I used a 24k Btu for the garage itself (25x32) and the 18k Btu for the upstairs apartment.
Purchased here:
http://www.invincible-electronics.com/Shinco__DC_Inverter_/cat315965_282575.aspx
The 24k installed and fired up beautifully. The 18k was DOA. It took several phone calls, but they sent a replacement outdoor circuit board and it is now running. It is doing some odd things, so I need to try and call again to diagnose.
Both cool very well, even with the 100F temps and 80% humidity we have had lately. The apartment is 500sf and I probably would have been just fine with a 12k Btu.
Max height difference is 5m. My apartment unit is on an interior wall that required going all the way up to the attic and over, then down. I ran the condensate separately in a way that would provide required fall. Due to the height of my garage, I built a simple wall bracket out of unistrut.
Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of them. I'll try to take some and post later.
Here is the garage gallery:
http://picasaweb.google.com/eljefe640/GarageProject?feat=directlink
Where did you get them and were the lines already charged?