Recommendations for Air Conditioning expert in Auck ?

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#3150214 19-Oct-2023 16:56

Inverter units fundamentally don't have a start capacitor, because they don't have single phase motors that need one. They use three-phase motors fed by an inverter (single phase AC > DC > three phase variable frequency AC).

It seems to be the number one reason why the inverter fails to work, other than the fan going, it ticks, then grumbles and stops. any ideas if there is something worth checking myself? Im handy with cars and around the house but cant claim Iv ever worked on an air conditioner.

I dont know why, but where they installed it they have this oversize on off circular switch (as opposed to a press down on/off switch).

Thing hasnt seen much use, but it is old, so things can deteriorate. But if I could get it going, thats $4k saved.

tweake

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#3150216 19-Oct-2023 17:05

TeaLeaf:

Inverter units fundamentally don't have a start capacitor, because they don't have single phase motors that need one. They use three-phase motors fed by an inverter (single phase AC > DC > three phase variable frequency AC).

It seems to be the number one reason why the inverter fails to work, other than the fan going, it ticks, then grumbles and stops. any ideas if there is something worth checking myself? Im handy with cars and around the house but cant claim Iv ever worked on an air conditioner.

I dont know why, but where they installed it they have this oversize on off circular switch (as opposed to a press down on/off switch).

Thing hasnt seen much use, but it is old, so things can deteriorate. But if I could get it going, thats $4k saved.

posts some pics of it.

inverters do have caps and they can fail, but often other parts of the inverter have failed as well so you need an electronics tech to repair those. refrigeration techs simply swap out boards. i'm guessing the inverter board is either not available, very very expensive or its a known issue with those boards. thats all assuming its the issue, it could be a refrigeration issue causing it.

Dynamic

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#3150219 19-Oct-2023 17:20

@TeaLeaf if I was in your shoes and in Auckland, I'd be asking Mark at Home - Phillips Electronics whether this is something he would look at. The guy is a circuit repair legend in my experience. He has completed three repairs to circuit boards for us in the last 10 years. These were all portable electronics and we dropped or couriered the items to him, but I'm confident he does site work. In my experience his rates are surprisingly reasonable.

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TeaLeaf

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#3152631 27-Oct-2023 11:53

Thanks Dynamic, might try him soon. We in that in between phase but will start to get muggy end of November.

anybody heard of heatpumpdiscounters? They are $1k cheaper installed for an easy back to back 8kw model. Not sure about the bedroom as it requires some pipe bends, Im quoted $2590 for the 2.5kw model which these guys have as $1890 but that is back to back.

Specials Hot Deals Fujitsu Mitsubishi Heatpumps (heatpumpdiscounters.co.nz)

Im a bit torn as it should save $1 minimum, there is $700 difference between the other smaller unit that requires more work. But sometimes cheap is not cheerful, but if somebody has worked with these guys Id love to know how it went?

TeaLeaf

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#3154989 2-Nov-2023 15:47

I didnt realise but some Daikins you can control and keep some humidity which is better for the lungs and skin. But the expert told me they rust quicker in homes exposed to the ocean. But I wont be keeping ths one for much more than the Warranty period.

But seem to only find Fujitsu sellers, its certainly NZ fav air lol.

Mitzy also do this extra filter for serious allergy folk, just not sure where to get a good value Mitzy setup.......

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tweake

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#3155160 2-Nov-2023 20:04

TeaLeaf:

Mitzy also do this extra filter for serious allergy folk, just not sure where to get a good value Mitzy setup.......

MAC-100FT-E Plasma Quad Connect // Mitsubishi Electric (mitsubishi-electric.co.nz)

it looks to be an ionizer filter. downside to ionizers is they produce ozone. not something you want breathing and also it reacts with other chems in the home to make other bad chems.

a fan with a hepa filter works just as well with no downsides or bad chemistry.

timmmay

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#3155164 2-Nov-2023 20:18

I would quite like to have a filter in line with my ducted heating system, I never looked into it much but it would be good to filter out more dust and things. I'm not sure if it is practical or economic, particularly to retrofit. The filter would probably have to be quite large to avoid reducing air flow. We have a ventilation system with a HEPA filter, it's output is near the ducted heat pump input.

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tweake

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#3155169 2-Nov-2023 20:43

timmmay: I would quite like to have a filter in line with my ducted heating system, I never looked into it much but it would be good to filter out more dust and things. I'm not sure if it is practical or economic, particularly to retrofit. The filter would probably have to be quite large to avoid reducing air flow. We have a ventilation system with a HEPA filter, it's output is near the ducted heat pump input.

all hvac systems have a filter system. change the filter housing out for a bigger one and fit a big hepa filter in.

Handle9

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#3155171 2-Nov-2023 20:54

timmmay: I would quite like to have a filter in line with my ducted heating system, I never looked into it much but it would be good to filter out more dust and things. I'm not sure if it is practical or economic, particularly to retrofit. The filter would probably have to be quite large to avoid reducing air flow. We have a ventilation system with a HEPA filter, it's output is near the ducted heat pump input.

It's impossible to not reduce airflow in a fixed speed system with a filter. As it loads up it gets worse. It's introducing resistance into the airflow pathway so there's no way around it.

It's quite noticeable when the panel filters on my units are loaded up, giving them a clean makes a big difference.

timmmay

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#3155182 2-Nov-2023 21:48

tweake:

all hvac systems have a filter system. change the filter housing out for a bigger one and fit a big hepa filter in.

Do you mean the piece of fabric in the return grill, like 0.8m x 1m in my case? That seems like a basic dust filter. Can you get HEPA filters that fit in there?

Handle9:

It's impossible to not reduce airflow in a fixed speed system with a filter. As it loads up it gets worse. It's introducing resistance into the airflow pathway so there's no way around it.

It's quite noticeable when the panel filters on my units are loaded up, giving them a clean makes a big difference.

Yeah anything will reduce airflow, I meant not reduce it enough to be a problem.

Handle9

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#3155186 2-Nov-2023 21:55

timmmay:

tweake:

all hvac systems have a filter system. change the filter housing out for a bigger one and fit a big hepa filter in.

Do you mean the piece of fabric in the return grill, like 0.8m x 1m in my case? That seems like a basic dust filter. Can you get HEPA filters that fit in there?

You'll need a filter box and associated ducting changes. IMO a hepa filter in recirculating system that isn't sealed is a waste of time but each to their own.

To give it some context HEPA filters are only used in hospitals in areas like operating theatres, iso rooms and spaces that have highly controlled air changes. Everywhere else it's standard box and panel filters on air handlers. Recirculating FCUs don't generally have filters at all.

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#3155194 2-Nov-2023 23:21

Recirculating FCUs almost invariably have at least screens, comparable to those on high-wall units. You'd be surprised how much they pick up, and if you don't have them, the coil turns to carpet.

The fan in a ducted unit will be sized to allow for a certain pressure drop, shared amongst supply ducting, return ducting, grilles, the coil itself, and the filter.

Filtration is always a balance between face area (pleated/bag filters improve this), pressure drop, and particle size.

A bigger area for the filter means that the air can go through the filter more slowly, requiring less pressure, and allowing more area to fill up with dust. But the filters end up taking up space and being expensive, plus you probably won't be able to change them from in the grille.

More pressure drop means more power and more motor.

Bigger particle size gives you a less effective filter, but lets you skimp on the other factors.

timmmay

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#3155425 3-Nov-2023 13:44

I already have HEPA and charcoal filter on the ventilation system. I thought it might be useful to do like they do in the USA ducted systems, they tend to have good filters and sometimes UV filters inline to stop it spreading dust, kill bacteria and viruses. But it's not common in NZ therefore somewhere between impossible and incredibly expensive.

I tried to get a better filter system for my ventilation system, a filter box that takes both HEPA and charcoal / carbon filters. I looked a lot online, called a few vendors, and they can make something custom but there doesn't seem to be a standard. Having a standard box / filter size sounds like a really basic thing that should've been done years ago... probably was but I couldn't find it.

The dust shield in the return vent is better than nothing.

TeaLeaf

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#3155450 3-Nov-2023 14:19

tweake:

it looks to be an ionizer filter. downside to ionizers is they produce ozone. not something you want breathing and also it reacts with other chems in the home to make other bad chems.

a fan with a hepa filter works just as well with no downsides or bad chemistry.

Thanks Tweake. What kind of fan takes a HEPa filter? Do you mean to catch allergants already in the home?

Dakin make these, if they cheap enough I could just go with any air con brand and add couple of these in the house... Air Purifiers - New Range – Daikin NZ

Im curious about my HRV, are these things worth running? Seems they just control moisture, but it uses the hot or cool air from inside the roof, where dust and dust mites live. I really am not knowledgeable on them. Been thinking about servicing the filter in it.....

The main reason I want air con with filters is the Mrs reacts heavily to most allergants. all air cons appear to have basic filters, the kind you can just clean yourself, but they very limited.

What about the Daikin US7 models?

I like that you can keep some humidity as its not healthy to have zero humidity, for the lungs and the skin. I just cant seem to find someone around albany area that sells them.

Allergy-Friendly Options for Your Cooling This Summer | The Heat Pump People

Split System Features to Make Life Better – Daikin NZ

TeaLeaf

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#3155462 3-Nov-2023 14:35

timmmay:

I already have HEPA and charcoal filter on the ventilation system. I thought it might be useful to do like they do in the USA ducted systems, they tend to have good filters and sometimes UV filters inline to stop it spreading dust, kill bacteria and viruses. But it's not common in NZ therefore somewhere between impossible and incredibly expensive.

I tried to get a better filter system for my ventilation system, a filter box that takes both HEPA and charcoal / carbon filters. I looked a lot online, called a few vendors, and they can make something custom but there doesn't seem to be a standard. Having a standard box / filter size sounds like a really basic thing that should've been done years ago... probably was but I couldn't find it.

The dust shield in the return vent is better than nothing.

You have a Mitzy vent system dont you? I have HRV, I dont tink they do charcoal filters etc..... sounds good though.

I think if your already reducing allergants with your air con, then your vent system should finish the job off. at some point the two systems end u doing the same things. But I do get what you mean. Those mitzy quad plasma things can be attached to pretty much any type ie split, ducted, cassette etc.

I thought about buying a mitzy casette system rather than the current spot for the split system which is between the two sliding doors (at a right angle to each other), so currently it blows air passed the most by far opened door in summer. So I thought a casette system could be placed in the middle of the open plan lounge, dining kitchen and area we use for a snug which gets used a lot. I like what the architect did, hard to explain but each room just has no 4th wall asid from lounge but its a partial wall. I thought an 8kw above the kitchen "island" is sort of in the middle and far from the opening doors in summer which the 5.7kw mitzy struggled against.

However, ducted starts at mids $7k, which is close to what we looking at for the open plan area and one bedroom. But then we will have more holes in the ceilings.....

I need to make decisions fast as the humidity/heat is coming.

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