Multi Split Aircons

[lassebasse]

Do any of you think a Multi-Split Aircon system is a good or bad idea? That is when you let one outside compressor serve two or more in-door fan-units.

For myself I think it should have several advantages but I have no experiance of my own. I am in the process of renovating a house and I want air-con in every room. The house and the rooms are not so big but there are 5 rooms to be cooled (I calculate 6 indoor units) and for one thing it would be nice to reduce the number of compressors outside. Should it also not be cheaper and more dureable?

[Crossy]

No experience in Thailand, however our house in Italy had a multi-split system. It worked well although I can't comment on costs as it was there when we moved in.

One thing to consider, if your unit is not likely to be running near capacity (ie only cooling one or two rooms at a time) ensure that the outdoor unit is an 'inverter' type as these are considerably more efficient in their use of electricity then the conventional units when running below maximum capacity.

You need to plan carefully where your indoor and outdoor units go taking into account the fact that your pipe runs will be less convenient than they would be with individual units (hopefully your installer will assist).

One thing to consider, if the outdoor unit fails you will have no aircon at all

[kamalabob2]

Crossy brought up very valid points. I looked into this option two years ago and for our "Up Country" four bedroom house. The true costs at that time for "multi-split type" verses "SINGLE room split-type" air conditioners to BUY and to KEEP (electric usage) was greatly in favor of the SINGLE room split-type.

We sat down with internet print outs and many manufacturer brochures with an experienced Independent appliance/air conditioning shop in Buriram to see how the costs compared. The size (and location) of each room you need to cool will play an important part of selecting what size a/c unit you need for each individual room. Keep the electrical wiring/breaker costs and on going monthly electric bill in mind on the larger a/c compressor units. We have eight SINGLE room split-type units installed and the past three months which we had daily a/c usage our electric bill was under 3800 baht a month. Not every room has a/c on at the same time, and in our case rarely do two rooms located next to each other have a/c on at the same time.

These web sites will give you a start in picking some model numbers that you can obtain and compare prices in Thailand:

http://www.daikin.com/global_ac/products/r...tial/index.html

http://www.mitsubishi-mcp.co.th/index_about_products.htm

http://panasonic.co.th/web/productssolutio.../airconditioner

Not every a/c shop can sell or SERVICE all lines of a particular manufacturer. The length of the warranty period of a particular model might also influence your decision.

I'm not sure how major of a home renovation you are undertaking, but in our experience all of the compressors are 100% hidden from "street view" since they are installed on a 2nd floor balconies which each have a brick wall to hide the items on each balcony. Even the ground floor rooms with a/c had the piping run up to the 2nd floor location of the compressors and drains.

All the a/c manufacturers I ultimately purchased had technical staff in Bangkok who seemed to communicate well in English.

[Rimmer]

I had them for many years in Singapore over ten years ago and can not understand why they are not popular here.

They are very good indeed and probably work out cheaper in the long run than fitting one unit per room.

[trogers]

I had them for many years in Singapore over ten years ago and can not understand why they are not popular here.

They are very good indeed and probably work out cheaper in the long run than fitting one unit per room.

Singapore public housing provides only one ledge for a single outdoor unit, and the multi-split type air-con became popular out of necessity.

Inverter units usually employ rotary compressors which will limit the pipeline between fan coils and compressor to not more than 12m, before suffering fall in cooling efficiency. Practical in condos and apartments, but may not be for multi-storey landed properties.

Major consideration is cost and how space is to be cooled. A compressor linked to 3 fan coils can support only 2 fan coils being turned on at the same time, and not all 3. Similar operating configuration applies: 1 in 2, 2 in 3, and 3 in 4. This is because, the compressor is sized smaller than the total BTU of all the fan coils.

If there is no restriction in locating compressors, I recommend you to use the normal single split type.

Edited July 1, 2009 by trogers

[newname]

Bad idea.

The units are unreliable. So you are without any aircon.

Mine was a Gree. No one could fix it. Not even the gree representative.

He said he had some other circuit boards to try and would be back.

He never was back.

[trogers]

Bad idea.

The units are unreliable. So you are without any aircon.

Mine was a Gree. No one could fix it. Not even the gree representative.

He said he had some other circuit boards to try and would be back.

He never was back.

Not surprised. Gree is a made in China product.

I use Daikin. They have a factory here.

http://www.daikin.co.th/Eng/product/room_air/supermulti.htm

http://www.daikin.co.th/Eng/Edaikinthai.html

[frenchFARANGbkk]

Bad idea.

The units are unreliable. So you are without any aircon.

Mine was a Gree. No one could fix it. Not even the gree representative.

He said he had some other circuit boards to try and would be back.

He never was back.

Not surprised. Gree is a made in China product.

I use Daikin. They have a factory here.

http://www.daikin.co.th/Eng/product/room_air/supermulti.htm

http://www.daikin.co.th/Eng/Edaikinthai.html

Hi,

Is it true that Daikin aircon is better or just a High so Thai trend as many ?

Thanks.

[kamalabob2]

18 months ago when we purchased several split air conditioners (and had two inexpensive Amena units moved from our rental house, bought one 2nd hand Samsung from a fellow expat moving out of Thailand on short notice) there were only a limited number of brands which offered INVERTER technology for the SIZE we needed. Both Panasonic Inverter CS-S24HKT and the Daikin Inverter FTKD 18GV2S-RKD18GV2S are VERY quiet and have had zero repairs in the 15 months we have lived in Buriram province.

You can check on the sales brochures of the various models to see EER and decibel ratings. The non inverter Mitsubishi Wide and Long MS-SB24VC is not as quiet as the Panasonic Inverter of the same BTU size. Now several more manufactures in Thailand offer Inverter technology in a wider choice of BTU size units than just 18 months ago. Both the exterior compressor and interior unit of the Daikin are far more quiet than the LG non Inverter unit of the same size installed at our home.

Daikin was less money than several other brands when I shopped. The difference between shops in the same town could be over a 10,000 baht difference per unit for the exact same model!!

Here is a good link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverter_(air_conditioning)

[mdechgan]

First of all you have to calculate the load, will you be using all 5 or 6 rooms often?

If you do you might as well use a different system like central or packaged air units.

Yes you can use multi splits but I have to warn you. Its not what you think. A condensing unit that suppliers 2 or more fan coil units just means the condensing unit is bigger and has 2 or more circuits. Meaning 2 compressors, 2 fans, and 2 condensing coils. So its like 2 condesing units stacked into 1 big unit. I don't recommend connecting more than 2 units per condensing unit. I do not recommend the types that connect 2 or more fan coil units to one compressor, fan, coil system. The loads are very difficult to handle when under 50% versus 100% loads. Well unless it is an inverter system but those are just more money.

The best efficiency is when the fan coil unit is closest to the condensing unit. If one room has its condesing unit close to the condesing unit but the other room has to be run 10-15 meters to the same condesing unit its better to just separate the units and have 2 different condesing units close to their fan coils.

[frenchFARANGbkk]

Thank you explanation.

So inverter aircon is always a better choice ?!

[pluto_manibo]

I have the same model Daikin, installed about one year ago. I am very happy with it and yes it is very quiet both inside and outside.

[ACMIKE]

I can't really comment on whether split is better or not for efficiency and costs. I live in Singapore and have split units, when one went out I lost the MBR and LR, so if you split them make sure you don't tie the most used ones together.

[mdechgan]

Thank you explanation.

So inverter aircon is always a better choice ?!

Well it really depends.

Have the loads been calculated correctly for each room?

BTU size, loads, efficiency of room design, etc.

A small room 9-12,000 btu one won't see much difference with or without inverter except for the extra 10k price tag. Maybe a little savings like 100 baht per month but clearly not worth the 10k price tag.

However the bigger units like 3-5 ton systems is where the inverter systems truely make a difference.

[INDI12]

I am no air expert but had a concern when i put in single split units. I asked the guy whats the max length of run for pipes between comp and int fan unit? He said 10-15 m. I am at about 12m.Thought that was even a bit long and now know why its not as cold as it should be. I wanted and have mounted the comp on the shady side of house and for noise as well but now i think this is a mistake. I think now i should move them to a sunnier side and closer to fan units and shade them for a shorter pipe run of 2-3 m for more cooling temp??? however sacrficing seeing the units and hearing them working more???

these are two seperate units one comp for each fan unit. not inverter model or multiple fan units running on one comp. I have the basic single unit split type as most everywhere here. (1 comp outside and one fan unit inside) = 1 air con set for one room