How to cool a small office - MHI SRK20ZGX-S any good?

[tourcd]

I'm new to air conditioning having never bought or installed a unit. I've had a read through several posts on this site to find out a bit more about what's available.

I have a garden office which is extremely well instulated 3m square in dimensions. One wall of the office is almost entirely double glazing units and South facing. Consequently it gets baking hot in the afternoons.

So given the size of the room I'd imaging a fairly small unit will fit the bill, I found the following unit which looks okay...

MHI SRK20ZGX-S Hyper-inverter (approx. £550)

My questions are...

What's the difference between a "Hyper-inverter" and a normal inverter? I presume efficency but that's a guess, is it marketing speak for a better COP?

If I buy all the parts is it relatively straight forward to fit?

If I do fit it myself am I likely to invalidate/reduce the warrenty?

Where is the best place to buy one of these things?

Many thanks

[Yuri B.]

Hello Tourcd. I would buy a good, reliable, not a cheap, simple - in both use and repair - AC, without whatsoever inverters. Electric energy saved by people using those sophistications, on my view, scarcely exeed, on the average , the money they are forced to pay when something kaputed.

[al]

warranty is normally only valid if installed by a competant person, you'll spend nearly £600 on specialised tools used once only, there are plenty of members here who have references and can do a quality job, a lot cheaper in the long run.


al

[Brian_UK]

Also, the old chestnut but... you could be contravening various recent laws regarding the safe handling of refrigerants.

As said above, it would be better to get the system installed professionally.

[Makeit go Right]

For the office you would need a 3.5kW minimum (that one possibly a 2kW thing?). Go for an inverter with 30% savings over the regular on-off type of unit. Get a qualified fridge installer to fit it.

The only DIY way is if it is one of those pre-piped things that used to be sold in B&Q etc. You mount the room unit, feed the pipe/cable thing out through a hole in your nice insulated shed, out to the condenser, and connect it to the condenser, outside. Just follow the instructions. Normally looks a bit DIY-ish, but nice and cheap.

If your window is south facing, presumably the sun beats in onto you, while working in there -- that is very uncomfortable regardless of aircon. You will need some solar film on the glass to cut it down (or rotate the shed).

[tourcd]

Thanks all for the advice.

I have found a supplier who can supply a Mitsubishi SRK25-ZGX (complete system) and the following 'extras'...

1 x Pipe bender to suit pipes
15 Meters of 1/4" & 3/8" Pipes
16 Meters of cable for interconnecting cable
16 Meters of installation for pipes
1 x Flaring tool & Pipe working tool.

So everything I'd need to carry out the installation myself?

Most quotes I've had for a fitted system put the labour in at £700/800 per day. So £1400 for the above system, this seems expensive?

[The Viking]

Good luck with your DIY installation.

Out of interest,
How are you proposing to deal with pressure testing and vacuuming of the system?
Who will support you after it fails and who would carry the warranty?

To me £1400 installed sounds too cheap...

[sinewave]

To me £1400 installed sounds too cheap...

I only wish it were Viking!


£1400/1450 is about all we can get away with for a 3.5kW split, especialy an easy back-2-back such as this.


OP, you will need another £500 worth of kit on top of the Cheap Tat your 'supplier' is offering you.


Try asking some local firms just to come along on a day rate, however you will still not get a full warranty unless the A/C company supply the gear also.

[Clk320_Greg]

It may cost 1400 to have installed.


But it will be nearer 2800 to have the whole thing taken down and re done properly so it works!

If you dont want to spend proper AC money then dont have AC.

[Brian_UK]

And only just under £900 from the wholesaler so a nice easy profit for the box shifter

[Stoofer]

Hi Tourcd, I fitted the exact same model in my lounge. Excellent choice very efficient running costs and a nice quality piece of kit. Have to agree with the other posts get a qualified engineer in to commission it correctly.
Where in the UK are you? I’m based in South Yorkshire If you close enough I’d be happy to quote for the job.