What unit are you installing? Brand, size etc. Where did you buy it?

What size area are you planning on heating/cooling?

I bought the
Gree 9,000 BTU 27 SEER Terra Ductless Heat Pump Air Conditioner System
Terra Series - Ductless Wall Mount Heating and Cooling | Gree Comfort

from acwholesalers.com
https://www.acwholesalers.com/Gree/G...inCat=&subCat=
we got lucky with a good coupon and got it for $815 shipped add in line set, vinyl line set cover, wall sleeve and drain line. $988.81 shipped.
This is for my master bedroom it is south facing and has never stayed the same temp as the rest of the house. I also work from home and my office is setup in there. It is 250 sqft with a master bath 228 sqft.
It needs to be temperature controlled 24 x 7.

The second unit that I haven’t ordered yet is much harder to pick out. It is about 675 sqft but we still have natural gas heat and a 4 ton AC. My wife works in this area during the day I want the mini split to do most of the heating and cooling at night the other systems will assist in heat and cooling kid’s rooms/house.

I am looking at

LG LS120HYV 12,000 BTU 26 SEER.
https://www.acwholesalers.com/LG/LS1...&trail=1004:LG

Fujitsu AOU12RLS2 12,000 BTU 25 SEER
https://www.acwholesalers.com/Fujits...32:22.00-28.00

If you look at them on the energy sate it is a wash (I attached a screen shot)
ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2011 — Central Air Conditioners and Air Source Heat Pumps : ENERGY STAR
The LG if a couple hundred cheaper and does not put out as much heat at low temps. The Fujitsu has a better reviews cools a little better and puts out more heat.
This area could use a little bigger unit but I want it to be very efficient and my other systems will help out when it is very hot or very cold.

I am making additional solar power and I want to use some of the power to heat with.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1382368365


http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1382368365

Does any one have a real world formula to compare true energy cost or consumption between different mini splits , of different SEER ratings ?

A percentage number would be fun , as it would be applcable , reguardless of the electric rates .

God bless
Wyr

This site seems to have just that.
Ratings are found at AHRI Certification Directory, scroll down and choose Variable-Speed Mini-Split and Multi-Split Heat Pumps.
MN Renovator posted this in another thread.
The one screen shot above is from this site.


ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2013 is using this
*Estimated using an average price of electricity of 10.9 cents per kilowatt hour.
**Central Air Conditioner lifetime is estimated at 14 years. Air Source Heat Pump lifetime is estimated at 12 years.


Here are two interesting charts sorted high SEER to lower SEER.
LG and Gree 9000 btu systems.

Comparing the SEER numbers with the cooling cost & heating cost , the LG chart makes sense .

The cooling costs make sense on the Gree chart , but the numbers do not seem to make sense , for heating costs ?

I think SEER = BTU / Watts , across the temperature range of a cooling season ?

God bless
Wyr

Yes I agree with you the Gree heating numbers do not make much sense.

The cement is strong enough to at least set the unit on it. I finished the wiring the inside unit was not color coded but the outside unit was color coded. Of course I had to rearrange the wires on the inside unit so the color code matched. It did not take very long to switch the wires.
I pressured tested the system but there was a small leak at the outside unit on the small line. Just a little tighter and now no more leak.
After I soap tested all connections I put the line set cover on it.

I am going to let it sit overnight.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1382536941

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1382536941

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1382536941

Tools I will be using

Vacuum Pump - on Sale at the Test Equipment Depot
15150 Robinair 15150 Vacuum Pump, 1.5 CFM, Two Stage, 110V $136

Robinair 15150, 15300, and 15500 1.5, 3, and 5 CFM VacuMaster Vacuum Pump - on Sale at the Test Equipment Depot

Supco VG64 Digital Vacuum Gauge $131.95
(this is not the gauge I wanted but the other one was out of stock.)

Supco VG64 Digital Vacuum Gauge - on sale at Test Equipment Depot

Uniweld RHP400 Nitrogen Regulator with 0-400 PSI Delivery Pressure $43.53 (I got a scratched one)

Uniweld RHP400 Nitrogen Regulator with 0-400 PSI Delivery Pressure, CGA580 Inlet Connection and 1/4-Inch Male Flare Outlet Connection - Amazon.com


4 Way AC Manifold Gauge Set R410a R22 R134a w/Hoses+ Hi & Low Coupler Adapters $69.95

(don't buy these gauges they are going back they did not work very good)
4 Way AC Manifold Gauge Set R410A R22 R134a w Hoses Hi Low Coupler Adapters | eBay


Vacuum pump oil Napa

The pressure held overnight. I have been trying to vacuum down the system. New oil in the pump a shut off valve close to the unit. It never got below 500 Microns I checked the vacuum pump with just one hose and the gauge it went 200 Microns no problem. I checked the two hoses and the valve. The valve will not let it get below 400 Microns so I have a bad valve.
I tried the manifold gauge same it would not go below 400 Microns. So I just went from pump to gauge then to outside unit. It was a 300 Microns @4:20 and slowly decreeing 225 Microns @5:10. I guess the plan is to keep it below 200 Microns for a hour then release some 410 from the liquid valve when the pump sound changes disconnect it @the gas valve.

Then let a little more 410 out check for leaks if none release both valves.
I just ordered three 410 ball valves for the next install.

You system has amazing specs.. The install looks expertly done. It should work great!

I had little cut-off valves on my gauge unit hoses and they were leaky.
Each time I opened are closed them, they lost some vac..
I think they may have been designed for holding pressure inside, and not holding a vac..

I think you read my detailed suggested procedure for, the last operation.?.
I like the idea of being able to cut off the Digital Vacuum Gauge, before bleeding in some R410a.
You don't want to pressurize that new gauge.. :)