Minisplit electrical hookup
cbut8995
| Posted in General Questions on
Is it possible to have 2 separate apts hooked up to 1 outdoor minisplit condenser unit that can technically hold up to 4 zones (2 zones each apt) and then have each hooked up to their own electric meter so that whoever uses what pays for their share on their own electric bill?
It has been near impossible to get a properly sized multizone minisplit unit for 2 rooms (bedroom and living room) in 1 apt without seeing that it will short cycle on a small 550 sqft apt.
If I could somehow have 1 condenser run for 2 apts, it would def help the life of the condenser as I dont think the unit will ever short cycle then.
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Replies
No. The outdoor unit has a single power supply. It also consumes the bulk of the power; the indoor units draw far less. Perhaps you should reconsider having two separate systems, for several reasons beyond usage metering. It's been reported on this site that multi-split systems deliver less-than-satisfactory results, especially in the shoulder seasons when demand for heat is low and may drop below the unit's capacity, in which case some indoor units will dump heat without a call. Another crazy reality is that some tenants will want AC at the moment that others want heat, and a central unit can't do both. It's been pointed out that separate systems are simpler and more efficient, and also provide redundancy so that if an outdoor unit fails it doesn't bring down the whole building. Finally, you'll find that separate systems will have far lower modulating capacity; 550 sq.ft. is a very small space but a 7K or 9K indoor unit matched to the proper condenser should be suitable.