What size Mr.slim mini split?

[mikeross]

After doing a little research I am sold on the Mr.slim mini split units. I just don't know what size I need for my room.

Room size will be 11x19 with 8-600w air cooled lights all in my basement were room temps are pretty stable all year long... around 55-65 lights off.

According to the Mitsubishi website for my room which is
209sf(1672 cubic feet) I need a 9500btu unit. That number seems very small considering most guys here are running 16500btu+ units with similar setups.

Now, are these guys just overkilling their a/c needs or with the added lights/heat within the sealed room you can through Mitsubishi's estimates out the window? I have read a few times during my search that its not necessarily a good thing to run an larger a/c unit then needed.

So anyone care to enlighten me what size Mr.slim unit I need? I'm leaning towards their 15k or 16.2k btu systems. Is that to much or to little for my setup? Trying to keep a steady 85* light on temp so don't need the power to drop me into the 70's.

Thanks

 

[Guest 18340]

The "general" rule is 5k btu/1k watts. But thats very general. Your basement temps will help a lot, as well as your cooled hoods.
Mini splits are very efficient, especially the ones with inverter technology. Not all Mr.Slims use inverter so check. Usually a high seer rating, 16+, indicates it uses an inverter.
I don't know if you want/need heat but I can't find a unit that uses inverter that doesnt come with heat.
The way I see it, these are your two choices
http://www.mehvac.com/Products/item...oryID=140&ProductCategoryID=24&ProductID=1491
http://www.mehvac.com/Products/item...oryID=140&ProductCategoryID=24&ProductID=1492
I use a 9k btu to cool 2x600 uncooled hoods in a 10x5x8 and it cooled the room with ease. Infact, I coulda cooled the room down to 55 with the light on!
Btw, great choice on Mr.Slim, they're likely the best mini splits made today. I learned the hard way about buying no name mini splits...

 

[mikeross]

The "general" rule is 5k btu/1k watts. But thats very general. Your basement temps will help a lot, as well as your cooled hoods.
Mini splits are very efficient, especially the ones with inverter technology. Not all Mr.Slims use inverter so check. Usually a high seer rating, 16+, indicates it uses an inverter.
I don't know if you want/need heat but I can't find a unit that uses inverter that doesnt come with heat.
The way I see it, these are your two choices
http://www.mehvac.com/Products/item...oryID=140&ProductCategoryID=24&ProductID=1491
http://www.mehvac.com/Products/item...oryID=140&ProductCategoryID=24&ProductID=1492
I use a 9k btu to cool 2x600 uncooled hoods in a 10x5x8 and it cooled the room with ease. Infact, I coulda cooled the room down to 55 with the light on!
Btw, great choice on Mr.Slim, they're likely the best mini splits made today. I learned the hard way about buying no name mini splits...

I know all about your experiences in the pass before you opted for the mr.slim lol. During my searches you posted a lot of info on minisplit's in various threads within my search.

Anyways, i'm relocating to the east coast and have yet to grow in this basement. My friend tells me his basement temp is always between 55-65 all year long. I have no experience growing in a basement but with the cold winters I am sure I might need a heater of some type when lights are off.

In my searches I have read that some mini split systems don't work well if the outside temps are to cold. The area I am moving to has below freezing temps for 2-3 months. Can the mr.slim system work efficently if temps are below freezing? I know they make mini split systems that a designed for colder outside temps but is the mr.slim one of them?

 

[Guest 18340]

I don't know how well any mini split will work at below zero outside temps. I'm in Florida so heat isnt a necessity for me. I'm positive that when you call the distributor they'll be able to answer that question.
Are you gonna seal the basement? You're probably going to need a dehumidifier. Not a big deal.

 

[Phillthy]

4800 watts.. you will need a 24k btu unit.

 

[Seed Buyer]

I have bought quite a few mini splits and have found other less known brands to be just as good and often have the same internal components as the higher priced Mitsubishi's. I have bought a few 18K units for around $1200 w/ shipping online. Just a thought.

 

[Guest 18340]

I have bought quite a few mini splits and have found other less known brands to be just as good and often have the same internal components as the higher priced Mitsubishi's. I have bought a few 18K units for around $1200 w/ shipping online. Just a thought.

"Lesser" brands work just as good as any expensive brand, until they break.
Mitsubishi parts are readily available, try finding parts for my Amcor, a "lesser" unit.

 

[mikeross]

4800 watts.. you will need a 24k btu unit.

I didn't think I needed that much btu for my setup. The lights are are going to be air cooled... all duct work will be insulated as well.

I was thinking along the lines of the mr.slim 16.2k system... you guys really feel its not going to do the job? I have read various post that claim you shouldn't go overboard with your a/c units... is this true? I wonder why a few members stated this.

 

[mikeross]

I don't know how well any mini split will work at below zero outside temps. I'm in Florida so heat isnt a necessity for me. I'm positive that when you call the distributor they'll be able to answer that question.
Are you gonna seal the basement? You're probably going to need a dehumidifier. Not a big deal.

Got a Sante fe dehumidifier

 

[mikeross]

How long would it take for an experience hvac guy to install a mini split? Whats a fair price to pay?

The only think that scares me about these mini splits over window units is what happens when it breaks? With a window unit I can easily just go out and buy another one. With these mini splits the hvac tech will have to come back to my place and repair the unit... This is not an option once the show is setup.

Anyone care to chim in how long they have been running their mini split trouble free?

 

[RicoT]

After doing a little research I am sold on the Mr.slim mini split units. I just don't know what size I need for my room.

Room size will be 11x19 with 8-600w air cooled lights all in my basement were room temps are pretty stable all year long... around 55-65 lights off.

According to the Mitsubishi website for my room which is
209sf(1672 cubic feet) I need a 9500btu unit. That number seems very small considering most guys here are running 16500btu+ units with similar setups.

Now, are these guys just overkilling their a/c needs or with the added lights/heat within the sealed room you can through Mitsubishi's estimates out the window? I have read a few times during my search that its not necessarily a good thing to run an larger a/c unit then needed.

So anyone care to enlighten me what size Mr.slim unit I need? I'm leaning towards their 15k or 16.2k btu systems. Is that to much or to little for my setup? Trying to keep a steady 85* light on temp so don't need the power to drop me into the 70's.

Thanks

Is 85* optimal in your opinion...? I'm currently setting up a vert 600w closet, and my temps are about 83-85* lights on, and I'm desperately trying to get them down.

While on the subject, does the mini-split require additional ducting, or a reservoir, or anything in addition to the cool tube ventilation I already have in my room?

 

[mikeross]

Is 85* optimal in your opinion...? I'm currently setting up a vert 600w closet, and my temps are about 83-85* lights on, and I'm desperately trying to get them down.

Its a sealed room with co2

 

[Phillthy]

I didn't think I needed that much btu for my setup. The lights are are going to be air cooled... all duct work will be insulated as well.

I was thinking along the lines of the mr.slim 16.2k system... you guys really feel its not going to do the job? I have read various post that claim you shouldn't go overboard with your a/c units... is this true? I wonder why a few members stated this.

ok i missed that the hoods would be air cooled. a 12k btu system should do fine. i use a 12k with 2-1k hoods, 1-400w hood, and an 8 bulb flouro, non of which are air cooled. it works well. you should be fine with that. i picked up a friedrich for $1100.

 

[mikeross]

ok i missed that the hoods would be air cooled. a 12k btu system should do fine. i use a 12k with 2-1k hoods, 1-400w hood, and an 8 bulb flouro, non of which are air cooled. it works well. you should be fine with that. i picked up a friedrich for $1100.

Yeah, I'm going with there 15k or 16.2k.

How's the light mover doing? How long have you been running it? Any issues during your use?

 

[Phillthy]

mover works real well. one of the inside wheel bearings broke but they back the product and had a new one to me in 2 days. gave me a few spares actually. so far so good. lets me get away with only running 2k in flower with anywhere from 30 to 50 plants. cant complain

 

[Guest 18340]

How long would it take for an experience hvac guy to install a mini split? Whats a fair price to pay?

The only think that scares me about these mini splits over window units is what happens when it breaks? With a window unit I can easily just go out and buy another one. With these mini splits the hvac tech will have to come back to my place and repair the unit... This is not an option once the show is setup.

Anyone care to chim in how long they have been running their mini split trouble free?

Welcome to the world of compromises; those mini splits are amazing when they're working properly but if it breaks down on you, you got no choice but to call a tech. Let me explain,
Most mini splits come with a "self diagnosting" feature so if something goes wrong the display will flash a letter and #. for example, mine flashed and F-4, which meant a communication failure between the outdoor and indoor unit. Gee, whats an F-4 mean? the manual tells you what and F-4 means (outdoor/indoor communication failure) but only tells you to make sure the unit is receiving power.
So to answer your question, if it breaks then you'll have to call a tech to look at it. And not just any tech. Most do not know how to work on mini splits because mini splits are not as popular here in the US as in other parts of the world.
And as I stated before, you cannot just pick up the phone and order parts for a mini split. It has been my experience that if you are not a licensed contractor then the distributor will not sell you or warranty anything broken. Why? So as customers don't call saying "I need a new compressor" when in fact all that was needed was a new inline fuse.
Just call the distributor you plan on dealing with, they'll fill you in.
I'm a tinkerer by nature so I started taking shit apart 'til I found the cause was a burned out control board on the outside unit, a few capacitors were burned up. Tried calling the distributor and they gave me the manufacturers #, and when I call them they emphatically stated that they do not sell parts to the public, that I would have to get a tech to call them.
As for how long a mini splits lasts, supposed to be for years.
True, a window unit is disposable, break it and go to Walmart and buy another off the shelf.
That being said, I still believe mini splits are worth every penny, if you buy a unit that not a "generic" brand.
***EDIT***
Everything I typed has been MY experience. Some people buy a no-name unit and it lasts for years, other (like me) for 2 months.
Only the major parts are interchangeable (maybe), everything esle is brand specific, a control board for a Mr.Slim won't work on my unit).

 

[GrnAlien]

Are you guys having an HVAC guy come charge the lineset, or are you buying a precharged lineset? I can't seem to find a precharged lineset for the Mr. Slims...

 

[Guest 18340]

Are you guys having an HVAC guy come charge the lineset, or are you buying a precharged lineset? I can't seem to find a precharged lineset for the Mr. Slims...

The actual line sets don't come pre charged, just the ac unit. The lines come pre flared with fittings that you wrench onto the indoor/outdoor units. The service tech should only have to hook up and run his vacuum pump for about 15 minutes. No need to add refrigerant as the unit will come pre charged with enough refrigerant for the line set length. The line set will usually be a "standard" length of 25'. BEWARE, if you need a longer line set THEN the service tech may have to add more 'frigerant to make up for the extra length.
Some mini split manufacturers include the line set, some (like Mr.Slim) make you buy it separately. They'll have it on whatever site your using to buy the unit, make sure you don't forget to order one.

 

[ogatec]

they make 35ft &50ft line sets too..
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/a-...vacr/ecatalog/N-8tj?itemsPerPage=60&op=search