mini split cooling, but not 100%

[shredGnar]

So i've got 8 aircooled hoods, in a sealed 20x10x8 room. Using a 3 ton aircon mini split system. I installed it myself, but am not very familiar with these devices.

it came pre-charged for the 25ft of tubing, and I hooked it up and wired it. It turns on and blows cold air, however it runs the entire time the lights are on, and doesn't get the room down to the set temp.

I did not vacuum the lines, just purged it per the instructions. Could this be why it is less than efficient? I thought a 3 ton would be able to handle the 8 lamps?

any ideas would be appreciated..

 

[Hydrolized]

With a room that big you might need circulation fans to move the air around better than the dinky indoor unit can. Also if you didn't pull a vacuum, that would be a problem depending on how it came. If was a pre charged line set, you should be ok...if just the outdoor unit was pre charged...you should have pulled a vacuum.

 

[Phillthy]

rule of thumb is 1 ton for each 3k of lighting. that is not air cooled hoods but open ones. take into account other heat sources like dehuey, ballasts, etc. remember that minisplits shoot towards the ground so you need to mount them as high as possible. use fans to circulate the air. how many wants are you running total?

 

[caljim]

If youy want to check your system you could use this gaugehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230509688162#ht_2772wt_1037

But if you did not vac the lines your going to have to evacuate the system, then pull a vacuum then recharge w/ thishttp://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230502891103#ht_3434wt_1037

The problem is you have all ready let the gas out of the outside unit and reclaiming that gas requires special tools and skills. Not sure you will be able to find both on ebay.

 

[shredGnar]

could I bring the outside unit to an hvac shop, and have them recharge it? then re-install and properly vacuum it?

 

[shredGnar]

If youy want to check your system you could use this gaugehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230509688162#ht_2772wt_1037

But if you did not vac the lines your going to have to evacuate the system, then pull a vacuum then recharge w/ thishttp://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230502891103#ht_3434wt_1037

The problem is you have all ready let the gas out of the outside unit and reclaiming that gas requires special tools and skills. Not sure you will be able to find both on ebay.

couldn't i just close the valves on the outside unit, and take the lines off at the outside unit? or would the refrigerant in the lines be a problem?

also, the gauge you linked, does that measure the amount of refrigerant left ? where does it thread onto?

and there is no way now that I could vacuum the lines if there is refrigerant left?

 

[OhighO]

With a room that big you might need circulation fans to move the air around better than the dinky indoor unit can. Also if you didn't pull a vacuum, that would be a problem depending on how it came. If was a pre charged line set, you should be ok...if just the outdoor unit was pre charged...you should have pulled a vacuum.

Yes those those precharged systems are not all the same. Like hydro said if thelineset wasn't charged you wouldve needed to pull a vacuum on the evap side of the split. not doing so would introduce air and moisture into the system. It will also throw off the charge. If its a 410a unit then it will really throw it off. The charge on a 410a unit needs to be very precise. If I were you I would recover all the refrigerant and also install a new filter dryer.

 

[OhighO]

Was the lineset charged with dry nitrogen? If you know what you are doin you can recover the refrigerant into the outdoor unit.

 

[shredGnar]

Was the lineset charged with dry nitrogen? If you know what you are doin you can recover the refrigerant into the outdoor unit.

The lines were not charged, just the outdoor unit..

what should be my next move to get this thing blowing cold?
summer is coming and i need this thing pumping!

 

[Phillthy]

i will look for the models i used but you can grab gauges for $60 and a vacuum pump for $200 roughly. valuable to have if your room can not go a day without ac. you dont need any new parts most likely.

 

[opt1c]

ac guy should be able to do everything you need at the condenser if you can find a trustworthy one... also how many fans do u have air-cooling those hoods; running a sealed room with a 6k garden i had to upgrade from a 36,000 btu mini-split to that with another 24,000 btu mini on top; so 2 for 1 room; i can dial it now though; and power bill is a bit lower as its not always running at max capacity

 

[shredGnar]

8" fan on each row of four lights..

opt1c my only problem with that is, i'd like to keep this to a diy so I don't have to have anyone come to the spot..

 

[shredGnar]

so what is the guage for? and you're saying i should be able to just pull the vacuum now and all will be well?

 

[Guest 18340]

Is it not cooling the room enough or is the unit not blowing out cool air?
"just purged it per instructions", the instructions actually said to push in the schrader valve and release some of the freon (R410)?
What brand/model is it?

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

I feel your pain man! I'm in the middle of a DIY mini-split install. There's so many specality tools. Pulling up a chair!

 

[Guest 18340]

I feel your pain man! I'm in the middle of a DIY mini-split install. There's so many specality tools. Pulling up a chair!

The only "special" tools you need are a good 2 stage vacuum pump and a manifold gauge set for r410. If you can pony up another $150 or so then also get a digital micron gauge.
It is VERY easy to DIY. If you need any guidance shoot me a pm anytime

 

[shredGnar]

Is it not cooling the room enough or is the unit not blowing out cool air?
"just purged it per instructions", the instructions actually said to push in the schrader valve and release some of the freon (R410)?
What brand/model is it?

it is an AirCon 36,000 BTU ... I got it from mini splitwarehouse ..

And yes, the instructions said if you did not have the ability or tools to vacuum you could in place press in the valve several times, for a second or so

how bad is this "environmentally friendly" coolant?

what would be your next course of action? if I were to take of the lines without evacuating i would be releasing the freon into the air?

 

[shredGnar]

it is an AirCon 36,000 BTU ... I got it from mini splitwarehouse ..

And yes, the instructions said if you did not have the ability or tools to vacuum you could in place press in the valve several times, for a second or so

how bad is this "environmentally friendly" coolant?

what would be your next course of action? if I were to take of the lines without evacuating i would be releasing the freon into the air?

and it is blowing cold air and cooling, however it isn't able to get the room below 81. could it just be under-powered?

 

[Guest 18340]

I don't see the 36 k btu Air-con, but anyway....If you say it's blowing cold then it's obviously under powered. OR you released a wee bit too much of the r410 so now it's not cooling to it's capacity.
The reason why you use a vacuum pump is to make sure the line set isn't leaking and to remove any contaminants and/or moisture from the line.
I can't believe a mini split manufacturer would ever suggest releasing r410.

 

[Hydrolized]

I find it hard to believe that 36000 true BTU can't cool an air cooled 8kw. Even not air cooled technically 36k could cool 9kw, when you air cool you reduce the cooling load by at LEAST half, so I think something is wrong here.