Yay! I’ve finally gotten the first HVAC zone in the Workshop up and running!
This is a 2 ton Mini-Split from LG (LSN240HSV) with an 18 SEER Cooling rating and 12.5 EER Heating rating. This will heat and cool the largest space, the Workshop floor. The other two rooms, the Office and Finishing room will eventually have their own 3/4 ton units, but, for the time being (since I don’t have any doors separating the rooms), the Workshop heat pump will carry the entire load.
It’s a hot day in NC today(93 F) so it’s a good day to test the system. Here is how long it took to cool down the entire Workshop (including the Office and Finishing rooms). This was with the system running in “Jet Cool” mode, the highest power setting. We’ll see how it does maintaining the temperature at a very chilly 74 degrees…
Here are some photos of the installation…
WorkshopHeatpump
![[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0001.jpg]1850Transferring the compressor to the Hydraulic Lift cart.How do you single-handedly install a 95 lb compressor? Easy, simply slide it from the Workshop loading dock onto your trusty PowerWagon, power wheel it to the site, then...](https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/wshp_0001.jpg){kind=link}
How do you single-handedly install a 95 lb compressor? Easy, simply slide it from the Workshop loading dock onto your trusty PowerWagon, power wheel it to the site, then...[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0002.jpg]1610Compressor moved to the Hydraulic Lift cart.
![[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0002.jpg]1610Compressor moved to the Hydraulic Lift cart.You slide it on to your trusty Hydraulic Lift cart, which has been raised to the same height at the Power Wagon bed.](https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/wshp_0002.jpg){kind=link}
You slide it on to your trusty Hydraulic Lift cart, which has been raised to the same height at the Power Wagon bed.[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0003.jpg]1450Compressor lowered to the lowest position.
![[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0003.jpg]1450Compressor lowered to the lowest position.From here it's a simple matter to walk the compressor onto the base.](https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/wshp_0003.jpg){kind=link}
From here it's a simple matter to walk the compressor onto the base.[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0004.jpg]1390Compressor all positioned!
![[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0004.jpg]1390Compressor all positioned!Ready to connect to inside evaporator unit and to 220 volt power.](https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/wshp_0004.jpg){kind=link}
Ready to connect to inside evaporator unit and to 220 volt power.[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0005.jpg]1360First step, after connecting with the inside unit is to pressure test the connections.
![[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0005.jpg]1360First step, after connecting with the inside unit is to pressure test the connections.Normally Dry Nitrogen is used for this step, but Nitrogen isn't as convenient as Propane and Propane, by necessity, is as dry as Nitrogen (at least dry enough). With the Propane cylinder full and sitting in the sun on a 90+ degree day, the test pressure reached over 150 PSI. Don't try this at home, kids...I found that I had two (out of four) bad connections in the refrigerant lines during the pressure test. I replaced these and, after confirming the connections were fixed, it was time to pump down the system.](https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/wshp_0005.jpg){kind=link}
Normally Dry Nitrogen is used for this step, but Nitrogen isn't as convenient as Propane and Propane, by necessity, is as dry as Nitrogen (at least dry enough). With the Propane cylinder full and sitting in the sun on a 90+ degree day, the test pressure reached over 150 PSI. Don't try this at home, kids...
I found that I had two (out of four) bad connections in the refrigerant lines during the pressure test. I replaced these and, after confirming the connections were fixed, it was time to pump down the system.[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0006.jpg]1330Pump Down...
![[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0006.jpg]1330Pump Down...After Pressure testing it's time to pump down the system to evacuate all gases (and any residual moisture).](https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/wshp_0006.jpg){kind=link}
After Pressure testing it's time to pump down the system to evacuate all gases (and any residual moisture).[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0007.jpg]1300500 Microns! The magic pressure.
![[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_wshp_0007.jpg]1300500 Microns! The magic pressure.Once the system has been pumped down to this pressure, all residual moisture will have boiled off and I could seal the system and open the valves to charge the lines with refrigerant. Once this is done, we're ready to run!](https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/wshp_0007.jpg){kind=link}
Once the system has been pumped down to this pressure, all residual moisture will have boiled off and I could seal the system and open the valves to charge the lines with refrigerant. Once this is done, we're ready to run![img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_hp_0001.jpg]880Here it is, the finished installation.
![[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/thumbs/thumbs_hp_0001.jpg]880Here it is, the finished installation.](https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/workshopheatpump/hp_0001.jpg){kind=link}
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