First time aircon installation, what to expect?

[CntrlAltDel]

Hey everyone,

I recently ordered a Samsung AR6500 12,000 BTU wall-mounted split air conditioner with the copper piping installation package. I assume this includes the necessary brackets for the outdoor unit and all essential installation components.

For those who have experience with similar installations, are there any preparations or considerations I should keep in mind before the installation team arrives? Any hindsight tips that could make the process smoother?

Ideally, I'd like both the indoor and outdoor units to be mounted about 2.7m high. However, I've read that some installation packages only include outdoor unit placement at ground level, with additional charges for elevated mounting. Just trying to find out what are the norms that some of you may already be familiar with.

Another question I have is regarding the power. I'm currently under the impression units that operate at 12,000 BTU do not require a connection directly to my home DB board and instead requires a regular 3 prong to operate. Can anyone confirm if this is true?

Appreciate any insights!

I picked up the below:
https://rightair.co.za/product/sams...-split-12000-btu-hr-inverter-air-conditioner/
https://rightair.co.za/product/inst...ectrical-connection-to-the-db-board-excluded/

 

[Snyper564]

Whoever will do the install will clear all this with you ahead of time. The brackets might not be included were about R500 in my case.

I opted to get my 9000s all wired to DB looks neater too. That height will need to be cleared with installer too.

 

[GrootVoet]

I think they going to nail you on wiring it into the DB board. Extra piping and insolation, they only include x meter with the price, more than that is normally extra.

Our aircon runs of a plug in the bedroom. Bigger than 12000 units you need to go to the DB board.

They going to make a hole in your wall with a big drill so be prepared for all the dust.

 

[Snyper564]

I think they going to nail you on wiring it into the DB board. Extra piping and insolation, they only include x meter with the price, more than that is normally extra.

Our aircon runs of a plug in the bedroom. Bigger than 12000 units you need to go to the DB board.

They going to make a hole in your wall with a big drill so be prepared for all the dust.

ah yes the dust either remove everything in the room or put dust covers on its the fine brick dust - gets everywhere

 

[Hemi300c]

The most difficult part for laymen is working with the copper pipes and not destroying them in the bending process.

Also inside unit placement needs to be a certain distance from the ceiling.

iirc 12000BTU can be a plugged in unit anything above that needs to be DB connected.

 

[rh1]

I think they going to nail you on wiring it into the DB board. Extra piping and insolation, they only include x meter with the price, more than that is normally extra.

Our aircon runs of a plug in the bedroom. Bigger than 12000 units you need to go to the DB board.

They going to make a hole in your wall with a big drill so be prepared for all the dust.

Dust, one guy was drilling with the with a long bit for the pilot hole and then the core bit for the big hole whilst the another guy was vacuuming the dust being generated. They also picked up and cleaned up after themselves.

My only gripe was long time afterwards, I noticed the condense outflow pipe for the one aircon being flush with the wall, now water is flowing against the wall and making it green. Not sure of it was installed flush or longer and broke for some reason.

Neatness of wiring, they ran a cable from a plug all along the skirting and drill outward. They used a small square conduit outside and they both holding up 9 years after the install.

Galvanise brackets were included in the install, I was not aware until reading this thread, that it might be a problem.

 

[Snyper564]

Dust, one guy was drilling with the with a long bit for the pilot hole and then the core bit for the big hole whilst the another guy was vacuuming the dust being generated. They also picked up and cleaned up after themselves.

My only gripe was long time afterwards, I noticed the condense outflow pipe for the one aircon being flush with the wall, now water is flowing against the wall and making it green. Not sure of it was installed flush or longer and broke for some reason.

Neatness of wiring, they ran a cable from a plug all along the skirting and drill outward. They used a small square conduit outside and they both holding up 9 years after the install.

Galvanise brackets were included in the install, I was not aware until reading this thread, that it might be a problem.

I have that pipe running just off the garden so took a flexi conduit and popped it to the nearest plant

 

[dualmeister]

Just make sure the installers know what they are doing. Bought an aircon at Makro and they sent a bunch of clowns to install it.
They made so money errors that I'm still discovering them.

 

[Snyper564]

Got these guys to install 4x9000 btu myside nothing but great service they also do external purchase installs so I bought from kloppers/ac direct and they installed

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[rh1]

Just make sure the installers know what they are doing. Bought an aircon at Makro and they sent a bunch of clowns to install it.
They made so money errors that I'm still discovering them.

After this heat wave, I realised I need aircon in my living room as well. I will go through my emails to find my previous installer. But have to save up first.

They worked neatly and quickly.

 

[Snyper564]

After this heat wave, I realised I need aircon in my living room as well. I will go through my emails to find my previous installer. But have to save up first.

They worked neatly and quickly.

The moment I heard my wife was pregnant last year used it as the perfect excuse to get the home offices and bedrooms airconned. Dropped 50k for all the installs etc but worth every cent.

100% best decision ever she works from home and Im here 4 odd days a week. The most comfortable summer I have ever had and beyond efficient. Here is that thread. I sleep through the night for the first dec instead of waking up as a sweaty pig

Aircon insights

With the heat of last week we decided to pull the trigger on another 2 yeah! Loads of places Hirschs kloppers ac direct have the 9000 breezeless for 9k now LOL. Bought another 2 12k Midea at ACDirect earlier today as well. I use PayJustNow and pay over 3 months. Bought my previous 2 18k btu...

mybroadband.co.za

 

[CntrlAltDel]

It's a good thing I dont have to worry about the height and the installation components (brackets etc.). I confirmed with them today, it's included in the installation. My only concern now is the added cost of wiring up an isolator to the DB board for the outdoor unit. I've had just 2 plugs installed just last year that costed R3k. I assume this will be similar or the same.

 

[CntrlAltDel]

Based on the spec sheet for the AR6500 12000BTU model the max power draw for heating is 1144 W (5.2a * 220v) so the 10a C2 variant of this breaker should work CBi Dual Mount Circuit Breaker C2 1 Pole 6kA - QF-1(13).

For 10a breakers the ideal cable size should be around 1.5mm² which is rated for roughly 3500w power draw (15A) in worst case scenario.
House Wire Cable 1.5mm Black - 5 to 100m
House Wire Cable 1.5mm Red - 5 to 100m
House Wire Cable 1.5mm Green-Yellow - 5 to 100m

As well as the outdoor weatherpoof 2 pole isolator
MCE HSP3-20-2 20AMP 2 POLE ISOLATOR

I'll ignore the PVC flexible conduit that has to run between the outdoor unit and the isolator because I dont know the circumference of the outdoor unit end and the circumference of the isolator end conduit mounting points.

So far conservative total of components is R1239
I assume the electrician will cost the life of my first born or something similar.

 

[W@P]

If you can just install a 20 or 25-amp breaker. Then you would never have to worry about any capacity on the circuit should you install something else on that circuit.

I had 2 x Samsung 24k BTU inverter units installed back in 2016. Outdoor units next to each other, each is on its own circuit with a 25 amp breaker and 2 x isolators. The cost was about R50k all in. I had to arrange for the electrical work ofc.

Then later had a 12k BTU Midea inverter unit installed and tapped power from an outdoor wall plug also with an isolator. Cost was R13k without electrical work. This in 2022.

Then lately had another 18K BTU Midea inverter installed for R19k without electrical work. Electrician tapped into one of the 25A circuits from the Samsung units also with its own isolator. The breaker has enough headroom.

Rather always over spec. DB space is rare. Don't even get me started on DB space.

Why da fsck install the smallest DB you can get away with? Just why?

 

[CntrlAltDel]

Why da fsck install the smallest DB you can get away with? Just why?

Safety is a concern. Having my 5a load protected by a 10a breaker would be much safer than having a 5a load (even though in your scenario temporary until a later upgrade) protected by a 25a breaker.

1.5mm² solid core wiring has a theoretical max of 3680w. If a catastrophe happens where for some reason a load greater than the theoretical max is applied to the wire the 25a breaker would only trip at 5500w meaning you could have a fire already and the breaker wouldn't trip because the load is within the breaker's tolerance range but not within the wiring's range.

10a also accounts for the ramp-up peaks when the aircon is turned on which should be around 8a. I've decided to rather go with the 15a breaker just to be safer in terms of accommodating the full range of the loads the aircon can apply.

I also have quite a bit of extra DB space but that's also a non-issue since I don't mind replacing the current breaker with a 15a breakert. The 1.5mm² wiring should still suffice at 15a spec.