Refrigerative Air-conditioning

House Taming: How to reduce greenhouse gases in comfort

<ADMINNICENAME> — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:10:35 +0000

House Taming: How to reduce greenhouse gases in comfort, has just been published. This book shows you how to reduce your household greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs.

The book covers heating, cooling, hot water, cooking, lighting, standby losses etc. The book tells you how to do things, not just what to do. For example the web site includes a downloadable check sheet to help you get the information together if you need to buy heating or cooling equipment.

The book addresses a large number of misconceptions, and addresses practical details. As an example it gives hints on good places to buy many items as inexpensively as possible. This alone is worth the value of the book.

With the book you also get free access to the Room SureCool
calculator (valued at $19.95). I am currently upgrading the calculator to
estimate energy consumption and costs so that you can estimate the cost
effectiveness of improvements to your home, comparing the relative benefits of
say double glazing versus extra insulation.

If you live in Australia, I guarantee that you will save the
value of the book or your money back (see online for details).

Order your copy now on-line and get it for $29.95 including postage and handling. Delivery to capital cities in Australia is generally three working days.

To find out more visit www.coolmax.com.au/ht

The compressor runs continously but won’t cool the indoor unit

<ADMINNICENAME> — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 02:32:12 +0000

The most likely explanation is that the air conditioner has a leak and is out of gas.

If however the air coming from the indoor is cool, but not cool enough to cool the room, then there are a number of possible causes. See http://www.coolmax.com.au/air-conditioning/troubleshooting.htm

I am unsure which SureCool Air Conditioning Sizing software to buy.

<ADMINNICENAME> — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:21:21 +0000

I am interested in purchasing your SureCool Air Conditioning Sizing software but am not sure which version is appropriate for my situation. I have already had some quotes for an appropriate unit and am confused by the range of sizes offered - from 2.5 HP to 4.00 HP. I trust your software may be able to help clarify the correct sizing but am not sure if my situation is appropriate for the Room SureCool or whether I may be in Office SureCool territory.

The planned Air Conditioner is for domestic use, however the area to be cooled (and heated) perhaps may not fit the normal definition of a “room”. The area is a large open space consisting of a lounge room, dining room, kitchen and family room - about 70 square metres with the rooms forming a “U” shape. The only viable position for the intended split, wall hung unit would be at the leg of the “U” directing air across the base of the “U”. (N.B due to house construction, a ducted unit is nor suitable)

The ‘Room SureCool’ will suit your needs. (Office SureCool allows extra for the greater internal heat load in offices due to the number of computers, fax machines, different numbers of people etc.) You will need to split the U shaped room into two sections and add the results, however this is fairly easy. The situation where you have such a range of offerings is certainly the situation for which I designed the calculator.
When comparing units, make a point of comparing the cooling (or heating) kW not horsepower as some manufacturers have been getting very optimistic in their hp claims.

With Inverter air Conditioners do you select on the nominal or peak

<ADMINNICENAME> — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:21:21 +0000

When Selecting equipment based on the Kw required from results, with Inverters do you select on the nominal or peak or somewhere in between?

I myself select on the nominal, because I have heard of them overloading if selected on the peak, however it may be that a value in between works, but I have not tested this theory.

By selecting oil the nominal you ensure it has enough capacity to give a quicker initial cool down.

Does your ducted system software calculate air flows required?

<ADMINNICENAME> — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:11:50 +0000

Does your ducted system software not only calculate how much heat energy KW required but does it also include information on the air flows required per rooms or spaces to be ducted?

No, I have tried to keep the software as simple as possible for ease of use.

Heat load calculators for New Zealand

<ADMINNICENAME> — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:05:22 +0000

Hello Clive, interested in your programs but just a few questions first, I am sending this e-mail from New Zealand (Wellington).
Obviously its a lot colder here than South Australia. Do the calculators have all the relavant factors for our colder conditions and greater heat losses?

Yes, the program has 4 separate zones covering New Zealand.

The air conditioner trips out

<ADMINNICENAME> — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 10:36:33 +0000

I bought an Air Conditioner recently. The circuit breaker after a short time trips and shuts off the air conditioner. It works longer on the older wiring in the house and the
newer addition section it trips faster. was there a problem with the air conditioner last year and what should I do?

I suspect that the air conditioner is drawing more current than your wiring can handle.
Check the manufacturers recommended circuit breaker size, as the manufacturer probably requires the circuit breaker to be rated much higher than the rated current of the air conditioner.

My Air conditioner fan wont start

<ADMINNICENAME> — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 08:02:14 +0000

My window unit (RAC) blows cold air, but the fan won’t start unless I push it. Once it is going it runs well until I shut it off, then on restart the problem starts over.

You may be experiencing low voltage problems. Is the wiring to the house adequate?
There may be a buildup of dust on the fan. Try cleaning the fan blades (make sure the air conditioner is disconnected).
If the motor is old, the bearings may have become tight. This probably means a new fan motor.

Air conditioner compressor drawing too much current (ie. high

<ADMINNICENAME> — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 09:07:29 +0000

I am assuming the symptom is that the circuit breaker is tripping out. If the air conditioner is tripping out on high head pressure, different causes apply see troubleshooting in the main wibsite.
If it is a new air conditioner, the most likely situation is that the wrong size or type of circuit breaker was used.
If it is a conventional air conditioner the current when the compressor starts is much higher than the running curent. If it is an inverter air conditioner, the maximum current can be around 50% more than the rated current.
It may simply be the system design (particularly a high outside air or other unusual system)which allows for a very high current without tripping the other safeties.
The other possibility is a fault. In general it is going to take a refrigeration mechanic to actually identify the problem.

Can I air condition two rooms using an airconditioner in only one room ?

<ADMINNICENAME> — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 09:33:19 +0000

I have just used your Calculator to work out the size of a split system to go in my newly converted double garage.
It has been split down the middle with an internal wall and is now basically a TV ROOM and a BEDROOM, joined by a doorway in the middle.
I know it is not technically right, but what I want to do is mount the system in the TV Room opposite the Bedroom so cool air can be directed in there when required (2 birds with 1 stone I suppose) and work mainly for the TV room but also for the bedroom. (Mainly at night), (I don’t think my budget or the time/practical use of the rooms warrants 2 separate units?)
Although what you propose, is not ideal, it can work acceptably, provided you realise that one room will always be slightly hot and the other slightly cold. You will need to locate the air conditioner as close to opposite the door as possible. Because of the temperature difference I strongly recommend that the unit be located in the TV room as you propose, as the temperature difference will be less at night and conditions should be acceptable at night in the bedroom.
You may need to experiment with vane settings, but provided you get a brand name unit it should have the flexibility to do what you want. I recommend you size the air conditioner as if it was a single large room. I think if you pay attention to the above factors, you will be OK.
To summarise, it is not the ideal solution, but provided you accept that fact, you may be be happy with it.