Building a Plenum for a MrCool Multi-Zone MiniSplit Unit
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- Опубликовано: 8 окт 2021
- Bit of a slower video but I hope it will help anyone looking at a ducted minisplit unit. We chose these because we didn't want the units to be hanging off the wall. This option allows the unit to be placed in an attic space and then ducted to each location meaning all you see is a typical register. Only found a couple of issues in the design but feel it'll all work out ok.
Here I unbox one of the Olympus Multi-Unit Recessed Duct MiniSplit units and then adjust the return air from the back of the unit to the bottom. I also build a simply Plenum out of duct board and some takeoff boots for 4" flex duct. We have four of these units going into our Off-Grid Barndominium home.
Very interesting info. on the mini splits. The deer 🦌 are some incredible pictures 📸 🙂
We have so many deer around. I watched two big bucks competing for territory out here. Thought I was in a nature show since it isn't something you see often.
Hi there, I'm excited ot have found your video! I just finished installing 3 Concealed Duct Olympus Mini Splits in my home. Very interesting work indeed. I took a different approach to the supply as I made a traditional plenum out of 8x20 sheet metal duct work, the kind any other home would have in it. Found at Menards. Made a custom coupling from the unit to this plenum and then used 6" takeoffs for my application.
I'm curious how everything is working out for you now that you have been using this for a while? I've had mine installed for about 1 week and notice the thermostat is not very intuitive and I don't like it at all, but the units themselves work great.
I haven't uploaded a video in a long time and don't have any experience or equipment in videography but if you'd be interested in seeing my setup i'd be more than happy to show you. I would also love to discuss your experience with the system as a whole now that it's been this long.
Thank you!
Sure, just put out a raw video and I'll take a look. The system is working fine. House stays cool but in the late afternoon the sun through the west windows does make the living room warmer but not unbearable.
The thermostats that come with the units are very basic and the remote isn't usable since the IR Receiver is in the attic on the units. I did recently buy a Cielo controller and it is working to control all three of the upper units via a wifi connection to my phone.
This has helped by making it programable but I did run into an issue when we took a trip and didn't have a signal. I wasn't sure if the system was turning on and off. Then being off grid I was even more concerning how the batteries were doing. Luckily I was able to find a single here and there and confirmed the units were on or off.
I just bought the basic controller but think the upgraded one works on it's own so that's my next purchase. This way I shouldn't need a signal.
I am no HVAC specialist, but I believe you need a supply plenum to distribute the controlled air properly to all of your branch lines. Without it you will probably have unequal distribution and flow issues.
What I attached was the supply plenum. I think you are talking about a damper to adjust how much volume comes out of each duct to equalize them. I don't feel that is necessary since you can simply open or close the registers as needed. I'll have several more videos on the install and as usual, things change....
Please post more vids of this system. If like to know which registers you are going with and are they adjustable. Thanks. Is also like you see your return filtration system
@@jl9678 hello, the registers are 3-way 4x10 with your typical closing option. I'm sure I'll get to this in a future video once the drywall is done but we ended up not using a typical return air set-up. Instead we simply left the units open in the attic space and then installed return air grills in each room. This way air flows from the finished space directly into the conditioned attic space freely. The attic is then kept at a similar temperature to the rest of the house and since ridge rot is an issue with spray foamed attics this should help prevent that with the extra air flow.
@@Off-Grid that's actually quite brilliant!
My current house has the return at the unit and that's what I was planning to do but I'll have to explore this option.
What kind of filtration are you putting in place for the ac?
Btw, I just subscribed to your channel. Good content here. Your build is so similar to mine and I'm going to learn a lot from you
what part of that system is 'mr cool' I dont see mr cool 'concealed systems' that air handler you are working with is that a mr cool? i didnt think mr cool made a air handler that you show in the video where you attached it to a 'plenum' what brand is it?
It is Mr Cool Olympus Ducted 5 ton Heat Pump. You can hook up to five ducted mini split units to it. There are several other videos on our channel about the set up.
I have a multi zone diy mr cool. It works good. Pretty energy efficient overall. I think at full blast 36k it is 10 amps.
We have run into some issues that we'll go over soon.
How many BTUs are your ducted heads? I have a 12k and tryinf to see if 4- 4" ducts will allow enough CFM.
I originally started out with (4) 4" ducts but had to raise it to a minimum of (6) 4" ducts to ensure that the unit would work property and have enough air flow to convert the gas back to to a liquid. We have two 12k units, one has (7) 4" ducts and the other has (6) 4" ducts.
Where did u get the fiberboard you built the Plenum out of? I am trying to find it where I live
It was from a local commercial suppy store typically used by contractors but you can order it from any box store.
@@Off-Grid I went to Menards, Home Depot and Lowes and none of them have fiberglass boards. They have polyiso foil face board or EPS foil faced. But neither one is fiberglass foil faced.
@@IADHDD Search for Duct Board.
I've been looking at this system, but can't tell if it is explicitly DIY or not. I know some of their models are DIY and some require a licensed installer to comply with their warranty. Is this one DIY?
It is not DIY like their typical mini-splits. Once the lines were ran we had a HVAC guy hook them up and pull a vacuum to make sure there weren't any leaks before opening the valves. The system did have extra charge but still needed more freon to get filled up. I think it took less than a pound and we were up and running. We did do everything else though.
First, very clever "plenum" and return air approach.
I am "stealing"your return air strategy for my conditioned open cell attic.
Do you see any negatives so far from not having a textbook plenum? It's so simple, I'm tempted, but concerned it causes issues with back pressure or mixing that I don't fully understand (not an HVAC guy).
Thanks for watching. The system is working fine. The return air set-up was very easy and works great. I've come to realize that this is the best way not only for simplicity but also to help prevent ridge rot since the attic air is being circulated. I have temperature ans humidity sensors along the ridge and I feel because if the way the return is plumbed it keeps everything in check.
The Supply lines arw in good shape as well. The plenums I made are still together and holding up fine. House is cool when it needs to be and warm when needed as well.
@@Off-Grid Thank you for the reply. We're building a new garage w/ apartment to squat while we build the main house ourselves on site. Very helpful!
@@FreedomMath Nice, that was kind of our plan too. Build the shop and live in it until we built the house. Ended up turning the shop into the house......now I have to build a shop!
How many vents can i put on 30k BTU ducted Mini-Split. Can. I put 7 of 6 inch round ??
I would like to have seen the installation..I think you will require a proper plenum
Hello Wayne. Below are links to other videos on the system. There should also be a playlist on our channel for the HVAC. Thanks for watching.
ruclips.net/video/egqS_b80Lf4/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/6DRN-JNgYTU/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/50JM8V1zhDU/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/qHRfjw2Wb1E/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/LpOi-N9jkxs/видео.html
Do these need a return duct?
We did not run return ducts since they are in a conditioned attic space. We just cut vents into the bedrooms and such. Then when the air kicks on it simply sucks the house air into the attic, through the units, and back into the house. This made the install really easy and it also keep air circulating through the attic. Win-Win!
@Off-Grid did you install baffles in the attic prior to spray foaming? I'm curious because I'm looking into doing something like this to my home. I figured baffles would be sufficient enough to provide air flow. I'm also planning on putting in one of these ducted units but am just starting out my education
Please stop pulling a razor knife toward your face 😧