Mini Split Owners

[John Mercier]

Do any of the mini splits have a temperature setback function.
Sort of like a programmed thermostat that lowers the temperature at night and brings it up in the morning?

[ITD]

My son has several mitsubishi splits with set back programmable thermostats. He has them programmed as you want, plus I believe they are interfaced with another program via wifi that monitors temperature and time running. I can ask him what he's using if you want.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Do any of the mini splits have a temperature setback function.
Sort of like a programmed thermostat that lowers the temperature at night and brings it up in the morning?

The issue I find with my Mini Splits is it's better to "set it and forget it". Playing with the temperature works when it's above freezing because the air coming out of the units is still hot.
The colder it gets outside the air coming from the units turns to just warm. If you turn them down in the really cold weather, it will take a long time to heat up that space again.
When you leave them set at certain temperature, they will continue to circulate the hot air near the ceiling even if the compressor unit is not producing hot air.
I have an App to control all my head units, and it will show me the temp it's set at and the temp at the ceiling. The temp at the ceiling is always 2 to 3 degrees higher than the setting so the fan will keep blowing that hot ceiling air down even when the outdoor unit is not on.
Even though I have remotes for each unit, I rarely use them. I'm always controlling them from my phone.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by ITD

My son has several mitsubishi splits with set back programmable thermostats. He has them programmed as you want, plus I believe they are interfaced with another program via wifi that monitors temperature and time running. I can ask him what he's using if you want.

Yes. Thank you.

The Bristol store has several of these units.
So from close on Saturday until 7am Monday they are essentially heating an empty space.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by Biggd

The issue I find with my Mini Splits is it's better to "set it and forget it". Playing with the temperature works when it's above freezing because the air coming out of the units is still hot.
The colder it gets outside the air coming from the units turns to just warm. If you turn them down in the really cold weather, it will take a long time to heat up that space again.
When you leave them set at certain temperature, they will continue to circulate the hot air near the ceiling even if the compressor unit is not producing hot air.
I have an App to control all my head units, and it will show me the temp it's set at and the temp at the ceiling. The temp at the ceiling is always 2 to 3 degrees higher than the setting so the fan will keep blowing that hot ceiling air down even when the outdoor unit is not on.
Even though I have remotes for each unit, I rarely use them. I'm always controlling them from my phone.

This matches my experience. Also, in one of our rooms we were no able to manage the temperature differential between the unit and lower heights. For this room we bought the add on remote thermostats for a few hundred dollars

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

This matches my experience. Also, in one of our rooms we were no able to manage the temperature differential between the unit and lower heights. For this room we bought the add on remote thermostats for a few hundred dollars

I didn't remove my original heating system, so I switch over to my oil boiler when temp drops below freezing. I find that it performs better than the heat pump and costs, right now, are comparable. It gives me the option of switching back if prices on oil spike.
I have Eversource and the electric rate usually changes every six months, I expect it to go up.

[WinnisquamZ]

Originally Posted by Biggd

I didn't remove my original heating system, so I switch over to my oil boiler when temp drops below freezing. I find that it performs better than the heat pump and costs, right now, are comparable. It gives me the option of switching back if prices on oil spike.
I have Eversource and the electric rate usually changes every six months, I expect it to go up.

Same here. Mini spilts though mid November then switch to the hot water baseboard until April. Also, I agree with leaving them at a comfortable temperature and cycle up and down.


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[The Real BigGuy]

My son in law dose Mitsubishi mini-split installs. He has told me that there is an add-on module that will allow you to control mini-splits from your phone. They have to add it at install. I don’t know what/how it controls but it may be worth asking about. However, I agree with Biggs, they really are made to be set & forget. Their cost efficiency drops the more you play with the temp.


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[Biggd]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

My son in law dose Mitsubishi mini-split installs. He has told me that there is an add-on module that will allow you to control mini-splits from your phone. They have to add it at install. I don’t know what/how it controls but it may be worth asking about. However, I agree with Biggs, they really are made to be set & forget. Their cost efficiency drops the more you play with the temp.


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I have Cooper and Hunter and it came with that feature. I can control everything from my phone. I didn't put it on my wife's phone so when I'm not around she has to use the remotes, but I usually get a text to do it from my phone.
I had an integrated Honeywell wifi thermostat installed also, so I can control the boiler from my phone too.
Technology, it's great when it works!
Happy Thanksgiving.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

Same here. Mini spilts though mid November then switch to the hot water baseboard until April. Also, I agree with leaving them at a comfortable temperature and cycle up and down.


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I'm still using my Heat pumps but it's supposed to cool down quite a bit on Thanksgiving so I will switch to oil by then.
Happy Thanksgiving.

[RUGMAN]

we have the Mitsubishi mini split and we had the control module installed it isn called Kumo Cloud, allows you to control the unit from your phone works great as long as you have internet

[4 for Boating]

I just installed 2 new Pioneer Mini-Splits this fall. A few things that were material when I purchased.

1. If you intend to use it in the winter - make sure you pick one that is rated for very low temp as not all make/models are suited for this climate. In my case, the WYS Inverter ++ is rated to be able to heat in conditions down to -13F. (Going to test that this winter and keep my old heater as a back up if it can't keep up) Many have low temp models but many don't. I needed to read the fine print.
2. You can control everything from your phone as it connects to your home wifi (like many vendors do) if you have that. Agreed - I don't use the remote either.
3. If you want to take advantage of the state (Electric Company) rebates ~$250 per ton, you need to be very careful to pick a model that meets the state requirements as that was not as easy as it sounds. Else you risk losing out on hundreds of dollars.
4. Also agree that the temp reading of these seeing they are up near the ceiling is always off from the rest of the room by a few degrees. Some models have a feature where you tell the system to get the room temp from the remote which can be put in a more reasonable position.

[thinkxingu]

A bit off-topic, but does anyone know how these mini-splits compare to a standalone heat pump condenser?

I have a split with electric baseboard throughout and central air for the upper level (that filters down to the lower level perfectly). I received a mailer from Eversource about incentives to replace my current condenser with a heat pump version and am wondering if it would be worth looking into. My current condenser is a 14-year-old Trane but running perfectly.

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[The Real BigGuy]

Again, using info I gleaned previously from son in law. Mini split is more efficient than the standard alone heat pump condenser. Their other advantage is it is easier to install heads in different/multiple locations.

With regards to getting rid of existing heating systems. His company, even though they make a crap load of $ installing mini splits, recommends having a secondary heating source even when they sell a “hyper heat” unit (Mitsubishi’s efficient to -15 system).


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[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

Again, using info I gleaned previously from son in law. Mini split is more efficient than the standard alone heat pump condenser. Their other advantage is it is easier to install heads in different/multiple locations.

With regards to getting rid of existing heating systems. His company, even though they make a crap load of $ installing mini splits, recommends having a secondary heating source even when they sell a “hyper heat” unit (Mitsubishi’s efficient to -15 system).


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I'd definitely keep the electric baseboard as there are no air vents in the lower level and the independent thermostats in every room would maintain the balance of heat when using the wood stove, etc.

I guess I'm just wondering how much, realistically, I'd save overall. My electric bill is $230/mth. year-round for a completely electric home with central AC, which is pretty good methinks, but those costs rarely/never go down...

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[Biggd]

My system is "Hyper heat", it will throw heat down to -13. I had installed a year ago in October. I used it through December, but the electric bills got pretty high, so I switched back to my oil boiler for the rest of last winter.
As of right now I am still using the heat pump but I'm going to switch to my oil heat on Wed or Thurs, when temps are supposed to drop.
The lower the temp goes outside, the heat coming from the unit goes from hot air to just warm air. It just felt more comfortable with my regular heating system at that point.
I mainly installed them for AC so they worked flawlessly this past summer!

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

I'd definitely keep the electric baseboard as there are no air vents in the lower level and the independent thermostats in every room would maintain the balance of heat when using the wood stove, etc.

I guess I'm just wondering how much, realistically, I'd save overall. My electric bill is $230/mth. year-round for a completely electric home with central AC, which is pretty good methinks, but those costs rarely/never go down...

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We had a heat pump condenser at a previous home, a couple of generations removed from current. The idea was that the heat pump would heat your home down to about 30(?) degrees, and then automatically kick over to your main heat when the outdoor tempaerature dropped. Your contractor should be able to estimate the economics for you. For us it worked out great, paying for itself in 6 or 7 years

[ITD]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Yes. Thank you.

The Bristol store has several of these units.
So from close on Saturday until 7am Monday they are essentially heating an empty space.

John, sorry for the delay. The thermostat he uses is this one:
https://a.co/d/8q150cc

You can set back and remote monitor with it if you use the Mitsubishi cable or make one yourself which I believe the article below details.

As far as higher level stuff he sent me this article:

https://chrdavis.github.io/hacking-a...t-pump-Part-1/

That’s more advanced, but pretty cool.

[The Real BigGuy]

One thing with the Mitsubishi adapter, at least on older units, once you install an adapter the inferred remote will no longer work.


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[ITD]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

One thing with the Mitsubishi adapter, at least on older units, once you install an adapter the inferred remote will no longer work.


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My son said on his units, which are about a year old, the remote does work with his, but when he remote controls through his system with his t-stat, the remote still displays the last setting. If you update the heater with the IR remote, it will change the setting and the t-stat will update.

I don't think he uses the IR remote too often. More of a set and forget system now.

His system was good though as the contractor had some issues with the initial install. The data he had made it easier to figure out there was an issue. To the contractors credit, he stuck with it until it was right, with a little prodding of course.

[Blue Thunder]

I have just replaced my mini split system at my lake home with the Mitsubishi brand system. Turns out these systems have a shelf life of about 15 years. I am using the Cielo App to control it remotely. It allows scheduling etc. and is available on Amazon. It’s better than the Kumo Cloud system in my opinion.

https://cielowigle.com/

[ITD]

John, I got to sit down with my son and talk about this in a little more detail. You do need a special cable to interface the set back thermo with the unit as others have said. He built one, I believe it is detailed or linked to in the article, he said it was cheaper than buying the official one.

He 'hacked' the system using the procures in the article, he interfaces with a Home Assistant box, which gives him full control over his systems via the internet. He collects usage data doing this, plus more. Obviously, it's a little complicated, but doable if you have the basic electronic skills, plus a little knowledge of Arduino type hardware. I've corrected my post above to clear this up.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by ITD

John, I got to sit down with my son and talk about this in a little more detail. You do need a special cable to interface the set back thermo with the unit as others have said. He built one, I believe it is detailed or linked to in the article, he said it was cheaper than buying the official one.

He 'hacked' the system using the procures in the article, he interfaces with a Home Assistant box, which gives him full control over his systems via the internet. He collects usage data doing this, plus more. Obviously, it's a little complicated, but doable if you have the basic electronic skills, plus a little knowledge of Arduino type hardware. I've corrected my post above to clear this up.

All Greek to me!
It took my guy 2 hours to set mine all up and get everything working on my phone.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by Biggd

All Greek to me!
It took my guy 2 hours to set mine all up and get everything working on my phone.

Yeah, you need some skills to do it yourself and save a little money. I'd probably do the same.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by ITD

Yeah, you need some skills to do it yourself and save a little money. I'd probably do the same.

It would have taken me 2 days!
I changed the modem at my home, and it took me all day to get everything connected and working properly.

[John Mercier]

Probably wouldn't do it myself. We have an IT department that is skilled.
I have been doing the weatherstripping and other items that I understand.