[Shop-talk] mini-split or window unit ?

[Pat Horne]

Mike, this may be a tough call. Window units are easy but mini-splits probably have a much better efficiency. If you have any possibility of adding an additional conditioned area such as an office, a lot of mini-split compressors can support multiple inside units. 

Peace,
Pat

Pat Horne 
We support Habitat for Humanity


On Apr 19, 2021, at 6:50 PM, Mike Rambour <lists at dinospider.com> wrote:

 Ok, I want a cooler garage this year.  I have been planning to install a mini-split for several years now and this is the year.    Power will be a slight problem, shop has plenty but none where I want the compressor to go, so have to run some power. Shop has 200amp sub-panel 40ft away from where I want to install compressor. Not a big deal BUT I saw a 18k btu window unit at Home Depot and was thinking that should work great and be half the price.

 My shop is 24ft x 40ft so 960 sq. ft. 9ft tall walls of 2x6 filled with insulation and I went overboard on ceiling insulation also, stays cool until mid-afternnon on hot days then becomes a oven for the evening, I live in S. Calif.  I already have a Hot Dawg gas heater so I don't need the heat that a mini-split would provide, but might be nice to get rid of the Hot Dawg (doubt that I would) and have one unit do both.   In the "shop" area of the garage I have barn doors that I welded up forever ago, 1x2 steel with a plywood exterior, i have not used/opened those doors in over a decade, they were installed when I built the shop just so I could get my lathe and mill in easily.   I have no windows in the shop so I was thinking I could put this window ac unit in one of those barn doors, the frame will easily handle the weight and it would be a super easy hole to cut and install the unit into, I think even the hinges would handle the weight but I can get stronger bigger hinges if I need them.  Then I have dedicated 50amp plug right next to that for my TIG to plug the unit into, I weld mostly in the front of the shop anyway but I wired every wall with a 50amp for the TIG and 30amp for the table saw when I built the shop (I really went overboard on wiring).

 So what would you do ? mini-split seems to the answer but half the price for a easier install window unit and cut a hole in a unused door seems like a good idea, good ideas are often the worst...

    mike

-- 
A gun is like a parachute, if you need one but don't have it,
you'll probably never need one again.

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