Converting an air conditioner to a heat pump

Posted by The Daring Dufas on October 22, 2009, 9:00 pm

dcaster@krl.org wrote:

> How feasible would it be to convert a split air conditioner to a heat
> only heat pump? I still have too many projects to complete before I
> could attempt to do something like this, but I find it interesting to
> think about projects like that. I realize that I would need a
> refrigerant capture device and take an exam before I could buy
> refrigerant.
>
>
> Dan

Dan, it would be a nice little project if you had money to spend
on a learning experience. There are some differences in the
compressors and outdoor coils of factory heat pumps and your
best bet would be to get hold of a used heat pump from Craigslist
or a dealer who pulled one out. Get a lot more experience with
HVAC before you tackle this one.

TDD

Posted by dcaster@krl.org on October 23, 2009, 7:58 am

wrote:

> Dan, it would be a nice little project if you had money to spend
> on a learning experience. There are some differences in the
> compressors and outdoor coils of factory heat pumps and your
> best bet would be to get hold of a used heat pump from Craigslist
> or a dealer who pulled one out. Get a lot more experience with
> HVAC before you tackle this one.
> TDD

I find it too easy to dream up learning projects, so may never get
around to this one. I thought there might be some differences
between compressors for heat pumps and compressors for air
conditioners, but have not figured out what would drive the
differences.

I am afraid I am going to have to sign up for some classes on HVAC at
the local votech to satisfy my curiousity. But right now do not seem
to have the time.

One of the reasons I thought of this as a project is that used air
conditioners can be found on Craigslist at prices that encourage a
learning experience. Used heat pumps are a little more expensive
initially, but maybe less expensive overall.

Dan

Posted by Stormin Mormon on October 23, 2009, 8:14 am

Sounds like you're having fun, learning. If your climate
isn't too harshly cold, you might be able to make a window
AC work as a heat pump. You'd want to take it apart, and
clean it thoroughly first.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

I find it too easy to dream up learning projects, so may
never get
around to this one. I thought there might be some
differences
between compressors for heat pumps and compressors for air
conditioners, but have not figured out what would drive the
differences.

I am afraid I am going to have to sign up for some classes
on HVAC at
the local votech to satisfy my curiousity. But right now do
not seem
to have the time.

One of the reasons I thought of this as a project is that
used air
conditioners can be found on Craigslist at prices that
encourage a
learning experience. Used heat pumps are a little more
expensive
initially, but maybe less expensive overall.

Dan

Posted by Existential Angst on October 23, 2009, 10:01 am

> Sounds like you're having fun, learning. If your climate
> isn't too harshly cold, you might be able to make a window
> AC work as a heat pump. You'd want to take it apart, and
> clean it thoroughly first.
> --
> Christopher A. Young
> Learn more about Jesus
> www.lds.org
> .
> I find it too easy to dream up learning projects, so may
> never get
> around to this one. I thought there might be some
> differences
> between compressors for heat pumps and compressors for air
> conditioners, but have not figured out what would drive the
> differences.
> I am afraid I am going to have to sign up for some classes
> on HVAC at
> the local votech to satisfy my curiousity. But right now do
> not seem
> to have the time.
> One of the reasons I thought of this as a project is that
> used air
> conditioners can be found on Craigslist at prices that
> encourage a
> learning experience. Used heat pumps are a little more
> expensive
> initially, but maybe less expensive overall.

Isn't the quickest way to turn a window A/C into a heat pump to just turn it
around in the window?

Or, for a minisplit, mount the condenser on the inside, and cooling coils on
the outside?

Just run the power cord to the inside of the house, and add a switch!
heh....

I tried to use a window A/C as an inside de-humidifier -- just plopped in on

a milk crate, with a drip pan -- but it kept freezing up. <sigh>

--
EA

> Dan
>

Posted by The King on October 23, 2009, 5:22 pm

On Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:01:17 -0400, "Existential Angst"

>Isn't the quickest way to turn a window A/C into a heat pump to just turn it
>around in the window?
>Or, for a minisplit, mount the condenser on the inside, and cooling coils on
>the outside?
>Just run the power cord to the inside of the house, and add a switch!
>heh....
>I tried to use a window A/C as an inside de-humidifier -- just plopped in on

It was probably low on refrigerant. Quickest way to tell on cap tube
systems is they will freeze the beginning of the evaporator coil.
Sure bet its low if you see that type of frost pattern. Juice it up
to 62=64 and make sure you have an 18 - 20 degree air temp split
across the evap and the full coil is sweating.
Everything, with a few exceptions, in the refrigeration trade evolves
around the delta of two numbers. 10 and 20.

A 20 degree (+ or - 2 degrees) evaporator air delta on comfort
cooling equipment is common. If its it way out of wack there's other
problems.

As for the original posters questions, well I think he's not thinking
clearly. It would cost more to buy the parts separately and take a
lot more time to frankenstein a standard a/c into a hp then it would
cost to buy them as a whole. In that sense he only needs two parts.
A hp outdoor unit and a hp indoor coil. Better hurry though, pretty
soon everything will be 410a and he'll need new lines too.

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Converting an air conditioner to a heat pump - Page 4