System Options

The following types of air conditioners are available as cooling only or reverse cycle units.

Cassete systems

* Suitable for single rooms up to 35 metres2

Portable split systems are generally small capacity units with separate indoor and outdoor sections connected by a flexible hose or duct through an open window.

These units can be moved from room to room and plugged into a standard power outlet. Some units can be placed in an open window so the hot coil is outside, while other types have an internal hot coil and a flexible hose which can be placed out a window or door.

Fixed (Fascia) Units

* Suitable for single rooms up to 60 metres2.

Fixed units are single, box-type units mounted through an external wall or window. Small capacity units can be plugged into standard power outlets, while larger units may need to be 'wired-in'.

Split systems

* Suitable for one or more rooms up to 60 metres2

Split systems are fixed units with separate indoor and outdoor sections connected by refrigerant piping. Indoor units may be wall, floor or ceiling mounted. Split systems are more expensive to purchase than window/wall units but produce less room noise and are usually more energy efficient than window/wall units.

Ducted systems

* Suitable for whole house, central or zoned system.
* Generally less efficient than split or fascia unit.

Ducted systems should be zoned to allow cooling of different areas at different times. This can improve efficiency and reduce running costs. Your home can be divided into a day zone (living areas) and a night zone (bedrooms).

Inverter (variable speed drive) technology is used to control the compressor motor in some air conditioners.This conserves energy by matching the motor power to the air conditioning load requiremnts.

Source: Sustainable Energy Victoria