Multi head ductless unit; nameplate marking 440.4(B)

One data point: I looked at the Technical and Service Manual for Mitsubishi MXZ-SM??NAM-U1, where ?? is 36, 48, or 60 (3-5 tons). These outdoor units support 2-4 to 2-8 indoor units (depending on tonnage). The MCA in the manual is specified as:

29 A (When power is supplied separately)
35 A (When power is supplied from the outdoor unit)

Presumably that refers to power to the indoor units.


Cheers, Wayne
Interesting. I have never seen such information marked on a data plate. I have also never "supplied power separately" to an indoor unit.
 
One data point: I looked at the Technical and Service Manual for Mitsubishi MXZ-SM??NAM-U1, where ?? is 36, 48, or 60 (3-5 tons). These outdoor units support 2-4 to 2-8 indoor units (depending on tonnage). The MCA in the manual is specified as:

29 A (When power is supplied separately)
35 A (When power is supplied from the outdoor unit)

Presumably that refers to power to the indoor units.


Cheers, Wayne
Ahh good find thank you, so they are doing some like the regular old ducted systems.
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As I said before they often don't have the unit, or a different one shows up than on the cut sheet but now I'll be asking how many 'heads', and if it has these ducted 'ceiling cassettes' instead of wall head units.
In my case the unit on the approved plan set was discontinued by the time they were ready, so a completely different unit was used.
And I still like to follow along and see how they got their numbers.
 
I am a Daikin dealer and have gone through many Inservice Training sessions at my distributor and have installed many Daikin Dustless Systems for several years. As required by UL (Underwriter Laboratory) they have been tested and certified, see attachment. Electricians only need to follow the label on the outside unit.

I don't install conventual HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) split systems anymore, because they are a waste of energy. Ductless systems are taking over conventual split systems.

So, maybe Mike Holt can add some training to his code training seminars to help Electricians identify the differences between HVAC systems to prevent miss wiring to them.
 

Attachments

  • UL 1995 Transition to UL 60335 2 40.pdf
    52 KB · Views: 5
1) IMHO the label on the outdoor unit should include the power requirements of the interior units, and the electrician should be able to simply follow the MCA and MOCPD requirements on the label.

2) It seems that in at least some instances, companies are not labeling things in a fashion that permits the above.
 
see attachment.
Thats very interesting thanks Michael so they have phased out UL 1995 in favor of a what appears to be harmonized UL/CSA/IEC 60335 I'd imagine MCA would still be calculated the same way.
UL 1995 gave the manufacturer 3 differnt was to calculate MCA, as follows, presumably they used to use b) but the unit I have in post 6 namplate shows its UL 60335 not UL 1995.
Minimum Circuit Ampacity
44.14 The minimum circuit ampacity (MCA) required by Clause 44.3(h) shall be determined as follows. All concurrent load conditions shall be considered in the determinations; see Figure 44.1. Whichever load condition provides the highest value shall be used.

a) For a motor group only, a load consisting of two or more motors, the rated current of the largest motor or branch circuit selection current, if marked (see Clauses 44.11 and 44.12), or the MOC and MRC required by item (f) of 44.3, multiplied by 125 per cent, added to the rated currents of all of the other motors.

b) For a combination load, a load consisting of one or more motors, electric heaters, and any olher loads, that incorporates one or more compressor motors, the rated current of the largest motor or branch circuit selection current, if marked (see Clauses 44.11 and 44.12), or the MOC and MRC required by item (f) of 44.3, multiplied by 125 per cent, added to which shall be the value obtained by multiplying the rated current of the electric heaters by 125 per cent, and adding to that total the sum of the ratings of all other loads.

c)
For a combination load, a load consisting of one or more motors, electric heaters, and any other loads, not involving a hermetic refrigerant motor compressor, the sum of the rated currents multiplied by 125 per cent.
 
Thats very interesting thanks Michael so they have phased out UL 1995 in favor of a what appears to be harmonized UL/CSA/IEC 60335 I'd imagine MCA would still be calculated the same way.
UL 1995 gave the manufacturer 3 differnt was to calculate MCA, as follows, presumably they used to use b) but the unit I have in post 6 namplate shows its UL 60335 not UL 1995.

The new flammable refrigerants, that have been introduced to help the manufacturers meet the higher federal EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standards, require the UL to change their testing standards to include international manufacturers.
 
1) IMHO the label on the outdoor unit should include the power requirements of the interior units, and the electrician should be able to simply follow the MCA and MOCPD requirements on the label.

2) It seems that in at least some instances, companies are not labeling things in a fashion that permits the above.

With Daikin's Matrix, you can see all the inside units that match with all the outside units. This information is for the installers only, not the Electrician. All the Electricians have to do, is follow the label on the outside unit.

The Daikin Installation Manual shows that no Electrician is needed for the inside units and the MPOD (Maximum Protective Overcurrent Device) and the MCA (Minimum Circuit Ampacity) will never equal your independent calculations since it is dependent on UL 60335 2 40 requirements.
 

Attachments

  • Daikin Matches.pdf
    446.8 KB · Views: 2
  • Daikin - Installation Manual.pdf
    106.8 KB · Views: 2
  • UL 1995 Transition to UL 60335 2 40.pdf
    52 KB · Views: 0
The Daikin Installation Manual shows that no Electrician is needed for the inside units and the MPOD (Maximum Protective Overcurrent Device) and the MCA (Minimum Circuit Ampacity) will never equal your independent calculations since it is dependent on UL 60335 2 40 requirements
I was going to mention that before but I was unsure of how the manufacturers come up with their numbers.

-Hal
 
I was going to mention that before but I was unsure of how the manufacturers come up with their numbers.

-Hal
In UL 60335 They describe how to determine MCA starting on page 176, here are the relevant pages from a 2022 version;
 

Attachments

  • ul_60335_mca-calc.pdf
    18.4 KB · Views: 3
In UL 60335 They describe how to determine MCA starting on page 176, here are the relevant pages from a 2022 version;
In particular this paragraph:

If an outdoor section may supply power directly to one or more indoor sections, both the outdoor and indoor sections shall be marked with MCA ratings for all possible loads in accordance with Clause 7.1DV.2. The rated MCA for the outdoor section shall be either the highest possible load calculation or multiple marked MCA ratings with the defined maximum load per MCA rating of indoor sections connected to the outdoor section.

Cheers, Wayne
 
MCA is not helpful for determining the load to be used in a panel schedule. The data in data sheets for mini-splits seems to be inconsistent. The data sheet in post 42 lists Rated Power Consumption and Current Input. The values are not the same and the data sheet does not say what the numbers provided include or what they would be used for. For an electrician adding a unit where no detailed load calculation is required I have no problem with the "follow the MCA" advice above. For engineers doing panel schedules and calculations that have to go through plan review that's not the best approach. MCA by definition is higher than running load so it artificially increases the panel's total load.
 
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