Can I replace a heat pump ac condensing unit with a ac only condensing unit?
Question:My compressor went out on my existing ac with heat pump. I have the opportunity to by a 5 ton ac condensing unit for $200 that is new from a buddy. Is it a straight switch? What are the complications?
Answers:
few problems:
5 ton of cooling requires 2000 cfm of air - can your exisiting airhandler provide that much?
the indoor coil has a changable restrictor orafice to change sizes as coils are shipped generic 2 ton 3ton etc to get a 2.5 ton coil you change the orafice on a 3 ton coil. But the question is of free surface a 2 ton coil isnt the same as a 5 ton coil just as a volkswagon coolant raidiator isnt the same size as a kenworth truck radiator.
Power supply required - typical 2 to 2.5 ton residential acs are on a fused 30 - 35 amp circuit 5 ton can be on 40 - 45 so new breaker and wiring to outdoor may be required.
Refrigerant line set - copper connecting indoor to out will have to be changed if changing size of unit.
Now if this is a 5 ton ac for a 5 ton heatpump the unit is an exact swap out for all you are removing is the winter operation of the outdoor unit the ac side operates the same weither its a heatpump or straight ac. but your thermostat will have to be changed. if you intend to continue to use your electric heat which was a backup / auxillary / emergency during heatpump so that it is directly hooked to always run on a call for heat short term answer is to set it to em heat at t-stat for winter this moves the electric heat to the first stage bulb of your t-stat instead of secound stage during normal operation as a heatpump.
why go through all that trouble just leave the system on cool,and shut off during winter,that is if you have another way of heating your home.
The indoor coil is set up for a heat pump. If you can replace the indoor coil with an A/C only coil, you will be better off. If the indoor coil has a thermostatic expansion valve, It will need to be tuned to the new outdoor unit. If you have a fixed orifice restriction device, it may need to be replaced.
The 5T unit may be oversized for your home or the indoor coil. It is best to replace with a same size unit, unless of course, your current unit is 5T.
Have you investigated cost for having the compressor in your existing outdoor unit replaced?
It's not as easy as it first sounds.
The replacement condensing unit has to be the same brand and capacity to even contemplate it.
Secondly, when the original condensing unit "went out" as you say, did it burn out the compressor? If so, then the entire system needs specialist treatment with suction line burnout driers or a thorough decontamination clean out (depends on the type of machine).
In conclusion, it really is not a straight switch even due to the electrical considerations.
Good luck
if indoor coils are 5 ton and freon metering is at coils should word ok . heat pump coils have a bypass system for heating cycle that is the only difference
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