Zanussi Portable Heat Pump Air Conditioner ZPAC9002 Twin Hose Conversion

Checking out a Zanussi portable heat pump air conditioner ZPAC9002 as a heater for my home workshop. Basic introduction to the product then testing and a DIY twin hose conversion to improve efficiency.
Part 2, where I use it to cool the workshop, is now done and can be found here: • Zanussi Portable Air C...
Of course using any commercially produced device with a modification like this may invalidate any guarantee and/or insurance cover so decide for yourself before doing anything similar.

[@budmartin3344]

Great video. I hope you will have follow-up in the winter time to see how well it heats up the room when the outside temperature gets to 10c or lower. I myself bought a portable dual-hose Hisense with heat pump function, I cannot wait to find out how well it will work this coming winter here in the SF Bay area.

[@billjones4986]

Have the same unit you do,not used the heat yet,heard they work great,but the draining part concerns me.looks like have to use the hose to drain the water somehow.using it all summer for A/C,no need to drain it.

[@richardc1983]

Great video, the intake part though where you've used the reducer to go into your intake part, id probably scrap this piece, on the intake you want as much airflow as possible to get into it as easily as possible. Did the same as you with portable units I had and it worked very well.

[@mrpingen]

Thanks. What you suggest is already done. Longer term I want to make a more permanent cowling and use larger hose, as I have done on the outlet side (wet up from 125 to 150mm) or better still use rigid plastic pipe as ducting. Have been using it recently to cool and it works well but I really want it for background heating - will see how it goes over the coming winter.

[@richardc1983]

@@mrpingen Great job - these units do work reasonably well when you set them up the way you have done.

[@btiller44]

@@mrpingen How is it working for you so far during the cold season? I am considering modding my one hose unit as well, I like your cardboard box idea. My problem isn't that the unit I have can't heat the room, it's that it sucks in cold air through the cracks near the door. I don't 100% understand how pulling cold air from outside makes this work, but what do I have to lose testing it out with a box?

[@mrpingen]

@@btiller44 I have been testing/using the device a fair bit but have been extremely busy and have had no time to do any videos.
If the outside temperature is above 7 degrees C. then the thing works pretty well. If the temperature is lower then it has to stop reguarly to do its defrost cycle. If down near 1 or 2 degrees than it is a waste of time - better just plugging in an electric heater.
I now have larger hoses and an insulated outlet hose as it forms condensation and even ice on it without insulation.
There are two air circuits, one draws air from outside to cool (when using it as a heat pump) and then expels that air back outside. The heat it exstracts goes to its second heat exchanger and air from the room is blown through it to warm it up then expeled back into the room.
The problem with the single hose ones is that they draw air to extract heat from from the inside and expel it outside, thus causing drafts into the room. They obviously don't work as efficiently but there is one less hose and probably they are lower cost to make.
The whole thing looks a mess but at least it can be moved about unlike a fixed installation.

[@btiller44]

@@mrpingen Yeah I never really understood how they can work based on one hose either, lol. I am using mine in an office in my shop - the rest of the shop is unheated, but typically is warmer than the outside (except in the morning). I'm going to have it draw air from inside the open shop area and see how that goes. It does mean I have to cut a 4" hole in my sheer wall but I think it's for a good cause. I'm also going to 3d print a part that will let me throw a filter in between the wall and the unit so I can leave the 2nd hose box attached. Thanks for the advice and the video!

[@maximc7089]

Thanks for your review, it helps in deciding on how to go about this. I like the way that you can improvise and improve the design. The Snowflakers would call you an Anorak but without people like you who have imagination, nothing would be invented.

[@mrpingen]

Thanks for commenting. Most portable air con units don't come with a twin hose setup for some reason - at least here in the UK. It could, of course, be down to cost but they do work a lot better, as I found out.

[@strontiumdog9911]

single hose are useless, once adapted seal all vents & cracks regardless fresh air will always get mixed within the unit itself.
and ensure exterior hoses inlet and outlers are as far apart as possible to avoid loop back
always go for a spit window or fixed if possible (if you dont like a breezy & noisy room even though the breez is relativly warm in heating mode portables always find cold air on return to the unit unless room is perfectly sealed as room has neg air pressure so the tiny crackes(doors windows) will draw in cold air avoid portables at all cost far better to over insulate and pure electric convector if a split is not an option
if you dont mind breezez and noise however and the room is well sealed they have great efficancy