Most comparisons of split and ducted air conditioning talk about comfort and looks. This one is about the electrical side: what each type asks of your circuits, switchboard and supply, and how that plays out in an Inner West home.
Ring 0421 772 661 to check your switchboard and supply before you commit to a system. We do the electrical side; your air conditioning installer handles the refrigerant work.
A split system has an outdoor unit and an indoor head on the wall of one room. Homes often end up with two or three, each serving a living area or bedroom, each run independently. A multi-head split uses one outdoor unit for several indoor heads.
Ducted air conditioning uses one larger indoor unit, usually in the roof space or under the floor, pushing air through ducts to vents in each room, with a single outdoor unit. Zoning lets you choose which rooms get conditioned.
Electrically, that means splits spread the load across several smaller circuits, while ducted concentrates it into one larger circuit and one larger outdoor unit.
Each split or ducted outdoor unit usually needs its own dedicated circuit sized to the manufacturer's requirements. Several splits mean several circuits.
Three splits can need three new circuit breakers or RCBOs. One ducted system needs one, but often a larger rating.
Larger ducted units may be offered in single or three-phase versions. Most Inner West homes are single-phase, so check the model suits your supply.
Outdoor units need an isolating switch nearby so they can be safely worked on. We fit a weatherproof isolator rated for the job.
Splits need a run to each outdoor unit location. Ducted needs one run to the outdoor unit plus power and control to the indoor unit in the roof or subfloor.
Several splits running together can draw as much as a ducted system. The question is the whole house load, not the unit type alone.
Ducted systems need room for the indoor unit and ductwork. Many Victorian terraces have shallow or awkward roof spaces, while raised Federation cottages and inter-war bungalows sometimes have more room above or below. Where ducting is hard, splits are often the practical choice, and they let you condition just the rooms you use.
The bigger electrical question in older homes is the switchboard and supply. A ceramic fuse board with no spare space and an old main switch often needs upgrading before adding air conditioning, especially if you're also planning induction cooking, a heat pump or an EV charger. Our air conditioner dedicated circuit guide covers the circuit itself, and signs you need a switchboard upgrade helps you judge your board.
Mounting the units, running refrigerant pipework and commissioning the system is the air conditioning installer's job, and refrigerant handling needs a licensed refrigeration technician. The electrical work, from switchboard to isolator to unit connection, is ours. We can run the circuits before the air con installer arrives, or come in during their install and connect once units are in place.
Whichever system you pick, we test the circuits to AS/NZS 3000 and provide a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work.
Most need a dedicated circuit; check the manufacturer's installation manual for the model. Small units sometimes have different requirements.
Not necessarily. Many ducted units are available in single-phase versions. If your home only has single-phase, choose a model that suits it.
It depends on its age, space and the main switch. We look at the board and the rest of your load before quoting.
Only if they hold an electrical licence. Otherwise a licensed electrician does the circuits and connection.
We do the electrical side for all major brands, including Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and ActronAir. We don't supply the units.
NSW Electrical Contractor Licence 332956C · Fully insured · Since 2016 · Based in Hurlstone Park
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