VRF Manufacture Comparison
With so many VRF manufactures to compare, it’s hard to decipher all the variations between systems. Below you’ll find a comparison of VRF manufactures such as, Daikin, Mitsubishi, LG, Carrier, Toshiba (Carrier), Fujitsu, Panasonic, Hitachi (York) and others to follow. We will be adding additional VRF Manufacture Comparison charts in the following weeks.
VRF Maximum Cooling Capacity
The following chart indicates the maximum cooling capacity in tons and 1,000’s of BTU for both VRF Heat Recovery Systems and VRF Heat Pump Systems.These values are based on multiple outdoor unit modules being attached to makeup the maximum, often three ODU.
Maximum Cooling Capacity – (Tons)
| System | Daikin | Mitsubishi | LG | Carrier | Toshiba | Fujitsu | Panasonic | Hitachi | York |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Recovery | 38 | 24 | 42 | 28 | 38 | 24 | 30 | 36 | 36 |
| Heat Pump | 34 | 30 | 42 | 36 | 38 | 24 | 30 | 36 | 36 |
Maximum Cooling Capacity MBH – (1,000’s of BTU’s)
| System | Daikin | Mitsubishi | LG | Carrier | Toshiba | Fujitsu | Panasonic | Hitachi | York |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Recovery | 456 | 288 | 504 | 336 | 456 | 288 | 360 | 432 | 432 |
| Heat Pump | 408 | 360 | 504 | 432 | 456 | 288 | 360 | 432 | 432 |
VRF Maximum Piping Lengths
The following chart indicates the maximum piping lengths that is approved by the various VRF manufactures in order that the system perform as designed. Confirm with manufacturers literature as there are often limiting factors effecting these lengths. Some manufacturers show equivalent length which means the actual distance is less, but that a fitting is added in as an equivalent length of pipe.
Total Maximum Piping Length – Between ODU & IDU (Feet)
| Daikin | Mitsubishi | LG | Carrier | Toshiba | Fujitsu | Panasonic | Hitachi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | 541′ | 656′ | 541′ | 656′ | 541′ | TBD | TBD |
Maximum VRF Indoor Units Attached to ODU’s
The following chart indicates the maximum quantity of VRF Indoor Units that can be attached to a set of VRF Outdoor Units. VRF Manufacturers connect several Outdoor Units together using various module sizes (tons) to comprise the maximum tons, often composed of three to four modules. This chart shows the maximum number of Indoor Units that can be connected to those connected Outdoor Modules.
| System | Daikin | Mitsubishi | LG | Carrier | Toshiba | Fujitsu | Panasonic | Hitachi | York |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Recovery | 64 | 50 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 45 | 52 | TBD | 64 |
| Heat Pump | 64 | 50 | 64 | 62 | 64 | 45 | 64 | TBD | 64 |
VRF Single-Port vs Multi-Port Branch Selector Box*
The following chart indicates if the VRF manufacture has a single-port branch selector box, as all VRF manufactures carry the Multi-port Branch Selector Box for their Heat Recovery systems.
| System | Daikin | Mitsubishi | LG | Carrier | Toshiba | Fujitsu | Panasonic | Hitachi | York |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Port | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBD | Yes |
| Multi Port | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
* Fujitsu uses (RB) Refrigerant Branch Unit as the name for their Branch Selector box, Mitsubishi use “BC Controller”, Branch Circuit Controller, Toshiba calls their boxes “Flow Selector Unit”, Hitachi (COB) Change-over Box,
VRF Heat Recovery Branch Selector Box
The following chart is a comparison of HVAC VRF manufactures options and capacities for their VRF Heat Recovery Branch Selector Boxes.
| System | Daikin | Mitsubishi | LG | Carrier | Toshiba | Fujitsu | Panasonic | Hitachi | York |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Capacity | 290 | 120 | 192 | TBD | 96 | 96* | TBD | 272 | TBD |
| Max 1-Port | 54 | TBD | 54 | TBD | TBD | 96 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Max Ports | 12 | TBD | 4 | TBD | 6 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 |
Max Capacity = The maximum capacity in MBH (1,000’s of BTU’s) for the VRF manufacturers largest box.
Max 1-Port = The maximum capacity out of one port on the multi-port box.
Max Ports = The maximum number of ports on one box.
* Some HVAC VRF Manufactures allow you to connect several branch selector boxes in series to increase capacity. Fujitsu allows two RB Units to be attached to increase the maximum capacity to 191 MBH. Mitsubishi allows the connection of Sub BC Controllers to increase capacity.
*TBD – To Be Determined at a Latter date
Leave us any comments related to the enclosed charts or any other HVAC VRF manufacture comparisons you would like to see.
