In this video
- The communications cable is pre-wired at the factory on both the indoor and outdoor units, with pins matched in the correct order.
- This single cable carries both power and communication signals to the indoor unit, so no separate electrical plug is needed inside.
- A printed circuit board on the outdoor unit uses this cable to tell the indoor unit what to do.
- Standard installs require extensive wiring behind this panel; Airspool's Quick ’n’ EasyTM system reduces it to pushing and twisting one connector.
- The connector is keyed so it only fits one way, and a black locking ring secures it once it's plugged in.
Questions this video answers
Does the indoor mini-split unit need its own power outlet?
No. The indoor unit gets its power through the same communications cable that connects it to the outdoor unit, so you don't need a separate plug inside.
How hard is it to wire a mini-split's indoor and outdoor units together?
With Airspool's Quick ’n’ EasyTM system, the pins are pre-wired in the correct matching order on both units, so all you do is push and twist the connector into place, about a 20-second step.
What does the communications cable actually do on a mini-split?
It links the outdoor unit's printed circuit board to the indoor unit so the outdoor unit can tell the indoor unit what to do, and it also delivers power to the indoor unit.
Can I plug the mini-split communications connector in wrong?
No. The connector is keyed so it only fits one way, since one pin is longer than the others, so it can't be forced in incorrectly.
How long does connecting the mini-split communications cable take?
About 20 seconds. You push the connector into place, twist until it lines up and seats, then twist the black locking ring to secure it.
Transcript
Read the full transcript
Okay, so you remember this communication control wire? This was actually the first thing that came through the wall. Now we're going to connect this. What this does is connect the outside unit with the inside unit.
The inside unit actually gets its power from the outside unit, so you don't need a separate plug for the inside unit — it gets its power right through this connection.
There's a communication board in here, a printed circuit board that communicates with the inside unit. Basically, this board tells the inside unit what to do.
By the way, if you look at a standard install, there's a lot going on behind this panel in terms of the wiring that's required, and there's a lot of wiring required on the inside unit too. We've done all that for you, so all you need to do is this one step.
It will only go in one way. One of these pins is longer than the other ones, and it's hard to tell which one it is, but it doesn't matter — you just keep twisting until it lines up and goes in. Then, on the black ring here, twist that, and it's connected. This step is done.
