Black Diamond Technologies (Mitsubishi Electric) AquaCore Hot Water Heat Pump
- 3.6
- COP
- —
- Tank
- 10.8c
- Running Cost/kWh
- 49 dB(A)
- Noise
- R32
- Refrigerant
- —
- Installed from
Who is it a good fit for?
- Homes wanting to retrofit an existing cylinder — works with any standard NZ cylinder without full replacement.
- Very cold climate homes — −15°C is the lowest minimum ambient in the NZ market.
- Those who value Mitsubishi Electric engineering — proven reliability and build quality.
- Space-constrained installations — indoor AquaCore unit is just 460×240×460mm.
- Buyers wanting proven NZ track record — over 10 years in the New Zealand market.
What owners say
“Doing major house renovations, old gas hot water cylinder was end of life and in the wrong place. Central heating installer recommended Aquacore. We installed a Rheem 250L tank. It can be controlled using the same app on the phone as the space heating, and on the Home Assistant. Going well. We always have hot water when we want. I can change when the water is heated (daytime in summer, when we have excess solar; night time in winter to use off-peak tariff).”
Review
Performance & efficiency:
The COP figures are refreshingly honest — Mitsubishi publishes performance at 19°C (COP 3.6), 7°C (COP 3.0), and 1°C (COP 2.4), giving buyers realistic expectations across seasons. The −15°C to 46°C operating range is the widest of any hot water heat pump in the NZ market.
Features:
- Refrigerant loop: This split system allows for an outdoor compressor with and indoor unit and tank. It operates by circulating refrigerant rather than water, meaning a certified installer is required. The dual refrigerant system (R32 outdoor, R134a indoor) adds complexity but enables the wide operating range. The trade-off is a lower COP than dedicated integrated units, and higher combined GWP from the dual refrigerant approach.
- The indoor AquaCore unit: is compact (460×240×460mm) — about the size of a large microwave.
Supply & Service Network:
The AquaCore represents Mitsubishi Electric engineering distributed through Black Diamond Technologies (BDT), with a NZ-made indoor unit and over 10 years of track record in New Zealand. BDT have a network of accredited installers and service providers throughout New Zealand.
Specs
Black Diamond Technologies (Mitsubishi Electric) AquaCore Hot Water Heat PumpCost & efficiency
- Typical installed price
- —
- COP (rated)
- 3.6
- Test conditions
- 19°C ambient, 14°C water in. COP 3.0 at 7°C, COP 2.4 at 1°C.
- Test standard
- AS/NZS 5125
- Eff. cost/kWh
- 10.8c
- Input power
- 1 kW
- Heating capacity
- 3.2 kW
- Household size
- —
Hot water performance
- Tank size
- —
- Max temperature
- 55 °C
- Hot water output
- Depends on cylinder capacity
- Recovery rate
- 180L reheated in 2.5 hours
- Max water pressure
- 500
- Tank material
- Depends on cylinder (retrofit-compatible)
- Tank insulation
- Not provided
- Backup element
- Uses existing cylinder element (retrofit)
Installation & dimensions
- System type
- Split unit
- Indoor / outdoor
- Split — outdoor unit + indoor AquaCore unit + third-party cylinder
- Min clearance / space
- See installation manual
- Min space required
- Indoor AquaCore: 460×240×460mm
- Dimensions (H×W×D mm)
- Outdoor: 800×285×550mm / Indoor AquaCore: 460×240×460mm
- Unit weight (empty)
- 123 kg
Climate & environment
- Refrigerant
- R32 (GWP 1430)
- Operating range
- -15 °C to 46 °C
- Noise
- 49 dB(A)
- Heating capacity
- 3.2 kW
Controls & features
- Display type
- Simple 4-button control panel
- Control modes
- Eco, Standard, Disinfect + 7 on/off timers
- Smart / Wi-Fi
- Yes
- Solar PV ready
- Yes
Warranty & support
- Tank warranty
- N/A — uses existing or third-party cylinder
- Parts & labour warranty
- 5 years parts & labour (Ecodan standard warranty via BDT)
- Installer restriction
- Any licensed plumber (Ecodan warranty via BDT)
- Supplier / brand
- Black Diamond Technologies (Mitsubishi Electric)