Panasonic New Zealand Integrated Heat Pump 300L (PHE-30ABR)
- 5.1
- COP
- 300 L
- Tank
- 7.6c
- Running Cost/kWh
- 48 dB(A)
- Noise
- R290
- Refrigerant
- —
- Installed from
Who is it a good fit for?
- Four-to-five-person households replacing an ageing electric cylinder — 300L handles back-to-back showers.
- Anyone wanting high efficiency at a mainstream price — the cheapest 300L unit we list above COP 5.0.
- Coastal homes — the salt-spray-tested shell is built for where most New Zealanders live.
- Buyers who want a recognised brand with a long-established NZ service network.
- Homes with outdoor space or a high-stud garage: this unit is tall and you’ll require at least 2.6m of clearance.
Less suitable for: apartments and townhouses with tight indoor space; buyers who prioritise the longest warranty (AHI Carrier and Reclaim both offer ten years); and homes with solar PV wanting the unit to modulate and soak up surplus.
Review
Performance & efficiency:
A rated COP of 5.1 makes the PHE-30ABR one of the most efficient units we list — roughly 5.9c per kWh of hot water, against about 30c for a conventional electric cylinder. Panasonic measures that at 19°C average ambient; like every heat pump, expect less on a cold Southland morning.
The price is what makes it notable. At $4,600 for 300 litres it sits more than $1,100 below the median for the twelve 280L-plus all-in-one units in our database, while carrying the second-highest efficiency of that group. It also undercuts Panasonic's own CO₂ range by around $2,300.
Two trade-offs. It uses a fixed-frequency compressor, so it cycles on and off rather than modulating to soak up surplus solar. And the warranty is five years where AHI Carrier offers ten on the tank, and Rinnai and Gree seven.
Features:
- 300-litre tank — suits four to five people, with 50 L/h recovery and a 1,500W backup element.
- R290 refrigerant, GWP 3 — natural, negligible warming impact, no phase-down risk.
- 65°C on the heat pump alone — hits disinfection temperature without the element.
- Works down to −10°C — covers everywhere in New Zealand, Central Otago included.
- Built for the coast — galvanised shell, powder-coated, salt-spray tested to 500 hours.
- Enamel tank, 250,000-cycle tested — Panasonic publishes more tank detail than most.
- 48 dB(A) — quiet but not silent. Site it away from bedroom windows.
- 2,130mm tall plus 500mm clearance — 2.6m of headroom. Measure before you commit.
Supply & service network:
Panasonic New Zealand imports and supports this directly from Highbrook, Auckland, and has sold heating and cooling here for decades.
Installation is simple by the standards of this category: it's an all-in-one with a factory-sealed refrigerant circuit, so any licensed plumber can fit it. Service runs through Panasonic's established national HVAC channel. The warranty is five years, residential only, which is shorter than many.
Specs
Panasonic New Zealand Integrated Heat Pump 300L (PHE-30ABR)Cost & efficiency
- Typical installed price
- —
- COP (rated)
- 5.1
- Test conditions
- Inlet water 14°C→55°C; air 19°C DB / 15°C WB (average ambient 19°C)
- Test standard
- Not stated on Panasonic spec sheet — no AS/NZS 5125 reference. Verify with Panasonic NZ.
- Eff. cost/kWh
- 7.6c
- Input power
- 0.46 kW
- Heating capacity
- 2.33 kW
- Household size
- 4–5 people
Hot water performance
- Tank size
- 300 L
- Max temperature
- 65 °C
- Hot water output
- Verify
- Recovery rate
- 50 L/h heating rate
- Max water pressure
- 800 kPa rated supply; PTR valve 850 kPa; pressure reducing valve 500 kPa
- Tank material
- Enamel-coated steel (FERRO enamel powder, USA); max tank pressure 1000 kPa; 250,000-cycle fatigue tested
- Tank insulation
- High-density cyclopentane high-pressure foam; temperature drop within 6°C over 24 h at 20°C ambient
- Backup element
- 1500 W / 6.52 A electric element (dual heating element for faster recovery). Max combined input 2230 W / 9.8 A.
Installation & dimensions
- System type
- Integral (all-in-one)
- Indoor / outdoor
- Indoor or outdoor
- Min clearance / space
- ≥500 mm above unit; ≥300 mm and ≥200 mm to sides; ≥50 mm at controller (per Panasonic spec sheet clearance diagram). Confirm against installation manual.
- Min space required
- See installation manual — clearances per spec sheet diagram
- Dimensions (H×W×D mm)
- 2130 (H) × 640 (Ø) — cylindrical footprint
- Unit weight (empty)
- 130 kg (net, empty)
Climate & environment
- Refrigerant
- R290 (GWP 3)
- Operating range
- -10 °C to 43 °C
- Noise
- 48 dB(A)
- Heating capacity
- 2.33 kW
Controls & features
- Display type
- —
- Control modes
- Multiple operating modes (modes not itemised by Panasonic) — verify. IPX4 rated.
- Smart / Wi-Fi
- No
- Solar PV ready
- No
Warranty & support
- Tank warranty
- 5 years, residential only (per Panasonic NZ 1-pager) — tank vs. component split not stated. Verify.
- Parts & labour warranty
- 5 years, residential only (per Panasonic NZ 1-pager) — parts/labour split not stated. Verify.
- Installer restriction
- Any licensed plumber
- Supplier / brand
- Panasonic New Zealand