The Panasonic Aquarea WH-SDC0509L3E5 is the bi-bloc hydromodule for the R290 L Generation range — a compact indoor hydraulic unit with no built-in DHW cylinder, designed for installers who want to specify their own separate hot water cylinder rather than take an All-in-One unit. It's a hydraulic connection only — refrigerant stays entirely within the outdoor unit — and pairs with any of the three L Generation outdoor units (5 kW, 7 kW or 9 kW), so you choose your heating capacity independently of the indoor unit itself.
Hydromodule
No built-in cylinder
-25°C
Operation without backup heater
One indoor unit, three outdoor capacities
The WH-SDC0509L3E5 indoor unit is common across the 5 kW, 7 kW and 9 kW L Generation outdoor units (WH-WDG05LE5 / WH-WDG07LE5 / WH-WDG09LE5) — size your outdoor unit to your calculated heat loss, and this same indoor unit completes the system regardless of which capacity you choose.
No built-in cylinder — specify your own
Unlike the All-in-One version of this platform, the WH-SDC0509L3E5 has no integrated DHW cylinder. Pair it with a Panasonic stainless steel tank (200L or 300L) or a suitable third-party unvented cylinder as part of your system design.
MCS-certified installer required
To claim the UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant and validate full Panasonic manufacturer warranty, this system must be installed and commissioned by an MCS-certified heat pump installer.
Compatible outdoor units
Choose your outdoor unit capacity
| Heating output |
Outdoor unit model |
Typical property fit |
| 5 kW |
WH-WDG05LE5 |
Small, well-insulated 1–2 bedroom homes and flats |
| 7 kW |
WH-WDG07LE5 |
Typical 2–3 bedroom UK homes |
| 9 kW |
WH-WDG09LE5 |
3–4 bedroom homes and larger properties needing high flow temperatures |
Sizing tip
Choose your outdoor capacity from a calculated room-by-room heat loss survey — the WH-SDC0509L3E5 indoor unit stays the same across all three capacities, so sizing decisions rest entirely on the outdoor unit.
Key features
Compact bi-bloc hydromodule
A dedicated hydraulic module with no built-in cylinder — the right choice where you're specifying a separate stand-alone DHW tank sized to the property's actual hot water demand.
Appliance-sized footprint
At 599 × 602 mm, the cabinet footprint matches the All-in-One version of this platform — genuinely compact for a hydraulic module.
R290 refrigerant — GWP 3
Natural propane refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential of just 3 — dramatically lower than legacy refrigerants, and the most future-proof choice ahead of tightening F-Gas regulation.
Flow temperatures up to 75°C
Delivers 75°C water outlet temperature — ideal for retrofit properties keeping existing radiators, avoiding the cost of re-sizing emitters.
Operates to -25°C without backup heating
Sustains full heat pump operation down to -25°C ambient without needing to call on backup heat — genuinely engineered for cold UK winters.
DC brushless circulation pump
7-speed brushless DC pump with sensorless vector control — efficient, quiet circulation matched automatically to system demand.
Vortex flow sensor
Piezoelectric vortex flow sensor (5–60 L/min measuring range) gives accurate real-time flow data for system protection and performance monitoring.
A+++ heating efficiency
Rated A+++ in heating at 35°C — strong seasonal efficiency for lower running costs.
Technical specification
| Model code (indoor unit) |
WH-SDC0509L3E5 |
| Type |
Hydro split bi-bloc hydromodule — no built-in DHW cylinder |
| Compatible outdoor units |
WH-WDG05LE5 (5 kW) / WH-WDG07LE5 (7 kW) / WH-WDG09LE5 (9 kW) |
| Refrigerant |
R290 (GWP 3) — outdoor unit only, hydraulic connection to indoor |
| Maximum water outlet temperature |
75°C |
| Operating range without backup heating |
Down to -25°C ambient |
| Heating efficiency rating |
A+++ (at 35°C) |
| Indoor unit dimensions (W × D × H) |
599 × 602 × 1642 mm |
| Indoor unit weight |
93 kg |
| Water pipe diameter (room) |
31 mm (1¼") |
| Drain hose inner diameter |
15 mm (9/16") |
| Circulation pump |
Brushless DC motor, sensorless vector control, 7-speed (software selected) |
| Pump input power |
145 W |
| Flow sensor |
Vortex type (piezoelectric), 5–60 L/min measuring range |
| Pressure release valve |
Opens at 800 kPa, closes at 640 kPa or below |
| Backup immersion heater |
3.00 kW (OLP temperature 85°C) |
| Built-in expansion vessel |
10 litres, 3 bar MWP — caters for approximately 200 litres system volume at 55°C |
| Additional expansion vessel |
Required if system volume exceeds the built-in vessel's rated capacity |
| Protection device |
Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (30–40A) |
| Power supply — indoor unit |
230V, single-phase, 25A 2-pole circuit breaker (min. 3.0mm contact gap) |
| Outdoor unit power/communication |
Supplied via the indoor unit — no separate outdoor power run required |
| Connectivity |
Aquarea Smart Cloud Wi-Fi compatible (Network Adaptor CZ-TAW1B included as standard accessory) |
| Zone control |
Single-zone as standard; two-zone with optional PCB (CZ-NS5P) |
| Certifications |
MCS certified, BUS grant eligible |
What's in the box
- Panasonic WH-SDC0509L3E5 bi-bloc indoor hydromodule
- Installation plate
- Drain elbow and screw packing
- Network Adaptor (CZ-TAW1B)
- Manufacturer installation and operating instructions
What you'll also need (sold separately)
- Matched L Generation outdoor unit — WH-WDG05LE5 / WH-WDG07LE5 / WH-WDG09LE5 (see variant selector above)
- DHW cylinder — Panasonic PAW-TD20C1E5 (200L) or PAW-TD30C1E5 (300L) stainless steel tank, or suitable third-party unvented cylinder
- 3-way valve for DHW switching — PAW-3WYVLV-HW or CZ-NV2 (internal hydrokit version)
- Optional PCB (CZ-NS5P) for two-zone control, solar connection, or bivalent boiler backup
- Remote Controller Case Extension Cable (CZ-TAW1-CBL) if relocating the controller
- Additional expansion vessel if system volume exceeds the built-in 10L capacity
- Discharge pipework to a suitable tundish and drain point
Frequently Asked Questions
Which outdoor unit should I choose?
Choose the capacity that matches your calculated heat loss. As a rough guide: 5 kW for small well-insulated 1–2 bed homes; 7 kW for typical 2–3 bed homes; 9 kW for 3–4 bed homes and larger properties needing high flow temperatures. The indoor unit is identical across all three capacities.
What's the difference between this and the All-in-One version?
This bi-bloc hydromodule has no built-in DHW cylinder — it's a hydraulic module only. The All-in-One version (WH-ADC0509L3E5UK) integrates a 185 litre stainless cylinder into the same cabinet. Choose the bi-bloc version if you want to specify a separate, differently-sized cylinder, or if you already have a suitable DHW tank as part of your system design.
Which cylinder should I pair with this unit?
Panasonic offer matched 200L (PAW-TD20C1E5) and 300L (PAW-TD30C1E5) stainless steel tanks for this platform. A third-party unvented cylinder can also be used provided it's compatible with the hydromodule's hydraulic output and a suitable 3-way valve is fitted.
Does refrigerant run through the indoor unit?
No — this is a hydro split design. Only water pipework connects the indoor and outdoor units. The R290 refrigerant circuit is fully contained within the outdoor unit.
Do I need a separate power supply to the outdoor unit?
No — the outdoor unit's power and communication come via the indoor unit, so a direct power supply run to the outdoor unit isn't required.
Do I need to be MCS-registered to install this?
The system can be installed by any competent heating engineer, but to claim the UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant the install must be carried out by an MCS-certified installer. Quality Heating can put you in touch with our trade partners if needed.
