Hi my window unit does not cut in the summer. I don't have the option of putting a bigger one in the window. I was thinking of a portable to use along with window unit, but someone told me they all suck. anyone with experience with portables your advice would be appreciated. I saw a hydrofarm active air that looked cool , but expensive. don't want waste money. Thanks
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Best portable air conditioner?
- Thread starter kid1
- Start date
thecarguy
Member
most portable acs have two main issues, being that they vent air from your cab (smelly), and this air is almost always unfiltered and usually co2 enriched (expensive).
hydro stores on the west coast are starting to carry a model that has an intake and exhaust port for the hotside of the ac. while these units don't vent any cab air, you need a constantly running fan for cooling the compressor.
the ultimate solution is a mini-split with a line-set. they're efficient, stealthily installed, do the least damage to existing structure, and can have much higher cooling capacity than portable/window units. of course, they're expensive and require proprietary tools to install.
keep it safe
hydro stores on the west coast are starting to carry a model that has an intake and exhaust port for the hotside of the ac. while these units don't vent any cab air, you need a constantly running fan for cooling the compressor.
the ultimate solution is a mini-split with a line-set. they're efficient, stealthily installed, do the least damage to existing structure, and can have much higher cooling capacity than portable/window units. of course, they're expensive and require proprietary tools to install.
keep it safe
stink.whistler
Member
Thecarguy is giving you good advice. The mini split systems are very nifty.
I don't know why they aren't used more in very hot climates as main A/Cs. The attic in my old house used to get to over 120 degrees, I can't imagine it was efficient to have all that ducting.
Anyway, get a mini split system for not any more money than a portable ac and you will probably be able to get rid of your window unit all together.
I don't know why they aren't used more in very hot climates as main A/Cs. The attic in my old house used to get to over 120 degrees, I can't imagine it was efficient to have all that ducting.
Anyway, get a mini split system for not any more money than a portable ac and you will probably be able to get rid of your window unit all together.
pugnacious
Active member
I've been looking around for split acs also. They look pretty complicated to set up. How am i going to set the outdoor condenser outside and wire it across the house into the garage? Hiring a contractor to install it seems the only option. But its going to look weird because the place Im getting already has a split central ac. So 2 condensers side by side is going to look weird.
One thing I learned about portable acs is that you need way more then the 4000 btu per 1000 watt. Even with the dual exhaust models. But then my expierence with portables isnt much. Maybe there are better known and reputable models that have came out since 06.
One thing I learned about portable acs is that you need way more then the 4000 btu per 1000 watt. Even with the dual exhaust models. But then my expierence with portables isnt much. Maybe there are better known and reputable models that have came out since 06.
G
Guest 18340
I just got this delivered to my door. 9000 btu, heat and cool, inverter. $1098.
It comes with 25' of every hose and wiring. They are easy to install and the outside unit is the size of a big suitcase. I've heard them in action before and the outside unit is very quiet.
It comes with 25' of every hose and wiring. They are easy to install and the outside unit is the size of a big suitcase. I've heard them in action before and the outside unit is very quiet.
Attachments
stink.whistler
Member
so they come pre charged and everything? You are going to install it yourself?
BTW - the inside unit is very, very quite as well. WAY quieter than a window unit.
BTW - the inside unit is very, very quite as well. WAY quieter than a window unit.
Yes, that is the problem with them--that they suck. Literally. They suck air into the room. The ones with only one vent hose are the most egregious. All that air being blown out the vent hose is being made up by outside (hot, humid) air being sucked into the room through cracks, etc. It's like opening the windows of your car while running the air conditioning. I thought the answer would be one of the two-hose units. I bought a DeLonghi, 11 or 12k. Even though it had two hoses, it was still pulling significant air from the room. I could clearly feel air sucking in around the door when the unit was running, which would clearly stop as soon as the unit switched off. Must have had some kind of internal leak, or bridge. The concept is that all the air blowing out the exhaust hose is outdoor air supplied by the intake hose, going through the condenser coil, and back out. But that none of the room air is being exchanged so you're not sucking hot and humid air into your cool dry room. Maybe some other brand is better, but I returned the DeLonghi. I would suggest buying it somewhere that you will be able to return it, in case it does the same thing. I'm looking into mini-splits.
Hempster
pugnacious
Active member
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,1630888,00.html
Did you pretty much install your model like this?
maryjanesdad
Active member
whatever you do get one that allows you to hook up a drainage hose. stay away from the ones that you have to empty.
try this one
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...roductId=100632267&N=10000003+503450+10401016
try this one
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...roductId=100632267&N=10000003+503450+10401016
G
Guest 18340
stink.whistler-Yeah, i'm gonna install the unit myself. Its pretty straight-forward. A friend of mine is going to evacuate the lines for me. He also did the electrical work. And yes, they come precharged and everything.
pugnacious-yeah, the install is just like that. Though, instead of wood, ill be punching a hole thru a cinderblock wall.
pugnacious-yeah, the install is just like that. Though, instead of wood, ill be punching a hole thru a cinderblock wall.
G
Guest
I have a dual hose 14btu residential unit and wish I went with a industrial ac or slit system ...
http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=mo...1313&_odkw=portable+air+conditioner&_osacat=0
http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=mo...1313&_odkw=portable+air+conditioner&_osacat=0
TheMadHatter
New member
As far as portable units go cause that's what you were asking about go with the www.movincool.com Its the best portable you can get and its a great price. Its what I'm using but I'm also considering getting a AC with a heat pump next time not exactly sure what they do as i haven't looked much into it yet thermo something or other is what I was looking at.
Uncle FREEDOM
Member
Do yourself a favor and spend the extra for a mini-spilt. Portable AC really does not work very good in my opinion.
Im going to give you a lil input from a small scale c13 type grower with a portable A/C.
Its works. Bottom line. But theres some work involved to get it going how you want.
For one the hot air commin out of those tubes can heat two rooms in a house. so you gotta vent that and you gotta vent that well.
Also when i bought mine I didnt think about the discharge water. On my unit and im sure theres some not like this, but the drain waste would fill up several times a day, of course the shuts the unit off. There is no hose hook up on my unit and without the tray in place the A/C Would not come on. PITA
And my last problem was if i had a power outage, the unit would not come on unless i was there to hit the power button.
With all that said, if i had to do it again, i would just buy a smarter Portable A/C unit for 1 reason only. Im broke as hell and cant afford a split, and dont have a clue as to how to hook them up.
but i only do this for fun. Its not my job. Let us know what you do.
Its works. Bottom line. But theres some work involved to get it going how you want.
For one the hot air commin out of those tubes can heat two rooms in a house. so you gotta vent that and you gotta vent that well.
Also when i bought mine I didnt think about the discharge water. On my unit and im sure theres some not like this, but the drain waste would fill up several times a day, of course the shuts the unit off. There is no hose hook up on my unit and without the tray in place the A/C Would not come on. PITA
And my last problem was if i had a power outage, the unit would not come on unless i was there to hit the power button.
With all that said, if i had to do it again, i would just buy a smarter Portable A/C unit for 1 reason only. Im broke as hell and cant afford a split, and dont have a clue as to how to hook them up.
but i only do this for fun. Its not my job. Let us know what you do.
Maxwell Murder
Member
I used the sunpentown units for a long time with great results. i can't remember the btu's but they pulled like 9 amps. I screwed bicycle hooks into the rafters and suspended the units with heavyduty tiedowns, the heat exhaust was 4 inch, I would use a 6-4" reducer upsidedown so the vent went from 4 to 6", they need really good flow or they get hot and shut down so no kinks in the ducting. Under the ac i had a heavyduty 40 gallon garbage can so the water drained into it along with my ro unit. the water that comes out of the ac is killer to reuse, super low ppms. The 9 amp units did also shut off and not come back on when the power went out, so i upgraded to the 14 amp units which will come back on by themselves, they also came with some kind of builtin air purifier but had a glowin blue light so i never used it. The 14 amp units kicked ass, spendy tho but 1 mentdown from "cheap" units could cost alot more... oh the 14 amp units need their own 20 amp circut dedicated.
Peaces..
Peaces..
madpenguin
Member
I'm in the same boat. My window unit doesn't cut it now that summer is here. I was thinking about getting this one.
http://www.rewci.com/am12btumacop.html
It's manual so no need to worry about the power going out.
http://www.rewci.com/am12btumacop.html
It's manual so no need to worry about the power going out.
S
sparkjumper
If you are using co2 enrichment dont use a portable even a dual hose it will be a total waste
