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Ackattacker
66
Aug 14, 2017
According to Rollibot comments on the Amazon reviews, this unit pulls 11 amps continuous and has an EER of 7.53 which is horrendous. A typical 10,000 BTU window unit nowadays will have an EER over 12 and a proper 10,000 BTU mini-split can be over 19 AND provide heat. You will pay more for a true mini-split which requires professional installation but the energy cost of this thing would eat you alive... I calculate that at $.20 per kwh in my area this unit running full tilt would cost $190 per month while a proper mini-split would cost less than half that. I can see ordering this if you live in an apartment that you can't modify and that can't accommodate a window unit at all... that's it.
dabinchi
22
Aug 14, 2017
AckattackerYeah, in theory this would at least be more efficient than a traditional portable standing AC unit since the compressor is outside. In my area window units are considered ugly (banned in most apartment complexes) and most apartments have no AC at all, so it's either a traditional standing unit or this. This seems to be the only split portable unit that exists...at all? So it's nice that it exists at least. Hope it will become more common and better engineered. The low efficiency may be due to the hoses not requiring any professional work, they're just pre-filled with refrigerant and you screw them in and that's it.
Ackattacker
66
Aug 14, 2017
dabinchiI dunno, the dual-hose portable's get pretty good reviews and achieve 12.0 EER vs. 7.53. Google the Whynter ARC-122DS for example, or the ARC-122DHP which includes heat pump for heat. 12,000 BTU's off 9.0 amps and nothing outside the window except two discreet tubes. With this split unit, you still have to put the outside unit somewhere so it looks just as bad as a window unit IMHO.
Fuzz
396
Aug 14, 2017
AckattackerThis is pretty horribly inefficient, but the problem with the units that just send tubes out the window is that the compressor is then in your room, and some of them can get quite noisy.
dabinchi
22
Aug 14, 2017
AckattackerAh yeah, I forgot about the dual hoses. They're annoying to shop for since searching "dual hose portable air conditioner" just returns every portable AC unit regardless of hose count.
compuguy
94
Aug 14, 2017
AckattackerI'm honestly more interested in using it as a dehumidifer (vs traditional dehumidifiers that dump the hot air back into the room). The really high cost is an issue, though...
KenjiFox
16
Aug 15, 2017
AckattackerI'll just paste a comment here that I left on Amazon. Ignore the RV specific part of what I said, it was in reply to someone considering this unit for their RV. Dat EER Tho;
I'm sorry to say that you shouldn't consider this unit for an RV. Ironically, that's the only reason I am here. I live in an RV full time. It's ideal in theory, however the efficiency of this unit is CRIMINAL. I know this is an issue they are well aware of too, since nowhere on their site or even here on Amazon do they mention the efficiency, or lack thereof. Most companies boast proudly about the efficiency of their unit. You won't be finding any energy star label on this thing. Frankly I am surprised that this is legal to be sold these days! The U.S. Department of Energy should throw a fit at this thing. I'm not here to cause damage to this product or brand. I've been interested in a product exactly like this one for years. I've built my own mini split in this size, but achieved far higher efficiency than this myself. :/ Why does this not use R290? Zero ODP, Extremely low GWP, legally allowed refrigerant in the USA now, (Along with R600a - FINALLY) has a higher molecular weight and thus would better serve a device that is more prone to leaks with the removable coupler, and unlike R410a is NOT a zeotropic mixture with mismatched boiling points. Which by the way makes the intentionally introduced leak in the system more severe as the lower boiling point refrigerant escapes sooner and leaves behind an incorrect mixture. Anyway, unless you are never planning on boondocking at all, or will exclusively use hookups with unmetered (unlimited) electricity you should avoid something like this unit entirely. It's cool that Rollibot (the manufacturer of this product) is offering refunds, but it's intentionally deceptive at best to avoid putting down any tech specs on the sales pages for this thing. They KNOW it's hideous. They probably wish it wasn't legally required to be on a label on the unit it's so bad. All that aside, for some people it might be the required AC due to a lack of competition for the format. Perhaps they are relying on a combination of that and consumer ignorance to sell these. IF you have no care for energy use conservation and have a need for this format then it's your lucky day. *edit;* Just for laughs I looked up the legal minumum efficiency of a split central air system (Which does not pertain to window or mobile units, but gives you an idea nevertheless.) that is less than 45,000btu/h. What is it? an EER of 12.2. Think about that. This unit is reported by the manufacturer to be 7.53 EER. This means that this unit takes almost TWICE as much energy to cool the same amount as a unit with the LEGALLY ENFORCED MINIMUM EFFICIENCY ALLOWED to be installed into a home. Again, central air is not the same as this categorically. However you would be wise to note that energy use to performance is universal. It may actually cost you more to cool only one room with this unit than your ENTIRE HOUSE with the crappiest central air unit you could legally buy as of January 1st 2015. Wow. Edit this post | Permalink