Long Hot Summer - Portable Air Conditioning Units

mjr600

A split unit isn't portable it is fixed in a single room, unless you have the skill and tools to fit it yourself there is additional cost involved getting someone to do it. The purpose of this thread is to cover portable units which allow the user to move it from room to room as required, provide season specific cooling and then tuck it away in the spare room or garage. Split unit types often look too much like office equipment and are not always what people want year round in a room

Without information about the specific power or model of a portable unit identified as being unsatisfactory, such a post is a little pointless. Please don't be offended by that but there are many units on the market, some will be good, some will not. If you had the unit suggested as a good deal by the thread please let us know, such information is of benefit.

babyangel10

Well, I for one am very interested in how much it costs to run and of course how efficient it is, so please give some feedback after you get it and have used it - hope this good weather stays long enough for you to be able to use it before any price hikes!

I'm after something to cool my greenhouse, erm, I mean conservatory...! :rolleyes:

But would def want it to be portable in case I need it elsewhere in the house.

Good thread - keep me posted!

mjr600

For those interested the unit has arrived.

It is heavy but has castors, it is an off white and grey (see pics), well made with a remote control. It is not as large as I imagined, the hose cleverly exits from the side of the machine so you can position it flat against a wall. The vent only has manual adjustments and does not swing which is a shame.

When operating it heats or cools between 15 and 30 degrees, controls are very simple. The fan has three speeds, the fastest is like a hurricane and to my ear is not unacceptably loud, on the slowest speed there is little difference to a normal household fan. Sleeping with this thing in the room would not be a problem for me, it has a 'sleep comfort' mode which is specifically for night time but I am yet to try that. There is no window kit so I'll knock something up in the garage to block the gap.

To prevent stress on the internal compressor there is a 3 minute delay between switching it on and choosing a setting. When the compressor kicks it it gets very cold very quickly ! Remember mine is the 12000btu model and I would liken the effect to opening a large fridge in the supermarket it is surprisingly cold. I tested it in our large kitchen and extension where the temp was 20 degrees, I set the unit to cool the room to 16, on auto setting on full fan it took six minutes, the compressor then turned off for four minutes when the temperature was reached and the fan circulated the cool air. The compressor then came on and off every five minutes for about 90 seconds to maintain the 16 degree temperature.

I am very happy with this unit, it is a great price, does what it says it will and will make a hot summer far more bearable. I'm afraid calculating energy usage is not my thing so I have posted some pics along with tech details for those interested.

If you want portable air con I can recommend this.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/mjr600/Image001.jpg

(Just change the image number from 1 to 2 through 6 to see all photos)

Edit - Its just been on the news, hottest April for 300 years, which is why I guess my dahlias are already coming through.

xplo5iv

From above...
The unit uses 1.4kW when running
It operates 90sec every 300 = 30% of the time
It will use 1.4*0.3 = 0.42 kWH (units) every hour
Units are about 7p ea? = 3p/hr

But that is for a 4 deg drop
It will increase proportionately with the temp drop required
Call it 1p/Hr/Deg C?

But everyone else will get different results depending on the rate of heat transfer into the room

I'm not sure that's useful, but I hope so!

stamford

rebeccaj wrote: »

where's the grabbit?

more suited to Shop but don't drop IMO

Split & hair come to mind

fraz41

i bought a portable 12000btu unit from homebase 2 years ago. Although a little noisy you quickly get used to it and it cools the room down superbly. I paid around £250 and consider it money well spent as i can get a good nights sleep.

Chris123_2

Have been thinking about getting one this year as it does seem that we are heading for another hot summer!

Last year I found the best thing to do was keep the bedroom curtains closed during the afternoon into the evening, fully open the window (have the tilt and turn ones) a put a fan in the window sucking the cooler air in from outside once the sun has set.

Seem to do the job, just a bit of a messy setup!

tightus_wad

got a portable 10,000btu one in the 'sales' from B&Q for £85 - wife said "When are we ever going to need that..." anyway - last summer we used it upstairs and it was FAB! they are a bit noisy - but you get used to it and you can get to sleep - if not - use ear plugs! Anyway - for me and my family (Wife 2 kids under 6) worth it weight in gold! Vent it by sticking the hose out of the bedroom window - I know - not very efficient but cheaper than punching a hole in the wall!! Then we close the blinds and curtains around it so the heat vents outside. Didn't notice much difference in the spend on elccy last year - so cant have been that bad.

FieryBlondeScot

Thanks MJR for the above, i have been thinkin about getting air con for a while and last summer was really hot at night, and i dont like leaving the windows open at night. does this 1200 model have a hose you hang out the window?

i suppose you could use it to cool the room before going to bed then turn it off and shut the windows and the curtains.

Lara

Thanks for all that information mjr600. I'm going to suggest to my eldery parents they possibly get one for their bungalow. They had trouble sleeping last year and keeping the home cool. Could be the ideal solution for their little bungalow.