|
| Author |
Message |
groingo
Member
|
# Posted: 2 Apr 2016 02:27pm
Reply
Well the air conditioning pit is history as I came across a low power Air Conditioner which is ideal size for my place at 250 sq ft where I only need 195.
The kicker is it produces 6000 BTU and has a soft start (YAY) and an ECO mode and a max energy draw of 490 watts...(my last one took 1200 to start and ran at 900) so I also can use the generator I already have and hopefully it will run just below the 50% mark which will help fuel mileage all for just $210.00.
Backhoe time on the pit started at $800.00.
|
|
buckybuck
Member
|
# Posted: 2 Apr 2016 02:39pm
Reply
Link?
|
|
groingo
Member
|
# Posted: 2 Apr 2016 05:35pm - Edited by: groingo
Reply
Leave it to Walfart to make something like this happen!
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Frigidaire-FFRE0633Q1-Energy-Star-6-000-BTU-115V-Window-Mou nted-Mini-Compact-Air-Conditioner-with-Full-Function-Remote-Control/35764392
Correct specs. are here: http://www.frigidaire.com/Owner-Center/Product-Support--Manuals/?productCode=FFRE0633 S1
|
|
Julie2Oregon
Member
|
# Posted: 2 Apr 2016 07:18pm
Reply
They really are energy-efficient now. In fact, here in blistering hot Texas, I eschewed my central AC electric hog in favor of window units to only cool the spaces I actually LIVE in. (I have a couple of bedrooms and second bathroom that I never use.) I have a big 'un similar to what you described that cools my big, open-concept dining room-living room-kitchen area like a champ and another one in my master bedroom suite. I do have one in my guest bedroom, too.
The result is that I am cool and comfortable in the height of the Texas summer and my electric bill is SO MUCH LOWER than it was with using the central AC.
The Energy Saver modes on these things work great and sip electricity. My big 'un also has a "Dry" setting. It's an LG, 15,000 BTU Energy Star but, get this, it only uses 1330 watts. Yeah, I know, "only," but considering it's a beast and cools over 600 sq. ft. by barely kicking on in Energy Saver mode, it's not using much power really.
I'm not bringing it with me. But I will get a version about half its size for the cabin and those few weeks of high temps southern Oregon gets.
If you run one for about a half-hour before the cabin heats up (and while your panels are producing like mad) and then set it on Energy Saver for the rest of the afternoon, it will kick in just once in a while to maintain the coolness. And it won't use much electricity.
|
|
groingo
Member
|
# Posted: 2 Apr 2016 08:24pm
Reply
Julie:
Your AC is doing very well regarding power use, the newest from Frigidaire 15,000 BTU uses 1275 watts at 11.5 amps so your right in there!
It looks like we are going to get a long and likely hot summer here, typically I can button up the place in the morning but loose the battle around 3:00 so between 3:00 and sunset you toast so this summer it should be much improved.
|
|
Julie2Oregon
Member
|
# Posted: 2 Apr 2016 09:03pm
Reply
groingo
That's the beauty of PNW hot spells. It cools down at night so you can throw open the windows, let nature cool the cabin, and then close the windows to the heat in the morning, only needing to intervene with AC during the high points in the afternoon. Not so in Texas, where it's still in the 90s around midnight. And, of course, you're in the grip of that every day for several months.
I'll have a solar vent (exhaust) fan in the loft and a very small AC unit up there. I'll see what happens with the downstairs, play that one by ear. A fan may suffice. After a couple of sweltering decades in Texas, PNW heat may feel like nothing to me. The loft will need AC, though, since heat rises and the loft would get hot/stuffy much quicker than downstairs, even with 3 windows up there.
|
|
creeky
Member
|
# Posted: 2 Apr 2016 10:07pm
Reply
Ya. My little 5k btu a/c window unit uses 400 watts/hr. And it's actually less as it doesn't run the compressor solid full time. It cycles on and off.
I run the a/c from 2 till 6 or 7 when my studio is in full west summer sun. After the trees block the sun it usually cools down fast enough that I can go with the open window/doors are sufficient trick. Also really pays to cool the house down in the a.m. or overnight.
I've been thinking a big fan would help too. But on those baking hot/humid summer days. A little a/c can go a long way.
|
|
Julie2Oregon
Member
|
# Posted: 2 Apr 2016 11:27pm
Reply
Sure can. In a place where you don't have a long, hot summer and you just need a bit of short-term relief, you can run a small AC enough to cool down the place if you have a decent solar power system.  Without needing to recharge the battery bank with a generator, even. 
|
|
|
bobrok
Member
|
# Posted: 3 Apr 2016 01:51pm
Reply
All this cooling talk gets my blood going to reopen my search for a mechanical non-electric ceiling fan once again.
|
|
hueyjazz
Member
|
# Posted: 3 Apr 2016 03:09pm
Reply
Well
Woke up to 6" of snow at cabin this morning so AC was working.
Ductless mini splits were a consideration particularly since many are heat pumps. I was going to install one but really haven't needed one in summer. Being close to a stream and in the woods has natural cooling aspects.
|
|
groingo
Member
|
# Posted: 6 Apr 2016 11:08pm
Reply
Guess they still haven't changed, was delivered this afternoon and it wouldn't cool, looks like a bum compressor...only pulling a max of 90 watts so back to the store for a refund and maybe I'll buy a lottery ticket, seems my luck (bad luck) is holding so.....
|
|
Julie2Oregon
Member
|
# Posted: 6 Apr 2016 11:57pm
Reply
Dang, must have been a bad one. My son and I were putting mine in the window for its second season and I let go too soon. Ooops. Out the window it went where it hit the ground hard. Dented, but working like a champ, not even a rattle or whine!
|
|
groingo
Member
|
# Posted: 7 Apr 2016 10:41am
Reply
Julie, you dropped yours, my back went out removing mine, I may just re think the pit!
|
|
Julie2Oregon
Member
|
# Posted: 7 Apr 2016 07:43pm
Reply
LOL, groingo! Sorry about your back, though. 
|
|
groingo
Member
|
# Posted: 7 Apr 2016 08:10pm
Reply
Gave another twin from Lowes this time, same exact problem, moving ahead with the pit.
|
|
Asher
Member
|
# Posted: 7 Apr 2016 09:52pm
Reply
I plan on installing (2) of those hotel type heating/cooling units on the cabin I'm building. A central unit might make more sense and be less noisy, but those units don't require any plumbing or a HVAC guy to install and if they go out, just pull them and replace..
|
|
Asher
Member
|
# Posted: 7 Apr 2016 09:53pm
Reply
Have you thought about having them plug one in while your in the store to verify it works before you leave???
|
|
Julie2Oregon
Member
|
# Posted: 7 Apr 2016 09:59pm
Reply
groingo
Weird that 2 from different stores wouldn't work. Could it be that your power supply (solar or gen) or a setting has to be tweaked, for some reason?
I've never tried a Frigidaire. My two little guys are GE and my big 'un is an LG.
|
|
groingo
Member
|
# Posted: 7 Apr 2016 10:28pm - Edited by: groingo
Reply
I did ask them if we could test it there even if I paid for it in advance and Lowes said no.
Tried it on both solar inverter and directly from my inverter generator and no change.
I also asked Lowes for return records from last season, they told me how many they sold but refused to tell me how many were returned, Walmart did the same.
I really ticks me off when retailers lie the way they do so all that I can do is count on myself again, so onward we go to build the cool pit which according to everything I read will does work, I guess we'll all see.
|
|
ColdFlame
Member
|
# Posted: 8 Apr 2016 10:51am
Reply
Has anyone tried the new "solar friendly" air conditioners? Engineer775 (from Practical Preppers) installed/reviewed one in a 3 part series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk6RBuA8yBk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URgtvNsiAog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv8E-kOHA8I
Certainly interesting, and he provides all of the relevant power draw data during startup, eco mode, etc...
|
|
creeky
Member
|
# Posted: 8 Apr 2016 03:47pm
Reply
The compressor on a 5k btu uses 400 watts when running. But when it's just the fan. My a/c unit uses >70 watts.
I wonder. Are you sure you had the compressor running and not just the fan?
I mean. Not to be ... you know. But the compressor in the a/c unit responds to the temperature gauge. It's possible that it just wasn't hot enough to turn the compressor on.
Or that it wasn't "warmed up" yet. Some units need a minute before the compressor will kick in.
ColdFlame. Those are neat units. Nice that you can setup to run on just DC. And there are a variety of them online.
For myself. I don't need so much cooling. But good minisplits are available for well under 1000 bucks that run on 115v ac. That might be an easier option to setup than trying to run a separate 48v dc powerline.
|
|
groingo
Member
|
# Posted: 9 Apr 2016 12:44am - Edited by: groingo
Reply
Creeky:
That problem was just that, the compressor refused to run on not one but two of Frigidaire FFRE0633Q1 even when run hours with both air conditioners from two different stores and Infrared temp checks on both front and rear radiators showed both at room temperature of 72 degrees while the thermostat was set to cool to 60 degrees....nothing, only the fan running like you said at just above 70 watts.
After a long talk with Frigidaire they had NO technical people I could speak too nor do they offer ANY replacement parts for these....and that was the killer...they are throw aways.
|
|
|
