Aircon insights

I have a Hisense 38000 BTU non-inverter running in the lounge, and running the house is two 8kw Sunsynk.
Wish I paid the extra few bob for an inverter aircon because as mentioned electricity is high and start-up amps always causes lights to dim especially when the compressor starts running.
 
I know in Cape Town Daikin Perfera 9000BTU inverters are going for R20K incl installation, back to back.
Why Perfera? because apparently an A+++ rating but also more quiet than the standard unit.
LG also gives a 10 year warranty on the inverter, so that's also probably a good brand.

Overseas you can find these small sliding door/window ACs which are very elegant for small rooms and can be used temporarily during hot spells.



i-img1200x1200-1715674645pj70yu29.jpg
 
Used both AC Direct and RightAir for multiple installations at 2 properties over 7+ years. RightAir wins for me since they use their own technical/install teams where AFAIK AC Direct outsources to 3rd parties.

Their installations are also miles ahead of AC Direct in terms of quality and attention to detail. Small things like type of bracket, anti-noise-and-vibration mounts etc.

Non-inverter is a no-go when running off solar due to high startup amps, if not for substantial electricity savings.
Currently, we have Daikin 12k BTU , Samsung 18k BTU "Smart" and 24k BTU "Smart". All inverters.

The Daikin R32 (coolant/refrigerant type) is miles ahead of the others (R410a) in terms of noise and vibration, efficiency and simplicity. A bit like a Toyota or mother Mary: not very pretty, but does wonderful work.

PS - just buy a Broadlink RM4 or something similar and make any AC smarter than the OEM can dream of.
 
If you are starting now then definitely inverter.

I wouldn’t go as far as pulling my non-inverters out to switch, but no chance in hell if I was only starting now I would by anything but inverter units, especially for being on solar.

If nothing else the noise is more justification than saving on power if I was going inverter.

In your situation though I would seriously consider a central air type setup if you were planning to do them all at once anyway.
 
acp said:
Non-inverter is a no-go when running off solar due to high startup amps, if not for substantial electricity savings.
Currently, we have Daikin 12k BTU , Samsung 18k BTU "Smart" and 24k BTU "Smart". All inverters.
Click to expand...
It’s just fine on solar, I also have three big non-inverters running off an 8kW Sunsynk with no issues at all. Only time I don’t run them is during load shedding, then I’ll only run the one where I’m in the room.

Electricity savings isn’t that substantial when looking at overall daily usage, it just seems much lower because the inverters peak power usage is less but it runs for more of the time, which is why I say the lack of noise is the real benefit as you don’t have compressors kicking on and off the whole time.

However all that said, as above, you would he very silly NOT to install an inverter if you are starting out now.

Savings however are definitely not there to warrant replacing an existing non-inverter.
 
The biggest issue with non-inverter aircons when using them through your Sunsynk is the inrush current when the compressor starts up. It can be multiple times the running current which can be an issue for the inverter if all kick in at similar times.

Aside from the long term running cost of the inverter aircons being better they are just generally better options for compatibility with solar systems.
 
acp said:
PS - just buy a Broadlink RM4 or something similar and make any AC smarter than the OEM can dream of.
Click to expand...

Do you mind briefly describing how this works?

Do you get the same options the remote offers via an app?

Does it offer any smart operating/timing functions based on PV production or battery SOC?
 
I installed the Daikin Perfera 9000 BTU in the bedroom at the start of winter.

Chose the Daikin specifically for it's great efficiency.

We had a bit of a premature baby so had to keep the bedroom warm all winter. Even when outside dropped to 0, inside was a toasty 26, consuming 650-700W constantly... and it's a much warmer inside than running one of those 2kW fan heaters. (based in Randburg, in a cold valley, in an old house with old steel windows that don't seal all that well)

So now we're looking to do the larger office and lounge/dining area.

For cooling efficiency you're looking at the EER score, and for heating the COP score. Daikin wins on the single 1:1 units. But on the larger multisplit options the Samsung score slightly better.

So we're going with Daikin for larger areas too (24+9 running on one outdoor unit) just because they have stock and the Samsung's are still on a ship.

Purchase & install through ACDirect.
 
I have a few Samsung AR4500 around the house.

As mentioned if you're running off your solar inverter, it's best to go with an inverter aircon to avoid the high current spike each time the compressor starts up.

You just need to work out the BTU based on your room size. Got mines from ACDirect. They provide installation as well...
 
Samsung or Midea I would say. Inverter obviously.

Why not look at maybe getting a 10kw Sunsynk inverter seeing as the prices are coming down.

My neighbor has one of these VFR mofos at his house. With a split unit in each room, 5 x rooms i think. And he has solar with an inverter and batteries etc.

This things runs 24 hours a day. Every day. Loadshedding or not. Not sure what kind of battery setup he has but I assume its one of those of those huge ass Freedomwon units.

1722613178290.png
 
sh33p said:
I installed the Daikin Perfera 9000 BTU in the bedroom at the start of winter.

Chose the Daikin specifically for it's great efficiency.

We had a bit of a premature baby so had to keep the bedroom warm all winter. Even when outside dropped to 0, inside was a toasty 26, consuming 650-700W constantly... and it's a much warmer inside than running one of those 2kW fan heaters. (based in Randburg, in a cold valley, in an old house with old steel windows that don't seal all that well)

So now we're looking to do the larger office and lounge/dining area.

For cooling efficiency you're looking at the EER score, and for heating the COP score. Daikin wins on the single 1:1 units. But on the larger multisplit options the Samsung score slightly better.

So we're going with Daikin for larger areas too (24+9 running on one outdoor unit) just because they have stock and the Samsung's are still on a ship.

Purchase & install through ACDirect.
Click to expand...

I would literally die.
 
W@P said:
Samsung or Midea I would say. Inverter obviously.

Why not look at maybe getting a 10kw Sunsynk inverter seeing as the prices are coming down.

My neighbor has one of these VFR mofos at his house. With a split unit in each room, 5 x rooms i think. And he has solar with an inverter and batteries etc.

This things runs 24 hours a day. Every day. Loadshedding or not. Not sure what kind of battery setup he has but I assume its one of those of those huge ass Freedomwon units.

View attachment 1748476
Click to expand...

Typo?

But anyway no need for that while there is AC passthrough or it's daylight, happily been running three non-inverters for almost 3 years now.

Inverters units will be a non-event.
 
sh33p said:
I installed the Daikin Perfera 9000 BTU in the bedroom at the start of winter.

Chose the Daikin specifically for it's great efficiency.

We had a bit of a premature baby so had to keep the bedroom warm all winter. Even when outside dropped to 0, inside was a toasty 26, consuming 650-700W constantly... and it's a much warmer inside than running one of those 2kW fan heaters. (based in Randburg, in a cold valley, in an old house with old steel windows that don't seal all that well)

So now we're looking to do the larger office and lounge/dining area.

For cooling efficiency you're looking at the EER score, and for heating the COP score. Daikin wins on the single 1:1 units. But on the larger multisplit options the Samsung score slightly better.

So we're going with Daikin for larger areas too (24+9 running on one outdoor unit) just because they have stock and the Samsung's are still on a ship.

Purchase & install through ACDirect.
Click to expand...

That one would be my choice once my current inverter Japanese ones die.

They refuse to though.

Abroad there is a wider selection though, eg Mitsubishi, Hitachi and Panasonic, which are arguably superior to Daikin.
 
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