They have a good pitch, but it seems like a bunch of BS to me.

 

Rule #1, if it sounds too good to be true it is

That's my rule at least. It looks like it's just an upgrade thermostat and control unit for a standard window unit. It might work but when I see "new patent pending technology" and "greatest thing since sliced bread" I always start to shy away. Doing a little digging I could only find one person saying they had used it to keep a room at 45-50 (http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/market/msg041252204654.html). The guys in the Refrigeration and Ice Making forum might have more information.

 

It might work, but it isn't designed to work that way, an a/c service compressor has less displacement than a high temp ref service compressor, so to achieve the desired temperature the a/c compressor would have to run longer, and the evap coil will almost certainly freeze up, then you would beat the piss out of the compressor

 

Will it be able to get down below 40°? Maybe...Will it be able to hold 40° and maintain it consistantly? Across a broad range of outside air temps and humidity? With heavy in and out traffic? I wouldn't count on it.

Looks like they use a little resistence heater to "fool" the PTACs t-stat into thinking the space temp is warmer to keep the compressor running. The defrost must be air over off cycle.

It sounds way to good to be true...

 

I would think they would need to change the type of refrigerant, metering divice, and maybe the compressor. Than add a condenser fan cycling switch. Maybe a freeze stat with a defrost heater.

Ya so basicly change the whole thing!

I could see it happening

 

What if you had a sufficient amount of air blowing at the condenser possibly even warm external air to keep it from freezing I'm trying to make my own walk in cooler and feel a window shaker would do the trick if I increase the amount of air flow to keep it from freezing....

 

I think it will work fine -

They trick the window box's thermostat into running the compressor constantly. Then they monitor the evaporator temp to know when to shut off the compressor for a forced off-cycle-defrost. They use a time delay on for the compressor. Done.

Of course with the poor fin spacing and rapid frosting they are forced to cycle the devil out of the compressor - but why should they care?

 

They trick the window box's thermostat into running the compressor constantly. Then they monitor the evaporator temp to know when to shut off the compressor for a forced off-cycle-defrost. They use a time delay on for the compressor. Done.

Of course with the poor fin spacing and rapid frosting they are forced to cycle the devil out of the compressor - but why should they care?

Wouldn’t this take forever! Most contain R-22 right? If this air conditioner worked correctly, air going threw the evap would be so cold the refrigerant would not evaporate causing a flood-back to the compressor.
So it would not live long.
Am i right when saying this or is my brain over thinking again?

 

Wow what a scam and they aim at cheap DIY suckers who don't want a real walk in cooler refer unit!

There is no way a window shaker a/c unit designed to only cool down to 72 degrees with a 20 degree split will ever work. If it could get a "walk in" down to 40 degrees it would be slugging the comp and freezing constantly!

Walk in refer stuff has HUGE evap coils in compare and only need a few degrees temp drop across them. And a txv is a must and a odm low ambient control.

Another POS gimmick.

Maybe we can invite it's creator like we did with the cool-n-save condenser mister LOL!!!

 

Somebody else asked about this within the past 6 months and we talked about it alot. Seems the control they offer heats up the existing window A/C tstat to keep it running till it dies, if it's the same type of system.

Some research of the past might bring up some more info but I think it's just a waste of time anyway.

 

You're over-thinking it Greg -

It won't take forever. What they are doing is using maybe four times the nominal capacity units.

Then the reduced suction presure reduces the compressor's pumping capacity by 40-50%, and plus they cycle the compressor off half the time for the forced-defrost. <g>

I doubt the compressor will live long - due to all the cycling, but that's not the gadget maker's problem. <g>

On the other hand; I have seen some equipment whipped mercilessly and still last for years and years. <g>

PHM
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QUOTE - Wouldn’t this take forever! Most contain R-22 right? If this air conditioner worked correctly, air going threw the evap would be so cold the refrigerant would not evaporate causing a flood-back to the compressor. So it would not live long. Am i right when saying this or is my brain over thinking again? -QUOTE-

 

Good luck with that.

 

I heard a lot of good things about this, such as affordable, easy to assemble, and easy to use but I haven’t use this product till now.

 

It might work for a short time until it destroys the compressor. Convince someone and install it for them. Hope they don't find you when they have to throw away several thousand dollars worth of food that spoiled.

I have use window AC on very well insulated rooms to maintain the temps low to prolong foods that don't need refrigeration, potatoes, onions, carrots, bread, chips

 

I have seen three of these systems over the years. One was at a produce stand and the others were at hunting camps. As long as you are going to stay around 40 deg, and you size the A/C properly, they work fine. I have serviced the produce stand for about 8 years, and there has never been a problem with the walk-in. If the compressor quits, you are looking at $400 - $500 for a new A/C.

 

I think just swapping out the original thermostat for a constant cutin unit would about do it.

 

And a time delay

 

Can’t wait for the service calls

 

After the condenser gets plugged from constant running and no one looking they get a new window shaker and a service call bill.

about every 2 years

 

There's no way I would use a room AC unit to try to keep a space at 35 40 degrees. AC is only designed to get down to 70 and run in ambient's above 65. I've seen people try to do similar stuff with ductless splits. It does not work you must buy a system that is designed for medium temperature applications. You buy that room unit you will end up losing that compressor it. It's going to freeze up on you there's no way to control the ambient this is a total crackpot idea by whoever selling this. You'll be lucky to get a year out of that window unit and it will not work in low ambient conditions. It's going to freeze up because it's not designed to go below 70. You must buy a medium temp system which comes with low ambient built into it. Total scam stay away.

 

I ran into one where they used an LG ductless split, it blew out the inverter and some other parts in a matter of weeks 2x in a row. No I didn't like it at all.

 

Never heard about it..

 

I have a couple customers with these setups and im actually entertaining the idea of doing one at a Florist ….. largely because they all say there are no problems with these whatsoever

For a 10 x 12 ive read 18k Btu , and if keeping beer 24k


BUT these are better off suggested for customers who go in there 10 times a day , if more use curtains

 

Flowers require tight humidity control. Will such a hacked solution work for that?

 

I have church youth camp I service. The dining / food prep building is basically a very large log cabin. It has a full commercial kitchen. The food pantry area had a ventilation problem, (spoilage of dry goods from heat and humidity) 15 x 20 area no windows with freezer, refrigerator & ice maker not to mention the food, the walls are a minimim of 8" thick (wood) and have a finshed interior, so well insulated. I inserted a 12K btu window air unit in one exterior wall and it drops the room (pantry) temp by 20F to 25F. So the pantry stays 65 to 75 all summer, works well for them. when it was 98 last week the pantry almost felt cold in comparison to the kitchen

However, it is still just my opinion I would not try to maintain 40 - 42 for perishable food (meat, fish, milk, eggs....)

 

seems like it would be hard on the compressor.

 

One of my customers is a Pizza joint , and when its 90 outside its 95 in the kitchen , and theres a 6x8 box in there keeps temp just fine , i will slide by to see what AC unit thats using....

 

A lot of "depends" here. Others mentioned evap fin coil spacing being potential problem, I agree.

All compressors have a temperature application range and many "high" temp compressors are rated for a plus 20 evaporating temp. So, the frequent cycling issue not withstanding, a compressor would be able to handle the lower suction pressure.

Flood Back? Maybe, but that can be checked. Although depending on the expansion device, perhaps not adjustable.