Is my portable air con broken?

OpenToSuggestions · 24 Jun 2023 at 16:28

Hey all.
I have a portable air conditioner in the master bedroom - An Electriq EcoSilent 8000BTU. It really helps as my 2018 build house gets very warm during the summer months.
I use one of the Ebay special window tent things to help stop it sucking all the hot air back in. The unit itself works well.
This year, I got fed up with moving the unit between my gaming room and the bedroom.

I have recently bought another unit for my 9 square metre gaming room. It is an Amcor 7000BTU SF8000E V3, which is claimed to cool up to 18 square metres (not a chance it could do that!).
Whatever I set the temperature to does not seem to matter since it does not reach it.
The unit rooms for 5-10 mins then the compressor disengages for 5 mins. It then re-engages and starts to cool again.
The result is that the room never really gets properly cooled, even on days that are mid-upper 20s outside. My expectation is for the unit to run constantly until the desired temperature is reached, with the compressor disengaging only in extreme weather conditions. I have checked for any hose kinks or blockages and that there are no error codes. The unit is brand new.

My thoughts are that this is broken. I have been in touch with the company I bought it from and they have asked for a video or photos to show the problem.

I would like to ask if others have any thoughts or comments? I don't believe a new unit should be cutting out i.e. cycling like this.

NoobCannon · 24 Jun 2023 at 19:14

Are you open to suggestions?

OpenToSuggestions · 24 Jun 2023 at 19:29

I am

.

norm · 24 Jun 2023 at 20:10

Portable Air Conditioners - Why you shouldn't like them

You can support this channel on Patreon! Link below Oh no. It’s a new version of a well-established product that trades efficiency for convenience. But th...

youtu.be

Portable units tend to run hot due to their flawed design. Better to invest in a split AC system.

Mr.Cookie · 24 Jun 2023 at 21:50

Is it cutting out with a loudish click or just stopping, loud click would indicate it's cycling on the overheat stat on the compressor.

sovietspybob · 25 Jun 2023 at 09:02

That does sound broken to me, while portables are less than ideal they should still work well for their application. I've got a 7000BTU unit and it'll cool our large (20ish m2) bedroom with no trouble at all.

LuckyBenski · 25 Jun 2023 at 18:16

Is it kicking out proper cold air while it does run?

And have you set it up to exhaust out of the window?

OpenToSuggestions · 26 Jun 2023 at 19:10

norm said:
Portable Air Conditioners - Why you shouldn't like them

You can support this channel on Patreon! Link below Oh no. It’s a new version of a well-established product that trades efficiency for convenience. But th...

youtu.be

Portable units tend to run hot due to their flawed design. Better to invest in a split AC system.

They definitely crap compared to a split AC system. Perhaps someday I will invest in a proper split system!
I have watched the video before, but I have just watched it again. Strangely enjoyable.

Mr.Cookie said:
Is it cutting out with a loudish click or just stopping, loud click would indicate it's cycling on the overheat stat on the compressor.

You hear the compressor disengaging so the unit is a touch quieter, and the air blowing out of it is no longer cool. I will have to wait until we have a hot spell again then listen out for a click.

sovietspybob said:
That does sound broken to me, while portables are less than ideal they should still work well for their application. I've got a 7000BTU unit and it'll cool our large (20ish m2) bedroom with no trouble at all.

I think you're right. The other unit we have is 8000BTU and it is night and day better, since it continuously runs.

LuckyBenski said:
Is it kicking out proper cold air while it does run?

And have you set it up to exhaust out of the window?

It does kick out properly cold air when running, until it decides go into fan mode. Therefore no matter what I set the desired temperature to makes no difference really as it just cannot reach it.
I have one of the Ebay special window tent things in an attempt to create some form of barrier between the room and outdoors. The upstairs of my house gets very warm, so I like to leave a window open downstairs with the hope that some of the air the room needs to equal out the pressure is sucked through the house.