Thailand’s duty-free dream: Govt’s five-pronged plan to woo tourists and shoppers
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Which AC better 4 reliability, endurance, service:Daikin/Panasonic. Supporting evidence?
I have completely changed my perspective concerning my expectations about how long I should expect an AC to last. For one thing, compared to 25 years ago, the cost of ACs is far lower, maybe about one-quarter the price, or even less. Therefore, there is NO FREE LUNCH. IF I were willing to pay USD5000.00 for a BTU24,000 mini-split AC, as I would do 25 years ago, in today's dollars, then I could demand Tank-Like performance and reliability. However, these days, I pay a VERY low cost. And, I get commensurate reliability. Therefore, how can I complain? No. In fact, I am not able to complain I am buying an AC at garbage prices. Therefore, what should I expect in return??? This is true. The prices for mini-split ACs have been radically dropping. And, these prices have hit the basement. So then, what does GEMINI have to say about this? Please Note: =========== No. I think it is only due to cost cutting. Please elucidate on this You raise a very strong point, and indeed, cost-cutting is arguably the single most dominant factor explaining the perceived decrease in reliability and increased frequency of breakdowns in modern ACs compared to units from 25 years ago. While other factors like complexity and installation sensitivity play a role, they are often direct or indirect consequences of the relentless drive to lower manufacturing costs and retail prices. Let's elucidate how cost-cutting permeates and impacts reliability: The Core Mechanism: "Designed to a Price Point" In the year 2000, while competition existed, the market for split ACs was less saturated globally. Manufacturers often designed products with a greater margin of safety and a longer intended lifespan, aiming for "quality that lasts." Today, the paradigm has fundamentally shifted to a "design to a price point" model. This means: Material Downgrade - The Most Direct Impact: Thinner Coils (Copper/Aluminum): This is a prime example. To save on raw material costs, manufacturers use thinner gauge tubing for evaporators (indoor unit) and condensers (outdoor unit). Impact on Reliability: Thinner materials are more prone to: Corrosion: Especially in humid, potentially corrosive environments like Thailand, thinner metal corrodes faster, leading to refrigerant leaks and loss of cooling. Vibration Fatigue: Constant vibration from the compressor and fans can cause micro-cracks over time, leading to leaks. Physical Damage: More susceptible to damage during installation, handling, or from environmental debris. Cheaper Plastics: Less robust, more brittle plastics are used for fan blades, grilles, and casings. Impact on Reliability: Prone to cracking, especially with UV exposure and temperature cycling. A broken fan blade can cause severe vibration and further damage to the fan motor. Lower-Grade Metals for Cabinets/Chassis: Thinner steel or aluminum for the outdoor unit's casing provides less structural integrity and rust resistance. Reduced Copper Content in Wiring: While seemingly minor, thinner wires can generate more heat and be less resistant to surges, impacting the lifespan of associated electrical components. Component Sourcing - The Race to the Cheapest Supplier: Manufacturers, including major brands like Panasonic, now operate on global supply chains. They source components (compressors, motors, capacitors, PCBs) from the lowest-cost producers worldwide. Impact on Reliability: While specifications are provided, the consistency and ultimate quality of these mass-produced, lowest-bidder components can vary. A cheaper capacitor, for instance, might have a shorter lifespan, leading to premature failure of the compressor or fan motor. Small cost savings on a critical component can lead to widespread failures. Simplified/Less Robust Electronics (Even in Inverters): Even though inverter technology adds complexity, cost-cutting influences the quality of the electronic components used on the Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). Impact on Reliability: Cheaper resistors, capacitors, and microchips on the inverter board are more susceptible to: Heat: High temperatures inside the outdoor unit can accelerate degradation. Power Surges/Dips: Less robust protection circuits mean voltage fluctuations can quickly fry the board. Dust and Humidity: Less effective conformal coatings (protective layers on the circuit board) can make them more vulnerable to environmental factors. A failed PCB is often an expensive replacement. Reduced "Overbuilding" and Thinner Margins: Older units were often "over-engineered" – meaning they had a larger safety margin in their design. Components were often oversized for the required load. Impact on Reliability: Modern units are designed with much tighter margins. The components are specified to just meet the required performance, with little excess capacity for unforeseen stresses or prolonged operation at peak limits. This means they are less forgiving of slight imperfections in manufacturing, installation, or slight overloads in use. Quality Control - A Tricky Area: While major brands still have QC processes, the sheer volume of production and the pressure to cut costs can sometimes lead to: Less rigorous component testing: Reliance on supplier certifications rather than extensive in-house testing of every batch. Faster assembly lines: Which can occasionally lead to human error or less precise fitment. Focus on 'Pass/Fail' at the end: Instead of preventative QC at every stage, the emphasis might shift to ensuring the unit simply turns on and cools when it leaves the factory, rather than robustly checking for long-term durability issues. The Ripple Effect of Cost-Cutting: Lower Prices = Higher Volume: The lower retail prices driven by cost-cutting fuel increased sales volume. This, in turn, pressures manufacturers to produce even more units, further driving down costs through economies of scale, creating a continuous cycle. Shorter Expected Lifespan: Manufacturers know consumers are now used to replacing electronics more frequently. The design philosophy shifts from "build it to last 20 years" to "build it to last 7-10 years (or just past the warranty) and be energy efficient." "Planned Obsolescence" (Debatable but Implied): While often controversial, the outcome of this cost-driven design is sometimes a product with a shorter effective lifespan, encouraging replacement rather than repair. In conclusion, you are absolutely on the right track. The single biggest driver behind the perceived decrease in reliability and increased breakdowns in modern ACs, compared to older "tank-like" units, is the relentless pursuit of cost reduction through material downgrades, optimized (read: cheaper) component sourcing, and a shift away from over-engineering to designing precisely to a competitive price point. The increased complexity of inverter technology exacerbates these cost-cutting measures, as cheaper electronic components are more vulnerable than robust mechanical ones. =================== =================== So then, what is my more enlightened view about consumer-type AC purchasing and expectations? a. When I purchase an AC, even a premium brand AC, these days, the price is probably less than 0.25 percent what I would have paid in 1995, in 1995 dollars. b. Since this is true, then how can I expect to obtain a reliable machine, for less than one-quarter the cost of a good machine, manufactured in a good country, 30 years ago. c. So, this is a definite paradigm shift that should be considered. d. From now on, just based on the price I pay, I will consider EVERYTHING I buy to be disposable. e. I should be lucky enough to have a modern-day AC last two to three years. Many will never last this long. f. Even though ACs may not last long, these days, at the very least, they are cheap enough, now, that we can just replace them, once per year, or once per two years, max. g. I do not want to stress about quality, these days. I would rather just remind myself that the price is cheap. And so, use the machine until it shows the first signs of faltering. And then just chuck it in the bin. h. In past decades, only some things were considered to be disposable goods, such as tampons. And now, these days, disposable items seem to include ACs. This truly is a NEW age we live in.... And, it is the ultimate consumerism age, for sure. -
13
Thai spouse to Australia
Immigration place conditions on visas. It has nothing to do with VFS. -
150
Report Police Clamp Down on Prostitution to Protect Pattaya’s Image
Sorry if I offended you because you're sat in your small room all day by yourself. -
93
Report Thailand to Require Medical Certificates for Cannabis Use Within 40 Days
They are too chicken to ban so this bring in a half baked idea like this. Will change nothing. Like all rules in Thailand it will be ignored. -
120
How do you feel about Thailand being clearly far-right?
So you're denying that Hitler was a far-right Nazi? -
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