Air Conditioners Which Brand Best?

[bazmlb]

I would stay away from LG. The owner of the house we rent thought he was doing a favor and replaced the antique AC units with LG (remote control version) and within a year they have both failed. One with a failed compressor and the technician replaced the compressor with a Mitsubishi one and on both the remote control stopped working.

Two technicians at the university I work at who handles the AC work also recommended Mitsubishi without hesitation.

Some info from the inside the manufacturers.

They all look at each others units and copy them.

Most of the units sold in Thailand that are made here are grade 2 and not grade 1 export quality.

They use compressors from China in nearly every unit

About Failures

Compressor failure is usually due to poor installation and leaks, once the gas leaks the oil can no longer circulate around the system, its like driving the car with no oil in the engine.

They tend to solder the pipe joins rather than braize them and this causes a lot of leaks where there is movement.

[bazmlb]

Look it up, no joke.

during and after expansion the liquid compressed refrigerant changes it's state from liquid to gaseous and absorbs heat from the air blown thorugh the fins of the evaporator. this heat is transported to the condenser unit and 'disposed' to the outside ambience.

The gas has a direct temperature/pressure relationship, as the gas is pressurized by the compressor then fed around the system to the TX valve where it passes through a pin hole into a larger diameter pipe the pressure drops, both from entering the larger tube (evaporator) and from the suction from the compressor, the gas cools the evaporator to sub 10c temperatures and a fan is used to pass air over it and cool the air that then leaves the unit to cool the room.

[buddy]

Daikin are the best, go for a system with an inverter compressor.

Unlike Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Fujitsu (TV's Washing machines etc), Daikin only manufacture Air-conditioning, refrigeration units and refrigerant so are specialists in this field.

Daikin have also invented many firsts, VRV included.

[buddy]

I wonder how many guys know whether they have 'refrigerant' or 'evaporative' air conditioners?

Apparently 'refrigerant' are more expensive and better for the Thai humidity.

I'm asking, as I am trying to learn a bit more.

You are correct in one sense, the high humidity and the relationship with dew point would not make "evaportive" desert cooler types very effective in Thailand.

For example a desert cooler would only "pull down" the room temperature a couple of degrees from the ambient temperature, so if it was 32 degrees C outside your inside temp would only be around 30 degrees, so not a very effective solution to your cooling needs.

If the desert coolers worked in Thailand the Thais would have had them installed on every building as they are only comprised of a water pump and a fan.......cheap cheap cheap!

[buddy]

I wonder how many guys know whether they have 'refrigerant' or 'evaporative' air conditioners?

Apparently 'refrigerant' are more expensive and better for the Thai humidity.

I'm asking, as I am trying to learn a bit more.

You are correct in one sense, the high humidity and the relationship with dew point would not make "evaportive" desert cooler types very effective in Thailand.

For example a desert cooler would only "pull down" the room temperature a couple of degrees from the ambient temperature, so if it was 32 degrees C outside your inside temp would only be around 30 degrees, so not a very effective solution to your cooling needs.

If the desert coolers worked in Thailand the Thais would have had them installed on every building as they are only comprised of a water pump and a fan.......cheap cheap cheap!

[GungaDin]

I have recently had some panasonic units fitted.

And I can say there are excellent, I have got one 24,000 btu and 2 x 12000 btu, I have used air con quite a bit and they seem very good, nice a quiet and excellent at cooling the room very quickly.

Hi BCB,

How much for the 24K BTU model (fitted) and does it have an inverter?

[neverdie]

GD,

One thing I have found out throughout this little debarkle with samsung is that, apparently the inverter models are not suppose to be gassed up to the same pressures of the rotary type air conditioners, theres also a couple of other things that need to be checked on setup.....even some of the samsung blokes were a bit confused with something SO they sent their inverter expert who went thru my system with a fine tooth comb before announcing in plain english....."ohhhhh, its farked" something which I had uttered time and time again during their visits (& I dont know anything about air conditioners). He told me it was important to get someone that had experience with inverter models to fit them.

Also the inverter model is a bit slower at reducing the temp over the rotary style ones, but as mine is in the bedroom that doesnt worry me cos I just fire it up 15 minutes before i go to bed & its so dam_n quiet its hard to work out whether it is running or not (except that its cool). Even outside next to the unit your flat out working out if its on or not. I have said before that it is dead cheap to run, not much dearer than a fan....which is great for those mid summer electric bills.

I think you will find that no one makes an inverter unit as big as 24,000 btu's, i think they are restricted to the smaller capacity units...which is why i went for a rotary unit in the main part of the house. Unless panasonic are doing one now, would be just my luck.

Edited January 8, 2009 by neverdie

[GungaDin]

Neverdie.

Thanks.

As I couldn't find any info in English on the Thai AC sites, I resorted to the Aussie sites for more info on inverter models.

Reading those sites I got the impression that inverters were only available on the hot / cold models.

Very confusing!

I take your point about the 24K models not having an inverter.

Maybe I should be looking at 2 x 15,000 units for 32m2?

$$$$$$$$$

[neverdie]

Yeah big bucks for the inverter models, esp 2 of them in one room - around 30k a piece.....maybe panasonic is having a deal with their new release??

I bought my Samsung inverter model for about 32k fitted......about 6 weeks later they had them on a special samsung sale for 26k....doh!

Ohh & your welcome.

Edited January 8, 2009 by neverdie

[blackcountryboing]

Hi Gungadin,

I payed about 62,000 for all the units installed.

The big 24,000 btu unit is in my bedroom that is 7m x 7m and on the front of the house that is facing south and gets all the heat, the unit copes with the heat no problem.

I made sure i got them to fit 4mm supply cable to the unit and got it earthed correctly, you know how they can be with there electrics.

They also gave me a gurantee and will come back for the next 5 years to top it up etc.

I am at work at the mo out the country so do not have the phone number, but i can get it for you. The guys how installed it where from Nong Bang lamphu.

Hope this helps.

[GungaDin]

Thanks BCB, do they all have inverters?

[blackcountryboing]

Sorry Gungadin I cant answer that question.

I will have to try and look it up online, i know they where the latest model as they seemed all excited about them..

[neverdie]

Thanks BCB, do they all have inverters?

No way. Theres no way you can buy 2 x 12,000btu INVERTER MODEL & a 24,000 btu INVERTER MODEL for 62,000 baht. Definately not in a good brand like panasonic....it sounds like they are rotary ones to me.

I think you pay around 30k for a 24,000 btu unit ( Non INverter) fitted which would of meant that BCB got his other 2 non inverter models for about 16k each....which makes complete sense when your considering a panasonic & not some elcheapo type aircon model.

I've found the Inverter types to be considerably more expensive that the non inverter ones.....which you make up later with the cheaper inverter electricity bills.

Edited January 8, 2009 by neverdie

[GungaDin]

Thanks guys .

[neverdie]

Thanks guys .

Let me know how u go with it bloke, like which inverter one you get & how it goes....that way if my new one plays up (still hasnt been hot enuf to turn on yet) I will belt the aircon dude & get my money back & try one like urs if its any good.

[GungaDin]

"Bloke"?

Where are you from, Switzerland?

[neverdie]

"Bloke"?

Where are you from, Switzerland?

Sorry, bad habit of mine, i call many people bloke - even chicks. I'm an aussie MATE!

[bazmlb]

Thanks BCB, do they all have inverters?

No way. Theres no way you can buy 2 x 12,000btu INVERTER MODEL & a 24,000 btu INVERTER MODEL for 62,000 baht. Definately not in a good brand like panasonic....it sounds like they are rotary ones to me.

I think you pay around 30k for a 24,000 btu unit ( Non INverter) fitted which would of meant that BCB got his other 2 non inverter models for about 16k each....which makes complete sense when your considering a panasonic & not some elcheapo type aircon model.

I've found the Inverter types to be considerably more expensive that the non inverter ones.....which you make up later with the cheaper inverter electricity bills.

You can currently get Daikin Inverter (plus Install)

9,000btu 25,500 baht

18,000btu 44,000 baht

[GungaDin]

Thanks Baz.

That rules out Daiken.

[bazmlb]

Thanks Baz.

That rules out Daiken.

LG have only just released their inverter models too, with a 12k and 9k btu Art cool, considering the price of a non inverter Art cool 12k at 18,000baht and the 9k at 21,000baht plus install, i would hate to see the price of the inverter units

[GungaDin]

I've finally found some online prices.

http://www.sinsiamelectronics.com/catalog/...hp?cPath=54_156

Hopefully, smaller vendors might be cheaper.

[blackcountryboing]

Sorry I could not confirm the prices, I am happy with what i have got I am not in thailand all the time and i know i can get a good nights sleep with the ones i have (panasonic).

Its all about cost, and there is no way i am spening much in Thailand this year with the baht to Pound rate.

I dont have full internet access here, but I will deffo look into the models when i get back to LOS.

Take it easy and enjoy the nice cool of the air con. Got to put some decent insulation in my loft now to help it out. been thinking of the proper stuff the company does blown or the foam on the tiles but i will probally end up with the rolls from Home Mart.

[Pib]

I've got 7 York split air systems ranging from 9000 to 24000 BTU installed throughout my house here in Bangkok. 5 of the 7 get used very regularly (2 of the 5 get used almost 24 hrs a day); the remaining 2 of the 7 get used occasionally. All seven systems are 11 to 12 months old and I haven't had any problems with any of them.

When I lived in Hawaii, my last house had a York central air system...the system was new (like the house) and hummed along up until the day I sold the house after living in it for 13 years...I only had minor problems with the outside compressor unit over those 13 years (i.e, needed to replace the startup capacitor and relay...both these problems occurred around the 10 year point and were quick and cheap fixes) and I had to give the inside air handler a good coil cleaning at about the 9 year point (gunked up with years of dust, dog hair, etc., I bought the special cleaning solution and cleaned it myself). Bottom Line the hardware reliability of this York central air system was very good.

So far, I've had good luck with York systems...I didn't choose York for the split air or central air system as they came already installed in my new houses.

[theoldgit]

Anybody know where I can get a new remote for a Mitsubishi in Bangkok (Thong Lor), and how much they cost?

[David H]

Thanks BCB, do they all have inverters?

No way. Theres no way you can buy 2 x 12,000btu INVERTER MODEL & a 24,000 btu INVERTER MODEL for 62,000 baht. Definately not in a good brand like panasonic....it sounds like they are rotary ones to me.

I think you pay around 30k for a 24,000 btu unit ( Non INverter) fitted which would of meant that BCB got his other 2 non inverter models for about 16k each....which makes complete sense when your considering a panasonic & not some elcheapo type aircon model.

I've found the Inverter types to be considerably more expensive that the non inverter ones.....which you make up later with the cheaper inverter electricity bills.

You can currently get Daikin Inverter (plus Install)

9,000btu 25,500 baht

18,000btu 44,000 baht

I paid 33,000 bht Daikin with inverter 18,000btu, I bought 3, that was the price installed and they did an excellent job. The company was ARC on Sukumvit

[paperwerks]

Panasonic is the best design engineering-quiet and no problems with remote etc.

TCL is the crappiest cheap Chinese low quality brand. Do not buy TCL.

Pay the extra money for Panasonic.

[Sleesy]

Just wanted to add that the concealed ALMENA's I have are RUBBISH

Bought 11 units 2 years ago, 3 have needed new compressors, 4 remotes have packed up!

HOWEVER...

the stick on the wall 11 LG's I bought 3 years ago are billiant,

not one problem with them, or compressors or remotes...

Cheers

Sleesy

[theoldgit]

I re-kindled this thread to try and find where I can get a new remote, can anyone help?

[whimsy]

I re-kindled this thread to try and find where I can get a new remote, can anyone help?

Try Amorn Electronics. I think the remotes are copies, but good copies. Sorry, I only know where they are in Chiang Mai (3 branches) not Bangkok, but they are a national chain. This is their website (in Thai only) http://www.amorngroup.com They have their shops in shopping malls up here.

You could probably find something in the shops in the Saphan Kwai area too.

[cerbera]

bumped:

does anyone know how loud (range decibel) an aircon compressor should be.

Thx