1 tonne split airconditioner - need suggestions

[square_wave]

Hi Guys,
I am planning to pick up couple of 1 tonne split ACs for my home town (parents home in kerala). Any suggestions? There are dozens of choices out there and I am a noobie with anything to do with airconditioning

22k is the max budget for one.

 

[sachin_k5]

Got an 1 ton split LG for the last 2 years. Very happy..no noise..low bill..cools like siberia

 

[teky]

If you've got the budget look for the Hitachi models. We've one running for past 3 years without no hiccups.

We've Voltas installed on another room and it's running good as well. Catch hold of a Tata employee you might be able to get some good discount on the Voltas models.

 

[spirovious]

LG is a choice.
Now Videocon & Voltas has 5 star ratings.

 

[psychotropic]

from my very limited knowledge avoid brands like Godrej, Onida, Videocon, TCL and so on, their build quality and QC are not up to scratch and even if they do have 5-stars and long warranties on the compressor, you'll find all sorts of niggling things going wrong with them.

From what I understand LG and Samsung are the cheapest of the reliable lot. Other good options are Voltas, Whirlpool, Carrier....and if you have a more generous budget Hitachi and Daikin.

But reliably for your parents, i think LG and Samsung would be good options. Head down to kerala and see which of them offers the best deal on a 3-star AC (power in kerala is cheap) and pick up a couple of them.

 

[avidyarthy]

let me know:
1. the room dimensions
2. where is the room located .... ground floor or top floors
3. whats on top of the room .... another built up room or plain terrace
4. how many windows .... doors ...
5. where is the sun facing area ....

Most split units are made in China, no matter which brand you buy. Not that the Chinese quality is bad, it is near excellent provided the kit is manufactured
by Midea /Haier/ another co. whose name I am missing out.

You could look at Electrolux, LG, Samsung, Kelvinator for the mid level and Toshiba, Hitachi, O General, Skoda .... for the high end.

The trick in air conditioning fundamental is that you MUST select the A/C capacity 'slightly' less than what is required. It is a complex set of calculations. The idea is that the compressor (most likely rotary type in 1 and 1.5 TR) should operate continuously and NOT on-off. Some high end machines are equipped with DC inverter drive which controls the speed of the compressor depending on the room load. That caters to close to 50% of the power savings even if a higher capacity machine is selected for a specific room. So, in case, you do not want to pay double for this feature, you must select a slightly lower capacity A/C for a given room. The on-off operation consumes hell lot of power to operate. This is something the retailers do not know as manufacturers find it very difficult to make them understand technically.

This is a complex thing to explain here. My rooms are 15' x 11' x 10' and both are equipped with 1 TR split machines without inverter drives. The retailer was hell bent to supply at least 1.5 TR machines which would have been a mess. The compressors run continuously during afternoons in peak summers and on-off (say, after every 60 minutes) during nights.

 

[rams1977]

from my very limited knowledge avoid brands like Godrej, Onida, Videocon, TCL and so on.

But reliably for your parents, i think LG and Samsung would be good options.

Negative. Im just in market for purchasing AC as well but feedback for LG n SAMSUNG are a strict NO-NO!!hyeah: from LG/SAMMY users and a/c technicians. In fact, technicians are suggesting Panasonic, Onida. I think A/c for LG n Sammy is not their cup of tea:lol:. In fact the purchase of A/c is agonizing mentally than purchasing A/V gear.

 

[corElement]

DO NOT BUY the 2010 hitachi 5star rated models - they're a rip off! the 2009 hitachi 5star rated models are probably the best ac's one can get.

 

[Rem]

from my very limited knowledge avoid brands like Godrej, Onida, Videocon, TCL and so on, their build quality and QC are not up to scratch and even if they do have 5-stars and long warranties on the compressor, you'll find all sorts of niggling things going wrong with them.

Spot on psycho, they are not upto scratch I can speak from my own experience with Voltas have seen them have problems within the first month of installation atleast at two places including once in office.

Samsung has given us endless problems in the last 2yrs. Their service is pathetic for A/C's ie atleast in Trivandrum. They still have not fixed the problems.

We have used Carrier at home and its slightly more expensive than Samsung and LG but way better build quality and the cooling is also very good.

One more suggestion for you wave would be to go for a 1.5tn ac which would cool the room much faster and shuts the compressor off there by saving power where in a 1tn would have to work that much longer to make the room cooler,then again if the rooms are really small 1tn should be sufficient.(I could be wrong here coz avidyarthy seems to contradict this ):sad:

My suggestion would be Carrier and Hitachi & Daikin if their service is available near by.

 

[govindp]

Assuming that you are looking for 2 units to be used in the same house, check the "Atom square" model in Hitachi. This is a single compressor, 2 room model. cost would be about 52k, I guess. Though it is a little above your budget of 22k per unit (44k for 2 units), hitachi is one that will run for many years without any trouble.

 

[avidyarthy]

Without a doubt, YES.

But please leave aside Panasonic .... if anything goes wrong, you have had it. My suggestion would be to select a simple machine without too much of bells and whistles .... in fact, none of them. The air purifiers installed in the split A/Cs would only work effectively for 6 months max. It is only the cooling and particulate filtration that you need to worry about.

The rotary compressors used are mostly imported ... Jap makes, but made in China, Thailand, Malaysia .... all are fine.

It is the frequent on-off operations of the compressors that screws them ... in a layman's language. All compressors are designed for 24 hours operation since heat dissipation is taken care of efficiently. Roatry and Scroll compressors are different from the older reciprocating ones which would require some rest after coming on.

In fact the purchase of A/c is agonizing mentally than purchasing A/V gear.

 

[santhosh]

LG and Voltas make good VFM Airconditioners. Even if you are paying a little more, try and get a 4 or 5 star rated A/C so you end up spending lesser on Power bills. When you see huge power bills, our tendency is to cut down the usage even when there is a necessity. So star rating is important.

The Japanese Airconditioners are very good. If you are particular about quality and technology, buy Hitachi. Anything higher like Daikin is a overkill and costs almost double.

 

[anm]

I have an LG split, Samsung split, samsung window and voltas windows. None has given me any problem. The front unit of samsung split made some noises when swing was on, and the b@$tards from samsung service say that is a normal noise.

OT - if you have a choice between window ac and split ac what would you choose?

Advatanges of split - can be installed in difficult locations, noise can be isolated. But it doesn't take back the air from the room and clean it like windo ACs. Comments pls.

 

[santhosh]

DO NOT BUY the 2010 hitachi 5star rated models - they're a rip off! the 2009 hitachi 5star rated models are probably the best ac's one can get.

Why do you say that? Have the prices gone up or is it something about the 2010 model?

I have a 5 start rated 2009 Hitachi 1.2 Ton in my Home Theater and am happy with its performance - noise, cooling, low power consumption et all.

 

[psychotropic]

oh it's AC mechanics and technicians who told me to avoid those brands and that LG and Samsung are the cheapest reliable ones.....i guess experiences vary ....but Ondia is the pits....i can assure you.....my office has several onida splits.....and they're always giving trouble......we have one LG.....and that's been working smooth.

 

[avidyarthy]

OT - if you have a choice between window ac and split ac what would you choose?

If I am able to install a window A/C at a height of 6', then as an environmental specialist hyeah: I was settle for that. Why.... because, window A/Cs have a small outlet which can bring in the outside fresh air to replenish the oxygen content in the room. Assume, instead of 2-4 persons inside the room at any given time changes to 7-8 persons, then you would start feeling suffocated ... due to paucity of oxygen. This is NOT possible the split way.

Advatanges of split - can be installed in difficult locations, noise can be isolated. But it doesn't take back the air from the room and clean it like windo ACs. Comments pls.

Negative ..... if air movement is not taking place, then where is the question of cooling and cleaning ???? Splits have advantage there as they are always set up at a height ... cool air flows down ... hot air rises up ... so, cooling would be better. So, if you have to settle for the cheaper window version try to move it higher .... say 5' or 6'....

 

[rams1977]

Ha ha ha! I think now we seriously need an a/c shootout!!!

 

[sachin_k5]

Looks like the answers here are more confusing than helpful

 

[anm]

exactly my point. I can't bring in fresh air, or pass the air (vent closed on window ac) through filter in split.

You seem to have quoted your own response under my name

.

Negative ..... if air movement is not taking place, then where is the question of cooling and cleaning ???? Splits have advantage there as they are always set up at a height ... cool air flows down ... hot air rises up ... so, cooling would be better. So, if you have to settle for the cheaper window version try to move it higher .... say 5' or 6'....

 

[sud98]

Samsung is a good option, but for the few dollars more, I think Hitachi is a better option. If you can find a O General they are not bad too. I, own a Samsung split, its not bad but the noise can be irritating.

BTW, all A/C's do take air out of the room, if the air keeps getting only pumped into your room, it will burst like a closed pressure cooker

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