Portable Air Conditioner

[jibes138]

Many have written to this site looking for a simple AC air conditioner. Thumbing through a famous company's catalog I just noticed a "Portable AC for your own private space." This is a portable AC on casters that you can plunk down anywhere that will air condition your "space." It also claims to dehumidify and air purify. It also claims to need no vents or drains.
Cost is 299.95. Perhaps MaineSail could run a test on this unit and report the results with appropriate photos? Or you could read the laws of thermodynamics and understand why this unit is equivalent to a perpetual motion device and therefore impossible to work.

 

[mcaswell]

Are you positive it claims no vents are required? Many of these portable A/Cs say that no drain is required (condensate is evaporated and sent out through the vent, I assume), but you're right... having no vent is impossible.

Unless... is it one of those "coolers" that simply blows air over a tub of ice? That probably wouldn't need a vent.

--Michael

 

[Chuckbear]

The hot air from these units need to be discharged somewhere and all of the ones I have seen, they have been around a long time, have a flexible duct hose that needs to be run to the outside for venting. They are also pretty good sized units so finding a place for them in the cabin is a consideration. Chuck

 

[kloudie1]

Here it is.. 1000 BTU.. Not nearly enough to help a boat .. apparently it rejects the heat to the surrounding air.. I think the intent is that in an office with some air circulation the heat would get diluted enough to not be a problem, especially with the low capacity of the unit.. Not a good one, in my Humble opinion..
http://www.brookstone.com/sl/product/64266-personal-space-air-conditioner.html

 

[Hermit Scott]

You could probably remove heat through an electrical cable. Work, heat and electricity can all be expressed in the same units of measure.
This is probably inefficient so not done in the real world. But at a glance I think it's possible. IT is impossible to convert all the heat back into work.

Those little office ac units will feel like a heater if you stand behind them. I bet the guy in the desk beside you really would appreciate it.

 

[n624ma]

The "fine print" is cleverly hidden in the bold print!

"Cool your immediate area, not the whole room, and save on energy costs. Order your Personal Space Air Conditioner today!"

You (in your personal space) get to be bathed in the cold air coming off the evaporator while the the hot air from the condenser,compressor and the fan motor blows out the other side of the unit heating up the rest of the "whole room".

No doubt comes with a coupon for a free lunch at a deli no where near you!

 

[Chuckbear]

Here are the "portables" I was referring to,
http://www.air-n-water.com/portable-air-conditioners.htm

 

[Benny]

That item was definitely not designed to cool the cabin of a boat and it is a rather pricey booster for an office environment. The heat and condensation produced by the 1,000 btu unit is probably so small it dissipates in the rest of the room without any significant effect. Unfortunately the cold air it produces will dissipate just as well.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Least expensive air conditioner...

A large fan and tubful of ice....position them so the fan blows across the ice. An oscillating fan and a large tub will cool a larger area. Replace ice and drain tub as necessary. :dance:

 

[jibes138]

Net increase

Since it is using energy to operate this unit will actually increase the heat in your boat. The electrical energy will be converted to heat in whatever motors and other devices are being used, so while you can move heat from one side of the unit to the other, the heat added by the work of the system will cause a net increase in total heat in the surrounding space. If anything that makes this unit a heater not an air conditioner. Enery flows from high potential to low so as fast as this thing makes cold air to blow on you the heat rushes in the reach equilibrium.
I think P.T. Barnum would have a comment or two about this one.

 

[Dan H]

you could probably fashion a duct to vent the hot air outside. It would look like hell. After all, that is what duct tape if for.

 

[ggrizzard]

I looked closely at the units that Chuckbear refered to, until I saw the size and weight. At 60+ Lbs and twice the size of a dorm fridge, I opted for a cheap, window unit that I placed in the companionway.

 

[abk]

Re: Least expensive air conditioner...

Hey, I bet ya can even climb in the tub for extra hi cool!!!