Portable AC power use.

[ericmark]

Fan only 127 watts, where the pedestal fan is 37 watts, so even in fan only mode, it is a heavy power user. Rated to use 755 watts, I note actually uses 750 watts, it has dropped room temperature by 2ºC, where another room has risen by a degree, so all in all dropped 3ºC in 1 hour 45 minutes, which is the time set on the smart socket, so that it does not overflow the gallon container for the condensate.

So 3ºC for 1.4 kWh or 16.8p working on loss of revenue of the 12p/kWh I would otherwise get. Well yesterday ran out of battery due to using it, so an extra 32p but all in all, not worth sitting in the heat to save a few quid.

But how does it compare with a built-in unit, and at what point do we upgrade?

Old house never had an AC, this house, living room around 25 foot by 18 foot with two windows and a patio door, it catches the sun, so two options, stop using the living room, or run an AC.

I see reports of bans on using AC units by local councils, as it seems they need planning permission, at least for an external unit. I bet the council offices have it installed?

But last year used for around 3 weeks, so if that's the normal, then no point doing anything, the portable unit is good enough.

It does seem odd, one minute we are being told to fit heat pumps, the next we are told they need planning permission, and if not granted we need to rip them out.

 

[opps]

I don't know the answer to your question.

We used to have a portable unit for the garage. I drilled out for the exhaust air.

It was good for the few weeks we used it each year. After about 5 years, it became pants.

I spoke to a mate who does air con, he said it wasn't worth recharging the unit.

 

[ericmark]

It still works, room without AC 29.4ºC outside 33.2ºC and room with AC 26.8ºC the temperature has reduced. It is using 756 watts, rating plate says 755 watts, but as to how well it works, I have no way to measure.

 

[JohnW2]

I'm away from home at the moment but, where I am, someone has just reported the below on a local 'community website' and quite a lot of others have responded to report similar at other local supermarkets....

FYI - just been to Sainsbury’s and the majority of their fridges and freezers are out of action.

 

[aveatry]

I have a portable that I use in the bedroom the other day on the landing it was almost 30c and the bedroom was almost 24c
Last night on the landing it was 27.2 and the bedroom was 20.9c after running for about 2 hours

 

[plugwash]

Britans infrastructure was just not built for these temps

 

[Old Salt]

Last few days where I live has been 35 or so. My installed air con has been on from about 10am until midnight. 2 indoor units total capacity about 4.5 kw I think. With the internal doors open it cools the whole bungalow, currently at 22.9. My consumption has increased about £2 per day. I consider the installation costs and increase in electricity to be money well spent.

Its currently costing my about 3 pints a week but next week it looks as if it will be switched off again.

 

[ericmark]

But that was a couple of hours ago, the AC is now off, and the temperature in living room has gone up to 28°C, but now enough wind to mean temperature now OK.

 

[JohnW2]

Britans infrastructure was just not built for these temps

It wasn't - and that's really totally understandable given the history of our climate.

 

[JohnW2]

..... But that was a couple of hours ago, the AC is now off, and the temperature in living room has gone up to 28°C, but now enough wind to mean temperature now OK.

Is there aircon in the flat? If not, how was the temp managing to stay so low?

 

[ericmark]

The flat is built into the side of the hill we live on, and is like a cave, no AC.

 

[JohnW2]

The flat is built into the side of the hill we live on, and is like a cave, no AC.

Ah 'Caves' are somewhat of a different kettle of fish, and probably what many of us could have done with in recent days!

 

[ericmark]

Ah 'Caves' are somewhat of a different kettle of fish, and probably what many of us could have done with in recent days!

A cellar would be even better, with it all being below ground level. But the half-and-half means we still have windows. It was originally a garage.

 

[ebee]

We have some cellars around here that are completely below ground and quite a few of them actually have openable windows to get air as well as a bit of sunlight too (a gap wall where the pavement starts and a metal grid above which should be raised for a clean out of dropped litter etc every now and then - some dont of course and they are completly surrounded by earth, never having had a cellar myself its not been a problem.

 

[ericmark]

The flat under main house

is in the shade of trees, so it gets sun latter, and rear is below ground level, it was originally a very large double garage. You can see that from width of doors openings. It is warmer in winter and cooler in summer, but it is our guest room, and only really used when we have a BBQ.

But it also means the main living room is too high to be shaded by trees, so the sun soon heats it up. What we need is some French style shutters on the windows, but last three days, the solar panels have produces 36 kWh plus, and used 23 to 26 kWh of power due to AC running plus visitors so we could not use the flat. Average use this month 15 kWh per day, so yes used a lot more in the heat.

But average solar 26 kWh per day during June, so use 10 kWh extra and producing 10 kWh extra it kind of evens its self out, no extra draw on the grid due to hot weather. So I see no good reason for not using an AC.