Split A/C's {Stupid Question Alert}

drSix

Silver
Oct 13, 2013
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Alright, I am just confused. A split A/C is the compressor (outside) and the inverter (inside) correct? My villa has one split A/C, and two rooms that are plumbed for A/C. I want to buy units for the other two rooms. When I look at the La Sirena catalog, or emarket.do, I see several advertised from RD$16,000- RD$40,000.

My question is: If they show a picture of the inverter part and a price, does that include the compressor part? If not, why would you buy just an inverter?

I figure I need two 18k BTU split A/Cs, and I can't for the life of me figure out if that is going to cost me US$600, or US$2000.

Can I buy one compressor that runs two inverters?
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
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Jan 9, 2009
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One of the guys will chime in here, but I think you're confusing regular split ACs with inverter split ACs. They look the same, the inverter splits cost more but use less electricity. It doesn't mean it can be run on an inverter. Both have two parts, the one on the wall inside, and the unit outside on the exterior wall.
 

drSix

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Oct 13, 2013
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Okay, that makes it a little more clear. So when they inverter (inversor) $RDxx,000 it is just a fancier money saving A/C. The question still remains, does that listed price include the inside and outside unit, or only the inside unit.
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
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Jan 9, 2009
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Okay, that makes it a little more clear. So when they inverter (inversor) $RDxx,000 it is just a fancier money saving A/C. The question still remains, does that listed price include the inside and outside unit, or only the inside unit.

Includes both.
 

bigbird

Gold
May 1, 2005
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..The question still remains, does that listed price include the inside and outside unit, or only the inside unit.
Price includes inside and outside units.

How did you determine you needed 18,000 BTU?
 

TropicalPaul

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Sep 3, 2013
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Buy the inverter type. The unit is more expensive, but it uses AROUND HALF the electricity that a normal model uses. And don't buy from Sirena. There are a lot of specialist air conditioning companies, especially in the capital, and their prices are much lower than stores like Sirena and Cuesta.
 

drSix

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Oct 13, 2013
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Price includes inside and outside units.

How did you determine you needed 18,000 BTU?

Okay, cool. An online BTU calculator. I need a little less than that, for the one room and could probably get by with 12k for the other.
 
Feb 7, 2007
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As mentioned, quoted prices include both inside and outside unit. i guess they show picture of inside unit because that's the one you will be seeing everyday for years to come.

Also true that inverter AC costs more (about double) but uses 50-70% less electricity.

A "regular" 18k BTU A/C will consume about 50% more electricity than 12k BTU A/C.
A good "regular" 12k BTU consumes 1-1.1 kW/h and a good 18k BTU consumes about 1.8 kW/h.
Anything above that is power guzzler.

An inverter style will consume less... though the rated input may be the same as in regular AC, the way it works (in/out/cycle, etc...I really don't understand it) will make your power consumption be 50-60% less.
 

TropicalPaul

Bronze
Sep 3, 2013
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Make sure the unit you buy has a "Timer Off" feature. When you go to sleep, use this to turn off the AC after 2 hours. The room will stay cold during the night and you will only be using air conditioning for 2 hours rather than all night, so you will save. In a smallish room, provided you have good insulation, you may find that a 10000 BTU inverter unit will do the job. Insulation is the key, you need to make sure that windows and doors are well sealed to keep the cool in.
 

drescape24

Bronze
Nov 2, 2011
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I have a dual split system. That is one compressor outside running two units inside. Good luck.

drescape24
 

Criss Colon

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Jan 2, 2002
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You don't have to run both units at the same time.
Problem is, when your outside compressor is broken, you can't sleep in the "Other" bedroom and stay cool while it's being fixed!
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arturo

Bronze
Mar 14, 2002
1,336
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timer vs. old school

I use a lower tech method to achieve the same thing. I get the room nice and cold, turn on a fan, then shut off the AC and go to sleep. The timer I think is also useful for people who like to come home to a pre-cooled environment. Slightly off topic comment: electricity is too expensive!

Make sure the unit you buy has a "Timer Off" feature. When you go to sleep, use this to turn off the AC after 2 hours. The room will stay cold during the night and you will only be using air conditioning for 2 hours rather than all night, so you will save. In a smallish room, provided you have good insulation, you may find that a 10000 BTU inverter unit will do the job. Insulation is the key, you need to make sure that windows and doors are well sealed to keep the cool in.
 

drSix

Silver
Oct 13, 2013
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I bought a timer for my 14yos A/C. Supposed to shut off at like 3am. About a week after I got for him, I got up at 3am to go to the bathroom (or was just heading to bed, drunk, I don't remember), and I walk by his room. The door is open, and I hear the A/C running. I enter his room, and the little s#$t has the A/C (portable one) pointing right at him, he's on the computer wrapped in a damn blanket cause he's cold! Timer bypassed, A/C on full blast, door wide open, wrapped in a blanket. He's lucky to be alive.
 

No Place Like Home

Well-known member
Jul 9, 2013
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Don't forget about the power for the AC, most take 220 Volts. So if you don't have that service in the room where you plan to install the AC then you'll have to have that installed as well. Not sure of the cost.
 

Criss Colon

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Jan 2, 2002
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Yes you have.
They cost more to operate than 220V.
You can have the split unit wired directly outside, no need for any new wiring in the room.
Just use the remote for all functions.
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mountainannie

Platinum
Dec 11, 2003
16,350
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elizabetheames.blogspot.com
OK, now that I have been convinced that the split is the best one, I still have a couple of questions. I have two rooms that are small and side by side, so perhaps I could get a dual split? What would be the advantages of this system? Does it cost less to run? Less to buy?
 

mountainannie

Platinum
Dec 11, 2003
16,350
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elizabetheames.blogspot.com
With many thanks to JD!!!!!!!:):):) I just got up from a three hour nap in my AMAZINGLY cool and quiet bedroom with my new SPLIT AC! I have two, courtesy of the great AC guy that he knows and sent over to me. Great prices.. welll, comparable to the best prices that i had found and better brands (Air MAX instead of TGM which the guy said he did not like).. I am really, really grateful to JD and to EVERYONE here at DR1 here who helped me figure out what I needed.

AMAZING... great community. Great resource. Great help. Thanks all. Thanks, JD.

I do not know what 22 C is, but I am sure that it has been YEARS since I have felt it!