[BabaYaga1210]

Hello All,

Need help from some Aircon experts. Recently got a 1 ton non inverter Mitsubishi Electric AC for my room. The installer didn’t install it properly and it had to be gas charged twice. The AC is only a month old and from yesterday night it started tripping again. Today the technician came and said that refrigerant pressure is normal. Also, when he started the AC it kept running and didn’t trip. I could notice the cooling to be less but they didn’t agree.

In the evening after the technician had left I started the AC and it again tripped initially but started running after a while, but the air was not cold. Now this is really weird, works okayish in the morning but starts tripping at night. Can anyone help regarding this? I do feel that the cooling is not proper but since it doesn’t trip when the technician is present and the refrigerant pressure is also fine, I am lost on this.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Tripping? Do you mean the MCB?

If so then there is some electrical fault and the fact that the technician himself did not see it does not mean he can say "It is fine." Ask him if he thinks you are imagining it!

[BabaYaga1210]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Tripping? Do you mean the MCB?

I am sorry, with tripping I mean it cuts off abruptly before reaching the set temperature.
Anyways, I ran the AC again in evening and again it started tripping, cutting off I mean, and this time I recorded the whole thing with my phone. I sent it to the service head, and he will send someone tomorrow. I have to say till now I am quite satisfied with Mitsubishi’s response. One email to the customer care and the service centre has become highly apologetic in their approach, with actively replying to each of my queries and requesting me not to drop any mail and rather call them directly for any support required .

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by ManasN95

Guys, need your help!

........................................
I haven't researched or read about A.Cs since ages, is there any brand / model which really do work for a long time or do all of them just conk off / start giving troubles after a couple of years?

If anyone has any suggestions regarding brands / specific model please let me know.

Thanks!

Most of the appliances sold today are made to a cost and not to last for ages, as appliances five decades or before. It is a lottery. The AC can last for 15 years (my Hitachi Split did) with an occasional gas recharge. Or it can start giving trouble within five years of operation (my Hitachi Window units did). This is the reality.

Yes there are AC's designed for Commercial and Industrial use that last a few decades, but they are extremely expensive both to buy and the AMC. If you have no problems in changing AC's every five to seven years, then that is much cheaper option. In case you are curious please look the the "Commercial Refrigeration" sites of major brands - LG, Samsung, Daikin, Panasonic, Blue Star etc.

I suggest that you do some market research.
. Which brand has the best service in your area. That is important as a national brand may have excellent service in one region, but dismal in your area.
. Which brands gives you and extended warranty, with all costs included. LG started the trend with a 5 year extended warranty with all costs except some small parts included. Other brands have started following. Just make sure that they include all that LG does.
. Installation by the company approved engineers. In many cases the installation is done by technicians appointed by the retailer and not the company. Always insist on company appointed ones. That gives the seller no leeway in dishonouring the warranty.

In today's world every AC has a motherboard, so living with electronics is inevitable. An Inverter AC uses DC motor in the compressor and the fan. That gives the AC much better control on cooling than a fixed speed AC. Always go for Inverter AC's. Unless it is an unknown brand Inverter AC costs are practically same as the fixed speed AC. In fact many manufacturers of AC have stopped making non-inverter AC's, especially those who manufacture their compressor in India.

[sagarpadaki]

Originally Posted by Aroy

Always go for Inverter AC's. Unless it is an unknown brand Inverter AC costs are practically same as the fixed speed AC. In fact many manufacturers of AC have stopped making non-inverter AC's, especially those who manufacture their compressor in India.

Do Inverter AC's work well when the whole roof along with two walls of the room is exposed to sunlight? What I have heard from is that the inverter AC's falter in this scenario and the non-inverter AC's shine.

[HEMIOrange]

Originally Posted by BabaYaga1210

Hello All,
I do feel that the cooling is not proper but since it doesn’t trip when the technician is present and the refrigerant pressure is also fine, I am lost on this.

"Tripping" in the aircon will usually take place either when the voltage is low or the aircon is not able to vent out heat properly (some obstruction at the rear or the back of the aircon unit is too close to a wall) thats what used to happen in my old window ac (fixed speed unit). For cooling you can ask the technicians to get a temperature gauge and check with the aircon temperature set to lowest, it should be blowing out air at temperature less than 10 degrees (not immediately but within a few minutes)
Hope that helps.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by BabaYaga1210

Now this is really weird, works okayish in the morning but starts tripping at night. Can anyone help regarding this?

The compressor can trip due to any one of the following reasons:

1. Compressor overheats : The fan in the ODU has failed or not running.
2. The evaporator coil has shed fins: This happens with old ACs and unless damaged in the installation - can be ruled out for new ACs
3. Supply line is erratic: If the wires feeding the AC is inadequate to carry the current, it will overheat and cause arcing. This might cause locked rotor in the compressor resulting in tripping.

Use a clamp meter to check the current while running.

[BabaYaga1210]

Originally Posted by HEMIOrange

"Tripping" in the aircon will usually take place either when the voltage is low or the aircon is not able to vent out heat properly.

Originally Posted by Prowler

The compressor can trip due to any one of the following reasons:

1. Compressor overheats : The fan in the ODU has failed or not

Thanks for the replies guys!
Today a technician came and found a very small leak in the outdoor condenser.
The service centre got me on a call with their regional head. They don’t provide full replacement of the outdoor unit but they will replace the condenser. I have accepted this, please do suggest if it is worth fighting for a completely new outdoor.
As for the tripping, they said that when refrigerant is low, the compressor tends to overheat and trip. Now I still don’t know why it only happened during night time and not during the day. Maybe the refrigerant pressure vs outside temperature has to do something with it but not sure.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by sagarpadaki

Do Inverter AC's work well when the whole roof along with two walls of the room is exposed to sunlight? What I have heard from is that the inverter AC's falter in this scenario and the non-inverter AC's shine.

Inverter AC's work better than fixed speed ones, as
. Inverter AC's can go upto 130% of rated cooling for a short time (usually 1/2 hour). Fixed speed cannot do that.
. Inverter AC's will slow down as the room temperature approaches the set value, fixed speed AC will just cut off, till the room heats up. This swing in temperatures is quite uncomfortable.

As far as cooling is concerned a 1.5T AC of either type will have the same cooling power, unless the efficiency of one is more than the other. So a non inverter AC is as good as an inverter AC as far as total cooling is concerned.

Where apprehensions come up is in the fact that modern inverter AC's have a whole set of safeguards gainst overloading the compressor that results in failure of not only the compressor but other parts in the motherboard. The safeguards are temperature sensors at various points. Some are at
. Inlet of the air in the room
. At the inlet of the gas in the IDU
. At the outlet of the gas at ODU
. On the heat exchanger of the ODU
. On the heat exchanger of the IDU.

If the temperature at any sensor exceeds the factory set values (programmed in the factory), then the compressor shuts down. This may be the reason for fears that an inverter cannot take direct sunlight. In fact when there is direct sunlight on the fins of the ODU, it heats up reducing cooling of the hot gas from the compressor. If the fins heat up enough that will result in an overload an finally failure.

[freakmuzik]

I always feel grateful to this thread for the amount of information given here. From the replies to the queries last time and all the other posts and my limited research, I'm narrowing down to buying Haier 1 ton 5 star inverter AC's for my home.

Major reason being it is the Only brand offering a comprehensive 5 year warranty and that seems amazing. I realise all brands have good and bad reviews, including Mitsubishi, Daikin, etc. Also, when I enquired, I found two uncles of mine who've been using Haier AC's for more than a decade and seem to be happy as well. I do realise it makes no sense to compare a decade old experience to right now but somewhere I feel it gave me a solace for unknown reasons. Another friend purchased the same a few months back and has given good feedback.

Also noticed Blue Star giving 5 year comprehensive warranty till Nov 5th. I just happened to see this today and now I'm confused a bit again. Daikin is out of stock in many places and offer seems to be much lesser. I have amazing opinion on Daikin after buying it back in Trivandrum but the price difference between Haier and Daikin right now seems very very wide.

Since I might make this purchase tomorrow morning, please do let me know if anyone has any other inputs Thank you so much.

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by freakmuzik

Since I might make this purchase tomorrow morning, please do let me know if anyone has any other inputs Thank you so much.

I don't think you can go wrong with a Blue Star. They have a pretty solid foot in the aircon space in India for decades. After sales should be a non issue.

As for Haier, they are quite new and are coming up with very good products. We recently picked up their 8 Star rated Inverter refrigerator. Quite pleased with it, though only time will tell if it will hold up, long term. Again, I don't think it would be a mistake to buy. After sales is probably the only questions mark. Then again, if its built well and installed properly, you're good for the long run.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

I don't think you can go wrong with a Blue Star. They have a pretty solid foot in the aircon space in India for decades. After sales should be a non issue.

At one time, I read (here, almost certainly. Aroy?) that Blue Star gave very good service to their commercial accounts but were not so enthusiastic about domestic customers.

I hope that is now outdated?

[freakmuzik]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

I don't think you can go wrong with a Blue Star. They have a pretty solid foot in the aircon space in India for decades. After sales should be a non issue.

As for Haier, they are quite new and are coming up with very good products. We recently picked up their 8 Star rated Inverter refrigerator. Quite pleased with it, though only time will tell if it will hold up, long term. Again, I don't think it would be a mistake to buy. After sales is probably the only questions mark. Then again, if its built well and installed properly, you're good for the long run.

Thank you for your inputs! Funnily, the direction went elsewhere and now I’ve purchased the following!

1. LG 1 ton 3 star - 1 unit - for a home studio space.
2. LG 1.5 ton 5 star - for a slightly bigger bedroom
3. Daikin 1 ton 5 star (FTKM) for a small bedroom.

I moved away from Haier due to the lack of 4-way swing in all the models I chose. I chose the LG 1 ton 3 star thanks to its 21dB Silent operation which would help me incredibly while recording music. The Haier and Bluestar models were around 29dB I think. I thought of Panasonic too but they were the loudest apparently. LG 1 ton 5 star was 23 dB hence settled for the 3 star, the most silent option. I think I spent 5-6k extra compared to equivalent Haier models for all 3 units included.

I bought it from Reliance Digital and apparently they will be installing the Air cons with their own team. The same happened with the fridge I ordered. I got a call from the Samsung team and they said they’ve assigned the Reliance guy for me. Weird but if that’s how it is, that’s how it is. They were pushing a lot for me to pick their extended warranty, esp for the AC, at Rs. 8k each for 1 tons and 10k for the 1.5 ton. I didn’t finally though.

If anyone wants to know the prices, please let me know and I’ll take a proper look and share them here.

[Aroy]

Actually practically every one is giving 5 years extended warranty. I prefer LG as their warranty is all inclusive at a very reasonable cost - ~10K for 4 years extended warranty (total = 5 years).

The USP of LG is that practically all their components are made in India barring electronics which any way every one imports, but their MB are reasonable priced at 6-9K compared to others where an MB may cost 15K+.

[jomyboy]

Originally Posted by Aroy

Actually practically every one is giving 5 years extended warranty. I prefer LG as their warranty is all inclusive at a very reasonable cost - ~10K for 4 years extended warranty (total = 5 years).

There is a difference between extended warranty and extended comprehensive warranty and LG is not all inclusive. Only Godrej, Haier and Voltas provide comprehensive warranty.