In a video by @Techconnectify@mas.to, Alec goes into a deep dive into the simplicity of his particular model, its shortcomings and variety of data logging tests in an attempt to fix them.
TL,DW: Very simple, cheap and ingenious design, with one compressor loop between the fridge and freezer in series. However, its temperature sensor is wonky and so the fridge is more affected by how long the compressor operates than the actual temperature itself. There is a signficant temperature differential between the top and bottom, fans on the exterior or interior could help but with the faulty sensor only made matters worse. With the controller replaced with a proper temp control unit the fridge functioned much better.
It changed the way I wash my dishes
Same. Love this guy. His video about how those roll-around “portable” HVAC units being hot garbage made me both upset I had ever used one, and also excited about the future of heat pumps… then he started doing more videos on heat pumps!
To be fair to portable AC, they are inefficient but functional, and you can improve their efficiency with a variety of methods such as insulating the tubes.
He definitely didn’t make me upset for having a portable AC unit. It’s… not power efficient, but it does keep my house cool enough to work in on the worst days.
He did sell me on heat pumps, though. I’m hoping to have one installed this fall, which will remove my need for that big luggin’ AC unit entirely and totally get my house off of oil.