'Nuther A/C Question

[Barefoot]

Sorry, even the manufacturers' web sites have been no help as yet. When they say "two speed fan, I get it. When they say their unit (around 5000 BTUs) has "two-speed cooling and two-speed fan", what does the two-speed cooling mean? Does it mean I can turn it down somehow and approximate the capacity of a PetCool, at least so far as cooling? Thanks.

[Miriam C.]

That's what it means on mine.

[Barefoot]

Man I asked that a poor way. A few of the small A/Cs I've seen claim two fan speeds AND two "cooling" speeds, but are all in sealed boxes without even pictures, so I can't even see if there really is a "HI-LO" switch for the fan AND another for the compressor. The clerks have no clue of course, and the websites so far are no help. What I'm trying to ask is:

Does what the manufacturers call two cooling speeds mean that on one setting the compressor actually runs slower, affording, say, half the BTUs of cooling (fit for a TTT) OR is does it mean that only the fan has two speeds and the manufacturers just claim two levels of cooling, noisy and not-so-noisy? :-) Two cooling speeds may even mean pulling in outside air vs. cabin air, like in a car, or maybe two levels of thermostat setting, or....? To quote a recent share, "Aargh!"

One discount store is offering refurbished Haiers for $85 right now and come fall, the new units of many brands should be back down to $99. At roughly 1/5 the price of a PetCool, you can see why window shakers that might be cut back have captured my interest.

[bobhenry]

I have a $99 fridgidair 5000 btu and it does have a 2 speed compressor motor you can actually tell high from low and it is not just a fan change.

[Barefoot]

That's excellent news! So they are out there after all. I will plan on using a 5000 BTU on low speed and a little electric heater. The A/C shown in the discount store ad, supposedly with "two-speed cooling", was "sold out" already, so I couldn't even check it out, but more are "due in tomorrow," and I'll watch for your brand, too. Thanks for the good news.

[Barefoot]

Well, drat! I finally broke down and went to "the big city" and a store that has stacks of air conditioners by several makers. Maybe it was different in the past but on all of them inluding Frigidaire "LO COOL" now means just low fan speed on cooling, with the same actual compressor speed and at least potential BTUs, though I do expect that the unit would cycle on and off differently with the fan removing less cold from the fins per minute on low speed, so maybe not all is lost. Anyway, it was an interesting idea while it lasted, but on to Plan 2a or 3b or something.

[Miriam C.]

We just bought a cheappy from Walmart for my kitchen and it has three compressor speeds and several fan speeds..........Less than a hundred bucks.

Btw you did ask the right way the first time.

[Bagwell]

These window a/cs all have just one compressor speed in my experience. All they mean by 2 or 3 cooling speeds is that while cooling you can set cool and low, or cool and hi or sometimes cool and med speed fan. If they put a multi speed compressor in these units I am sure they would be well over $99. Probably about 500 dollars or so. A two speed compressor is more expensive and then you must have more controls for that. I would like to see a reasonably priced multi speed compressor in these small high efficient window units some day.

Just my opinion and experience.

[oklahomajewel]

Mine is a window shaker bought at Lowe's a couple of years ago, it has a HI AC and and Lo AC then a Hi fan and a Lo fan ... then also a knob for cooling ranges from 1 to 10.

I couldn't afford even a marked down Pet Cool, and it's just for a weekend or two a month, and just using it during the summer months.
So I went with cheap and easy.

I am going to get a small ceramic heater for inside. Someone told me they recently saw some at Walmart for about $25

[Barefoot]

I agree with Bagwell and others, even salesmen. HI-COOL and LO-COOL are just COOL using HI and LO fan, but it was a fun idea while it lasted. As I doubt I'll be camping in the worst of steam bath season, I'll first try just a fan FAN. I already had two earmarked for Towed Hall, a 12v and a 110, each with a nice array of speeds. That plan has moved up to Plan A.