In-depth Analysis of Portable Air Conditioners
This lightweight model is suitable to be moved around the tent, so you can customize it to your needs. The unit can produce 8,000 BTU which means that it can cool down a tent for four people. In addition to this, you will be pleased to know that it can remove up to 2 pints of water from the air every hour. Thus, for a small price, you will get an air conditioner as well as a dehumidifier. Do not worry, even though it’s powerful, it doesn’t use harmful substances that can be damaging to our health.
Adjust the speed and noise level from across the tent or outside of it. Adjust the timer to your needs and do not worry about power cuts as it will automatically restart after a power cut. The people that have already bought it, appreciate the fact that this is a very energy-efficient model. In fact, the majority of them have spent around $70 per year to operate it. It has one of the lowest energy rating on the market. Furthermore, you will also thoroughly enjoy the remote control that comes with.
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CONS
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- Digital thermostat
- Energy efficient
- Designed with rolling casters
- Direct drain option
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VERDICT
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This is a popular choice because it has several operating choices. Set it to fan mode, dehumidifier, sleep mode and auto restart. Leave it on for the night, and the unit will gradually raise the room temperature in order to provide you with maximum comfort levels. The dehumidifier will remove the humidity in the tent in case it detects excessive amounts.
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This model has the largest cubic feet per minute. It rates at 500. This is excellent news for those that want a powerful model without having to spend thousands of dollars. Due to its powerful motor, it can cover a large tent. The company has highlighted that it can lower the temperature by 20 to 30 degrees. It only uses 110 watts which means that you do not have to pay a lot of money on your energy bill. You can leave it running for several hours for around 4 months and you will pay around $10 additionally on your energy bill. Yes, it’s powerful and energy efficient.
The water tank has a capacity of 1.76 gallons and thus, you need to pay attention when it fills. However, this has a plus size as it makes it lightweight. You will find it comfortable to take it with you wherever you go. As well as, the machine will alert you when it detects a high water level as it comes designed with sensors. In addition to this, if you do not attend to it, it will turn off.
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CONS
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- Designed with a built-in air filter
- User-friendly
- Multiple speeds
- Automatic shut-off
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- Some say that the instructions are difficult to follow
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VERDICT
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The reason why this product sells so well is because it has a user-friendly control panel. Thus, it’s a convenient model to purchase for the elderly or those that have a hard time with the new technology. The remote control is also an additional convenient feature.
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3. Homedics MyChill PAC-20
This model provides a 4×4 cooling area which will lower the temperature by 12 degrees. You can easily take it on your camping tree wherever you go. In order to make it function, you do not have to do anything exhausting. Add water, turn it on and notice how fast the tent will get cold. As this is another great model, it comes designed with 2 speeds as well as, an adjustable vent. Furthermore, because the company cares about their customers, they have designed this model with a smart technology. The Clean Tank feature ensures that the unit will remain mold and mildew-free. Thus, you will have it for many years to come.
In case you forget about maintenance, the unit will give off an indicator light when it ran out of water. Thus, it will prevent the model from malfunctioning. The environmentally friendly model will ensure that it doesn’t add harmful air particles to your cold and fresh air. In fact, it doesn’t use any ozone-depleting refrigerants.
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CONS
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- Effectively cools personal space
- No need to add ice
- Cooling cartridge included
- Suitable for small tents
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- Not designed to cool large rooms
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VERDICT
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This is another model that sells well because people thoroughly enjoy the size of it. You can take it with you on your camping trip as well as, you can use place it on your nighstand or office desk. You do not have to worry about the noise level as it has the lowest db recorded in this niche.
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Even though this model doesn’t look like the rest, you can rest assured that it will function the way you want it to. The product comes with a 6ft power cord which means that you can place it wherever you go. In addition to this, if you do not have an energy source in your tent, you can use 8D cell batteries which will ensure the same running time as when it’s plugged in. You do not have to use water to make it operate. You can use frozen bottles which will act the same way as water. In addition to this, the reason why this model cools down small tents is that it has multiple air vents. Thus, the cold air will be transferred all around the tent.
You can use dry ice but there are few factors that you must remember. The first being that dry ice is made out of carbon dioxide. A harmful chemical that can create damages to our body. As well as, blocks of ice will last far longer than dry ice.
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CONS
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- It cools down room temperatures fast
- It will take long for the ice to melt
- Multiple air vents
- Convenient sized unit
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VERDICT
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This is another model that sells well because it has been designed to release a lot of air flow. Even though it’s smaller in size when compared to it’s competitors, this model can exceed their air flow. This is excellent news for those that want their tent cooled down fast.
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This personal space air conditioner will be a life saver when the temperatures reach sky high. You can use it as a portable mini fan or an air conditioner. The people that have already purchased this model thoroughly enjoy the fact that a few drops of perfume will ensure a fragrance smell whenever the unit is operating. This model is able to keep air humidity at safe levels and it will remove any excess water particles from the air. This is perfect for a small tent. The greatest thing about this model is the fact that it can be powered dual ways. This means that you can USB plug it in, as well as batteries.
The high quality material will ensure that you will have this item for many years to come. However, if you face any problems with it, you can get in contact with the customer service team and they will always be available to deal with any of your concerns or questions.
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CONS
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- Conveniently sized
- Multi-purpose
- Designed with only one switch
- Can be powered when USB plugged
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- Some claimed that the model is noisy
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VERDICT
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This is another popular model. The reason for this is because it’s so small that you can carry it in your backpack. Nonetheless, just because it’s small doesn’t mean it’s less efficient than the rest. The item will still cool down the temperatures fast.
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This great model can be controlled through voice control with Alexa. You will be able to control the tent’s climate much easier. You do not have to physically do anything, just talk and the temperature will be changed. The unit can produce 10,000 BTUs. This can cool, heat and humidify the tent fast and efficient. If your tent is up to 450 sq. ft. you should thoroughly consider this model. The machine has been designed with casters and movable window kit which means that you can also operate it in the house.
The item will come with every tool you need to assemble it. Therefore, you will get it up and running within minutes. It produces 54dB noise and it can dehumidify up to 24 liters (6.3 gallons). If you want it to operate it during the day, you can set it on sleep mode and it will automatically turn off once the timer has run out.
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CONS
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- Easy to install
- Energy-efficient
- Designed with rolling casters
- Temperature and humidity is easy to adjust
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VERDICT
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The reason why this is a popular choice is because it has been created with advanced features. You can control the temperature and humidity levels through the remote control or by voice through Alexa. You can control it from anywhere at whatever time you want.
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This 3-in-1 AC function as an AC, Fan, and Dehumidifier. It has a dehumidification capacity of up to 66 pints per day. It has a washable filtration system and you can easily wash it with whatever you have at hand. At the highest speed setting, this unit produces between 51 to 54 decibels. The digital controls and a full function remote control with digital display will make it easy to change the settings from across the room. In addition to this, you can easily view current and desired thermostat settings from across the room.
In case the tent is experiencing high humidity, the unit is capable of dual drainage option. This model is suitable to cool down an area of 450 sq. ft. It’s very easy to assemble and you will find it straightforward to set it up if you wish. The auto-evaporation system allows for hours of continuous operation with no water to drain or no bucket to empty.
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CONS
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- Designed with a built-in air filter
- User-friendly
- Multiple speeds
- Automatic shut-off
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VERDICT
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The reason why we recommend this model is due to the fact that it has a washable filtration system. This means that you don’t have to spend any additional money or purchase anything extra.
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If you are still deciding between the two, we have created a pro and cons list of each one. Obviously, a portable one is the most convenient one for a small tent. A window one is most suitable for the tents that have more than one room. They are bigger in size so they will be more efficient for those with a lot of space. Nonetheless, each one has its own benefits and cons.
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As you may already know, portable air conditioners do not require installation. This is an advantage as most do not want to deal with the stress of wasting time unnecessarily. In comparison with window air conditioners, where you will have to do some manual work. As mentioned, some are bulky so cutting out from the canvas is inevitable.
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A portable AC is much cheaper than a window one. They have similar features and they work somewhat the same. Even though they are cheaper, it doesn’t mean they are less fast. They will cool down a small tent just as fast a window AC would. In fact, the majority of the models we have chosen have the same BTUs as a window model.
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It’s known that the portable air conditioners are noisier than the window ones. This is because the exhausts for the window ones are positioned outside of the tent. Whereas the whole unit for the portable ones is inside. If you believe that noise is a problem, you should position the AC outside of the tent. The operating sound will be so low that it will never be a problem.
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Window ACs can be used as heaters as well. This isn’t possible with portable ones as they are not designed to do so. However, the majority of them can act as dehumidifiers. In this situation, it all depends on the model you find the most suitable for your needs. Some do not mind that theirs do not act as heaters as they do not go camping during the cold season.
How To Make A Tent AC Friendly
If your next camping trip is somewhere hot, we strongly advise you to purchase such product. This item will be able to provide maximum comfort. Once you wake up, you will feel refreshed and ready for whatever the day brings. Even though some may not understand why you’re carrying an AC with you, they do not understand the comfort it brings. Just because you go camping doesn’t mean you should feel hot, sweaty and sticky.
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In order to make it suitable, you must measure the AC and your tent. Some tents are designed specifically for an air conditioner so you do not have to modify anything. However, if the model is bigger, you should cut the material in order to fit it in properly. Once it’s securely fit, cover it with a protective cover. Remember most are not waterproof so you do not want to risk anything.
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If cutting up your tent doesn’t sound so pleasing, you have other options. First, if your tent is for 2 to 4 people and there’s only one room, you should just purchase a smaller sized air conditioner. Just because it’s small, it doesn’t mean that it’s less efficient. It’s the airflow that matters the most. Make sure that you position it correctly so the whole room can get cooled down.
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Once you decide which method you prefer, you now have to think which way you want to charge it. Some models run by receiving power from the vehicle’s lighter outlet. Thus, you need to think about positioning the tent somewhat close to the car. Don’t worry the power cord will be long enough to provide you convenience. On the other hand, you can choose the battery-powered ACs. Use alkaline batteries which you can purchase in bulk. Those tents do not eat through them so they will last for few days before you have to change the batteries.
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You should know that even if you order portable air conditioners, you will still receive a window kit. Do not throw it away as you can use it for your tent. If you want the AC inside, you can use the door to place the exhaust outside of the tent.
