Amcor ALTL12000E 12000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Electronic Controls
by Amcor
Our Price: $599.95
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: AmcorBrand: Amcor
Release Date: 2007-05-03
Model: ALTL12000E
Color: White
Product features:
- Portable air conditioner for rooms up to 400 square feet
- 12,000-BTU cooling capacity; remote control; 2 fan speeds
- Efficient self-evaporating system; built-in water tank; 12-hour timer
- Washable air filter; carbon filter; window and wall exhaust kit included
- Measures 16 by 15 by 30 inches; 1-year limited warranty
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Amcor ALTL12000E 12000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Electronic Controls
Customer Review: Good Cooling for the Money
Summary: 4 Stars
Update Jan 18, 2009.
The $40 Rebate form Amcor, which I applied for back in July, just arrived today. Even by rebate standards that is pretty slow...so just be aware of that.
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First a big caveat: if at all possible an in window unit will always be better than a free-standing portable unit (like this one) because the window unit: will be quieter, will be more efficient, will take up less space. However there are times when a window unit is not an option: certain rental or home owner association situations, odd size windows or windows that will not support an A/C, or no windows (you'll still need some way to vent outdoors). For these situations the AMCOR ALTL 12000E is good choice and a good value.
The 12000E is distinguished from its brother 12000EH (Amcor ALD12000EH 12000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater) by being $[...] less and NOT having a heating function.
Since portable units are less efficient than window ones, getting more BTUs to overcome this inefficiency is a good idea. Or in other words more BTUs mean cooling more space faster. This 12,000 BTU unit can be had for under $[...] when rebates are in effect, and that is truly a deal. I've seen 10,000 BTU units for over $[...] elsewhere.
Now as to the specifics of the Amcor ALTL 12000E. It is about the same size and weight as most other portable ACs, coming I at about 70 pounds. However it has both a set of 4 caster wheels AND two "dolly" type wheels to move it around. A couple of caveats here: "portable" ACs are really not all that portable. First of all you MUST empty the water bin any time you wish to move it, and second you must disconnect it from its external venting and reconnect it in the new location. The unit comes with a single window venting kit which is not difficult to use, but does secure itself to the proper size using a couple of screws...so you'll be undoing and re-doing these if you want to move it (or buy another window venting kit).
PERFORMANCE...I have this unit in a 200 square foot room with a high ceiling. On a fairly dry, sunny, 90F day, it was able to achieve and maintain low 70s temperatures in about an hour or two.
NOISE....I did not find this unit to be particularly noisier than a window mounted unit. I also noticed that although I could audibly detect when the compressor kicked in (versus just the fan), it was not much of a difference. This is a good sign as it indicates the compressor is fairly quiet. Be aware that like all ACs it does definitely make noise, but if other AC white noise does not bother you, then this should not. The only anomaly is a slight but audible clicking sound every 20-60 seconds. I think this may be water internally dripping into the collection bucket, but am not sure.
SETUP and INSTRUCTIONS.... Setup was relatively straightforward, however the instructions are very poorly written. So I basically would read the instructions, then puzzle it out on the actual unit. Looking at the unit it as all pretty intuitive. The only thing I have not quite figured out is the timer function which is downright arcane...but I was not planning to use this. Another nice feature is that the enclosed window venting kit can accommodate pretty wide windows (or tall if they are casement type). I do not have the exact numbers but the kit consist of three sliding panes which gives good width and flexibility. As with any window venting kit I would advice putting weather stripping along both contact edges to get a better seal.
CUSTOMER SERVICE.... my unit unfortunately came with some shipping damage...the 2 front caster wheels were snapped off. I called the customer service number on a Sunday and they were there! A pleasant woman with a New Jersey accent quickly agreed to ship me out 2 replacement casters right away.
CONCLUSION...if you are in the market for a portable AC, then the AMCOR ALTL 12000E is worth looking at.
Description of Amcor ALTL12000E 12000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Electronic Controls
The Amcor ALTL-12000E portable air conditioner is designed to fit most average-size rooms up to 400sq.ft. This model also functions as a 65 pint dehumidifier. Self Evaporating Technology - During the cooling process, water is extracted from the air into the unit. Most of this water is then recycled and used to cool the unit and make it run more efficiently. Approximately 65 to 70% of water condensed is evaporated out with the exhaust air, reducing the hassle of emptying the water tank constantly. This unit has a built-in water tank (not removable) with a drain outlet, and a water tube. When the tank fills, the compressor stops operating and the power light will flash. This indicates that the tank should be emptied. Included with the unit is a window and a wall exhaust kit. AC must be vented via exhaust hose (included). Note: If your room has a heat source such as direct sunlight or computer servers, the AC coverage area may be reduced. Activated carbon filter helps remove odor Washable air filter collects large dust particles and prevent bacteria build-up Built-in castors for easy moving Full thermostat control Choice of programmable timer (1 to 12 hours) or continuous operation Adjustable louvers to control air flow Extendable exhaust hose (up to 5 ft.) Electronic Controls with Remote control Power Consumption Cooling - 950W/9A Moisture Removal - 65 pints per day Digitally-set Thermostat allows adjustability in the 62 degrees to 90 degrees Farenheit range Power Supply - 120V / 60Hz / 1 Phase Maximin Room Size - 400 square feet (approximately 20'x20') - Direct sunlight or use of (heat generating) electronic equipment may reduce cooling efficiency Unit Dimension - 15W x 16D x 30H / Weight - 68lbs. Manufacturer's Warranty - limited 1 year unit and 5 years on the compressorHeating & Cooling
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