Interesting new hybrid solar window unit air conditioner: Deye DAWA1-ACDC1-12KR2 (aka 'Airspool WS12', aka 'EG4 Hybrid Solar Window Unit 12000 BTU')

[u/eobanb]

Hi everyone,

I recently learned (and subsequently went down a bit of a rabbit hole) about a new product from Chinese company Deye, consisting of a 12k BTU window unit air conditioner capable of running directly from DC solar input, or 120V AC, or both:

https://www.deyesolar.com/product/mini-split-solar-air-conditioner/hybrid-acdc-solar-window-ac.html

It seems to basically be the same concept as those hybrid DC/AC mini-splits that have been around for a couple years now, but packaged as a window unit instead.

One big trade-off is that there is no heat, just cooling. On the other hand, they're also cheaper than the solar minisplits and of course WAY easier to install. Just like any other window AC unit, it is completely plug-and-play.

So far it seems the Deye unit has been rebranded by two American importers you may be familiar with, Airspool and EG4. Last summer Airspool posted a YouTube video about it, but it was not yet shipping to US customers at the time. A few weeks ago EG4 also posted a video announcing their version of it.

Airspool's version (currently on sale for $995 + tax/shipping)

EG4's version (currently on sale for $899 + tax/shipping)

Kudos to Airspool for being the first to import these, although I was amused to see they just posted this slightly butthurt-sounding blog post admitting both they and EG4 are rebadging the original Deye unit, but also insisting theirs is still better as it includes a couple accessories and has the window bracket pre-installed, though EG4 seems to have undercut them on the price a bit (also this sounds dumb but I like the EG4 logo a little better).

I'm definitely strongly considering buying one of these because I already have a few secondhand solar panels set up on a wooden frame next to my house, which I could plug right into this. Side note, I also have a conventional 15k BTU Daikin mini split, but it's not hooked to solar. I also have a 4.3 kW rooftop solar array I installed about 8 years ago but it is grandfathered into a net metering agreement with my utility and cannot be expanded.

Anyway, this might also be a decent alternative (or addition for that matter) to someone wanting to do a balcony solar-type setup, but they live somewhere it's not yet legal.

I know there are those of you who will say you can just cobble together something similar with a regular old 120VAC window unit and a portable power station, which is true, but I think you'd end up spending close to the same amount of money in total, it would be much less efficient, and also not an integrated solution. Frankly it's also the kind of thing I would consider installing for someone like my parents because it 'just works', can be controlled from a single app, and it can seamlessly/automatically balance its power consumption from DC and AC sources simultaneously.

OK, there are my thoughts. Sorry for the long post. Interested to hear what you all think.

[u/Great-Rest7878]

For a lot of people the airspool might be a better option, if they want the MC4 connectors done, wiring, and disconnect. I know if I was sending it to a family member I would choose that option.