wanderingaimlessly wrote:
What's hard to believe is that none of these companies has come out with a 15+ SEER heat pump replacement unit. The mini splits show they can be built, and will surpass the current units in efficiency at similar cost.
But we seem to be getting the same 20 year old designs.
Comes down to cost.
It costs more to manufacture higher SEER A/C units.
Price compare Low to high SEER ratings and you will find a big difference in price.
It costs more to make heat pumps.
Heat pumps use a more complicated system of special valves which switch the flow direction in the coils. That adds mechanical complexity along with electric control complexity. Special design considerations for optimizing the coils for dual use may also add in cost to the design.
Price compare normal A/C vs a heat pump.. Big difference between the two for the same BTU rating.
Very few RV buyers care about A/C efficiency, they are more concerned about price point or what is it going to cost them to buy the RV.
If you want more efficiency, consider a higher efficiency window air unit, many now days are using variable speed compressors plus they reuse the condensate (which on RV A/C units is just allowed to drip off your roof) by splashing/slinging it on the outside coils which increases the over all cooling efficiency.
Not to mention, most RV A/Cs are placed exactly where you don't want them for high efficiency, right smack dab in the middle of the roof on a hot sweltering sun drenched day.. That roof can be at blistering high temps and the A/C efficiency goes down the hotter the outdoor coils get..
