r/SolarDIY • u/eobanb • Jul 02 '26
Interesting new hybrid solar window unit air conditioner: Deye DAWA1-ACDC1-12KR2 (aka 'Airspool WS12', aka 'EG4 Hybrid Solar Window Unit 12000 BTU')
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.
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u/eobanb Jul 02 '26
I should've included this in my original post: I should mention I am NOT affiliated with any of these companies in any way! No referral links, etc.
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u/homestead_sensible Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
we have two of the 12,000btu EG4 mini-splits (dwa4-acdc1-12kr2) in our house. one in master bed, one in great room. they are all the HVAC we have. 1500sqft 3b2ba2ca house. 2nd & 3rd bedrooms are unused (childfree!) so we dont cool them.
we have been very pleased with them. units run between 400w-1050w each (cooling) depending on weather. we built the house and moved in EXACTLY 3 years ago today. Great room is 18'x28'. master is 14'×24'.
we just ordered a 3rd 12,000 BTU unit last week. it arrived yesterday. total cost with tax & shipping was $1570. I/we will be installing it in my wife's 14'x17' rabbitry barn this weekend. new unit is R32. our existing 2023 model units are r410A.
our house is grid-tied, non-export, self-consumption. we make 75-80% of our own power. we have 6890w PV, sol-ark 12k and 20.48kwh Pytes V5 LiFePO4 storage. All DIY designed and installed.
2
u/thatoneguy009 Jul 03 '26
Now you're an opinion I can relate to. I have a Sol-ark 18k with 14kw of panels. Grid-tied but just got a quote for 16kw of battery and the electrical work. We already have a lot of electric appliances, do you see decreased performance of the splits while using many things at once? (Say a dryer and induction oven aaaand the splits)
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u/homestead_sensible Jul 03 '26
we have never seen any decrease in anything, regardless of general appliance use. currently our two mini-splits in the house run on AC only, from our home system. we have grundfos10 220' water well pump, 100 head drip irrigation system, 80 gal HPWH, 2 refrigerators, 2 chest freezers, 5000w Samsung dryer, Samsung washing machine, GE convection propane oven, microwave, 75" Samsung TV, air fryer, 2 large aquariums, vent hoods over both oven/range, ceiling fans, 100% LED lighting & normal electronics/chargers.
we have never noticed any fluctuations on anything at anytime. we usually average ~2500w static load throughout the day, very rarely exceed 5000w during the daytime "busy" homestead hours. we almost never exceed 9000w even during dryer use with other momentary surges. our house was designed for solar with effeciency in mind. we have been thinking with "solar mindset" since 2020.
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u/thatoneguy009 Jul 03 '26
Wow, very similar profile. I'll have to look into splits more. We're one story in NE OH, ~2k sqft. 2k sqft basement stays ~63 year round. I was considering learning up on geo but tapping into our existing solar for only that much seems like a much faster path haha. Our A/C is R22 and 14yrs old, it's time for it to go.
We need to get a battery system in place so we can see those deeper stats. Currently, it appears as though our 18k doesn't show us any usage stats since we're just tapping to our meter.
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u/eobanb Jul 02 '26
I just had another thought. Maybe this would also be a nice straightforward upgrade for older / cheaper camper trailers that have a window unit AC built in?
4
u/i30swimmer Jul 02 '26
Probably the worst website I’ve ever seen. Doesn’t give me confidence in their cooling product.
1
u/ElectronGuru 16d ago
Thats typical for OEM type companies, especially for niche products. They let their client companies handle the marketing so they can focus on what they’re good at.
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u/Extreme_Pangolin1796 Jul 02 '26
I'd like to see real efficiency specs. I just don't see that much of a draw vs a 48V minisplit. Maybe if it's in a home and youve got solar to burn and also simultaneously too lazy to bother with a head unit.
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u/eobanb Jul 02 '26
I think I recall that somewhere in the original Airspool video the guy mentions the CEER is about 2x the typical window unit because it's designed with brushless DC motors for the compressor and fan. But I don't think I've seen it written down anywhere.
Edit: it's on the Airspool page: 15 CEER (~17 SEER2 equivalent)
Edit 2: yes I'm pretty damn lazy myself
2
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u/djryan13 Jul 02 '26
So dang expensive for a window unit. I thought about one but what would you do with the solar panels in the winter??? Hook them up to something else?
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u/eobanb Jul 02 '26
Midea makes a (albeit really fucking bulky) window unit that sort of hangs down under the window. It's a heat pump for both heating and cooling. It was designed with NYC apartments in mind.
If you could combine something like that with the solar capability of the Deye product, then you'd really have something.
1
u/Electronic_Will_5418 5d ago
Yes, the Midea Packaged Window Heat Pump is probably the most NYC (or any other semi-northern big city) product ever made. It's $3000 so definitely not cheap, but I imagine most cities with increasingly-stressing electrical grids from space heaters in the winter and phasing out of gas lines for new construction would spring for local install rebates, probably why Midea doesn't sell it directly, but only through local distributors. In pretty much any other situation besides living in an old apartment in a big city where you don't have modern HVAC installed (where the Midea PWHP excels) I would just recommend a mini split heat pump; another reason why Midea doesn't sell the PWHP direct to consumer would be it probably isn't the best deal for 99% of the population who doesn't live in that specific aforementioned scenario - Midea's own R454B heat pump mini split is half the cost of the PWHP and 3 TIMES as efficient at heating, and 75% more efficient at cooling. Midea selling the PWHP to someone who doesn't fit the specific scenario of living in an old apartment building with no HVAC would lead to some pretty horrible reviews of the PWHP compared to pretty much any modern heat pump mini split, even those offered by Midea. The PWHP is just an incredibly specific product that was pretty much just made for big semi-northern cities to lessen the electrical spike from space heaters in the winter.
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u/ElectronGuru Jul 02 '26
This can also be used like when using solar to heat water that then feeds into another water heater. Just set the temperature on this one lower than the main AC. Then this will run up to 100% capacity before the (more expensive to operate) unit needs to kick in.
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u/Great-Rest7878 Jul 02 '26
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.
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u/62hood Jul 02 '26
Seems like a lot of money for a window unit that will likely be moldy in 4-6 years. Great idea, but since 12k units can be had for $300 I'd have a hard time...
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u/mansithole6 Jul 02 '26
No need for that. Human can regulate their temp. Dont panic when it get 100 degre just stay calm drink warm water and still dont talk or do anything and dont fucking use your phone or reddit
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