Midea U Shape 12,000 BTU A/C Update # 2

Here is A 2 month of use update. This unit is awesome! I have never seen or used anything like this. I purchased this unit back in March with my own $$. No one is paying me to say or show U how efficient it is. This 12,000 BTU unit is amazing having very little effect on my off grid solar power system.

[@robertmorgan2145]

I was looking to replace a less efficient window air conditioner because I want to run it off of solar. Looked around for this particular air conditioner hoping to find someone who measured the actual current used and I found your video first. It’s perfect. Exactly the information I needed to know. Thank you for taking the time to make those measurements and put the video together!

[@robertberin4872]

You could run it off a 1,000 watt inverter eaisly, with 4 350 watt solar panels.

[@robertmorgan2145]

@@robertberin4872 That’s exactly what I was looking at doing. Right now I’ve taken my refrigerator completely off grid with a 280 amp hour LFP battery and 800 W of solar panels, inverter and controller. Runs on solar and charges the battery during the day, runs on battery overnight. Wash, rinse, repeat.

[@robertberin4872]

@@robertmorgan2145 how are you running the wiring? Straight to the fridge or through the breaker at the circuit breaker.

[@robertmorgan2145]

@@robertberin4872 That was the biggest problem I had to solve, because the circuit breaker is all the way on the other side of the house and the wiring is buried in a trough that goes through the attic. What I ended up doing was plugging a short extension cord into the refrigerator outlet, taking that under the kitchen cabinet under the sink and I put a hole in the wall that goes outside where the solar equipment is. I put electrical boxes on either side of the wall and ran the power from the refrigerator outlet to the solar cabinet. That’s where I have a transfer switch that prefers the battery kind of like a reverse UPS. And the solar controller and the inverter and my 280 amp hour battery. The solar power then comes back in the wall through the same outlet boxes and I installed new outlets under the sink that now provides me with both access to the refrigerator plug as well as the battery backup power that now comes from my solar panels.

[@TinaICXCNIKA]

@@robertberin4872 This is the info I've been looking for. Living in Southern Nevada, I'm wondering if there's a 'portable' SP system that I might be able to set up in my backyard.

[@mikebeggarly5430]

Thanks for turning us on to this one. The one I installed in the cabin is doing so well that I bought another dog the RV. Noe I can stay cool all night on batteries. Amazing units.

[@TheKiloG69]

Thanks and you're welcome Mike glad it's working well for you. I still have a barrel here with your name on it.

[@maddeusdoggeus1]

@@TheKiloG69 Is the Media U Shape still working out good for you? Still recommend? Looking to just cool my bedroom and let the rest of the house stay warmer to save some electricity 🤞 Thank you for taking the time to make a detailed video like that👍

[@TheKiloG69]

@@maddeusdoggeus1 yes it is.

[@fazimabdool6437]

​@TheKiloG69 great video bro ...two quick question, how much watts does it normally consume on low ? And what is the peak wattage on this unit ? Thanks

[@pauljackson171]

Thank you so much! Was scouring the internet for a review detailing electrical usage, yours takes the cake. (maybe even the whole dang bakery by this point)

[@RamonStokes]

thanks so much for the videos on these. I was able to completely clean and restore a unit. Its perfect now and mold/mildew free.

[@TheWickedjestr]

I bought one in May and love it. It’s so quiet. I haven’t run the numbers but since you have, I’m sure I’m saving a lot. Thanks for the video post.

[@TheKiloG69]

Thank you so much this thing is awesome. I hope all is well with you.

[@DJPenguino51]

I have the 8000 BTU version and it sips power like the bigger brother 12000 (1 ton) unit. If you want to "max out" the wattage, activate the "boost" function. Also the "dry" mode gives you the maximum temperature drop across the evap coil. Great for dehumidifying a stuffy room quick!

[@uptowndoof3993]

I was a bit worried about getting the 10,000 unit as I do not have a dedicated circuit for it. But I have a very old 8600 unit that draws 900+ watts when the compressor kicks in hard. Media says the unit draws 870 “cooling watts” without saying what they mean by that. And that sure seems more than you are pulling with the 12,000 unit. Thing is, my room is under 300 square feet BUT I live on the penthouse level and have only a single layer of bricks and have 3 sides of the room exposed to the outside… and it can really cook up here.

[@gofer23mw]

I couldn’t get a 12,000 BTU I end up with a 10,000 thanks for the video

[@jamesianv]

finally some progress in the technology.... what's taking so long.... we going to colonize Mars but cant make a quiet refrigerator .

[@offgridinthepacificnorthwe3210]

That is amazing. I would have bought one but it would not work with my trailer windos. So I have a portable AC that is a low efficiency 6.5 SEER. that runs 850 watts and never catches up. But glad to have it though. At least we can survive this heat wave. Our normal daytime high for this time of year is 67f. It's 104f today. That's 37 degrees above normal.

[@TheKiloG69]

Well that's very hot stay safe my friend

[@nimrodpaul6875]

I just got the 12 k u shape at Costco for 399,, great deal, hope you are still liking it. Amazon is 460 and hardware stores are 500 now.

[@calitaco]

Costco just knocked another $80 off so it's $319 now. I bought 2!

[@midwestworkshop2863]

Amazon has them for 420 with another 80 off when you put in it your cart. 340 so pretty close. Just had mine delivered today.

[@SolarDrew]

Boy you need it today it’s frocking hot and humid!,

[@TheKiloG69]

Yes it is brother how you doing give me a call sometime.

[@timmyinthewell1]

The information you've taken the time to measure and present is worth its wait in gold to me, thanks! Is that model rated at 15 CEER like the 8000 version is? And if it is could I safely assume that the 8000btu version of that same A/C would roughly use about 33% less electricity, or roughly 4.58kiowatthrs x .66... or approximately 3 kilowatt hours a day to run ? I would put this in a smaller room as well. Thanks again!

[@TheKiloG69]

15 ceer yes. Wattage on 8000 maybe. Use a killawat meter to find out. Also do yourself a favor on the install and tilt that unit back like a normal AC unit. Drill a small hole at the base of the unit in the rear of the unit. That's what I did to eliminate the mildew problem I've showed in the other videos.

[@maddeusdoggeus1]

Kevin what size unit did you end up going with? How did it work out for you? Thanks -Travis

[@dylanjordan31]

Got a video of you drilling holes in the back?

[@NathansFerroceriumrods1]

Cool beans. Stay cool Kilo G.

[@TheKiloG69]

Thanks.

[@dylan-vc9te]

Great video! Do these soft start like most mini splits or do they still have the large spike when the compressor kicks on?

[@TheKiloG69]

Inverter Tech. so yes soft start.

[@dylan-vc9te]

Thanks for the reply!

[@TheMarkyGs]

Time to put that ice cream machine up in the attic !

[@traceyyee2693]

Hi - thanks for your review! Helpful. My window is only 21 inches in width....one inch smaller than the min. noted on their materials (22"). Is it possible to cut one side of the brackets an inch and fit into my window? I believe the unit itself is only 19+ inches wide so I am hoping it can still work. Thanks for any info. These units hard to return so trying to get info from someone who has the unit! Also - my room open space living area....how big a room do you think it can cool? Again - thanks in advance

[@TheKiloG69]

A one ton unit is rated at 550 square feet. I'm cooling 480 no problem. My unit I just measured is about 21 in wide perhaps you could make it a half inch shorter if you didn't put the little flaps down but you would definitely have to cut the support bracket. It would be an extremely tight fit to say the least that's all I can say I would not recommend that I don't think.

[@traceyyee2693]

@@TheKiloG69 THANK YOU! just to be clear - are you saying the unit itself is 21" wide? Midea's material says 19.17". Or are you saying the shortest bracket length is 21"? Thanks for the clarification!

[@TheKiloG69]

@@traceyyee2693 if you don't put the little side flaps down that hold the insulation it's roughly 20 in wide. That said the unit itself should slide into a 21-inch opening you would have to make your own sealing arrangements and definitely cut the mounting bracket that holds it in the window down for sure. It does appear to be just a little under 20 in with no bracketry at all. Hope that helps.

[@danktrees1240]

😢is it ok to connect the AC with an extension cord?

[@joebleed]

I forget, is it AC only or will it do Heat as well? If it does heat, i'd like to see a follow up in the winter on a cold day.

[@TheKiloG69]

No heat.

[@newwavepressure6478]

Im hav a older home hopping i dont trip brakers

[@Josh_D03]

I set my 12k unit at a 1/4 down bubble but noticed it still holds some water are these units supposed to i guess? Id seen where some do this to help keep the unit cool

[@TripleXbeatz]

How is it outputting that low yet 12k BTU?

[@floobertuber]

It's an inverter heat-pump unit. They tend to be a lot more efficient than a traditional A/C window unit.

[@robertberin4872]

Whats the highest # of watts yours has drawn? My 12k draws 650-700 watts max. I think the 12k & 8ks are the same.

[@TheKiloG69]

That's what I have seen also.

[@dylan-vc9te]

The 8k draws the same watts as the 12k?

[@robertberin4872]

@@dylan-vc9te a 25 seer 12000 mini split uses 850 watts. My 12k Midea U has never got to 850 watts so either it is not outputting 12k BTU or it is much more effecient than they state.

[@nimrodpaul6875]

​@Robert Berin are you still enjoying it, I bought one yesterday at Costco for 399

[@offgridwanabe]

No dump load required just run it.

[@TheKiloG69]

Yes it's been on 24/7 for a couple of months now. This unit uses about three-and-a-half kilowatts a day less than the old 8000 BTU LG unit I replaced.Thanks.

[@wyattoneable]

Oh good, the next time I'm over we will be comfortable for less wattage. (ha ha)

[@TheKiloG69]

How's things going at your end of Wyatt? Hope all is well with you.

[@wyattoneable]

@@TheKiloG69 I was going to look at a rollback truck when the axle came out of the Jeep and passed me? I bought the truck so I could get home. (ha ha) So yes, another project. I'll be making a video in a few weeks.

[@TheKiloG69]

@@wyattoneable wow.

[@Matthew1031]

Does it require to drill hole at the back for water drainage? Curious to see where the water flows out

[@TheKiloG69]

If you watch the other three videos in the media playlist. You will see the issues I have had with this unit. And just last week I did indeed drill a drain hole in it. Fixed everything.

[@MichaelMerritt]

Aren't most of these styled AC units such that the rear fan spins the water across the blades to help cool the unit down and thus evaporating the water slowly? Water is supposed to sit up to a certain level, if you drill a drain hole you'll cause the unit to be less efficient and run hotter. This unit could use some weeping holes higher up though so it doesn't overflow the sides.

[@K4nj]

Would you recommend this 8k btu with a uhhh room of 150 sqft

[@K4nj]

outside temps are usually 30

[@FernbarkFrist]

Wow, that is very low energy use for the BTU. Jealous.

[@TheKiloG69]

Thanks. I know it's unbelievable so glad I spent the money back in March.