SereneLife SLPAC8 Review
Initial Analysis
Cooling Capacity
The SLPAC8 is an 8,000 BTU portable air conditioner according to older ASHRAE guidelines for measuring cooling capacity. It is only a 4,350 BTU air conditioner according to newer stricter US DOE guidelines for measuring cooling capacity.
In our tests the SLPAC8 performed much worse than other 8,000 BTU (ASHRAE) models we tested.
At an outdoor temperature of 83° F, the SLPAC8 took 51 minutes and 20 seconds to lower the temperature in a 100 sq. ft. room from 86° F down to 73° F.
Most 8,000 BTU competitors lowered room temperature faster. The Shinco SPF-08C, for example, took only 41 minutes, 50 seconds in the same test.
At higher outdoor temperatures the SLPAC8 performed even worse.
At an outdoor temperature of 89° F it completely shut off 30 minutes into the test. It only lowered room temperature to 76° F during the 30 minutes it ran for this test.
At an outdoor temperature of 91° F it also shut off before test completion (the test ends after one hour). In this test it only lowered room temperature to 77.4° F.
8,000 BTU competitors like the Shinco SPF-08C and Dreo AC318S didn’t shut off during the test and were able to get the room slightly colder.
Top rated high BTU competitors like the Midea Duo were able to get the room substantially colder. The Duo, for example, was able to get the room down to 65.3° F when the outdoor temperature was 89° F and down to 65.7° F when the outdoor temperature was 91° F.
Energy Efficiency
The SLPAC8 has a manufacturer specified CEER of 5.8. This is the lowest combined energy efficiency ratio of any portable AC unit we tested. For comparison, the Shinco SPF1-08C has a CEER of 6 and the Dreo AC318S has a CEER of 6.6. The top rated Duo has a CEER of 12.3.
These specifications perfectly match our own test results.
The SLPAC8 (760 watts) has very similar measured power draw to the Shinco (781 watts) and Dreo (760 watts), but it performed significantly worse in our cooling test.
And so, even according to our own testing, the SLPAC8 is less energy <em>efficient</em> than these competitors despite having very low power draw.
Noise Output
The SLPAC8 was measured at 63.7 dB of noise output on low fan speed and 65.7 dB on high 2 ft. away from the front control panel.
These are both above average measurements, meaning the SLPAC8 is noisier than average. It was also one of only a handful of portable AC units we tested which produced a compressor noise that was still audible on high fan speed.
Most competitors were able to mask the compressor buzzing noise with more pleasant sounding fan noise on high fan speed. The SLPAC8 could not. You could still clearly hear its compressor, even on high fan speed.
Other Factors
The SLPAC8 is very small and light for a portable air conditioner. It’s definitely one of the more portable portable AC units we tested.
It’s also fairly inexpensive and it’s a decent value. If we divide its usual price (around $240) by its SACC (US DOE) BTUs (4,350) we get a SACC/$ ratio of 18.1.
The Dreo AC318S, for comparison, is a very expensive 8,000 BTU unit with a SACC/$ ratio of only 12.0.
The top rated Midea Duo is expensive but offers 12,000 SACC BTUs for a SACC/$ ratio of 19.7.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Small and light for a portable air conditioner – weighs only 43 lb. The top rated Midea Duo weighs 74 lb.
- Inexpensive – usually retails for around $240 which is cheap for a portable AC unit.
- Can also be used as a dehumidifier (though this is a feature it shares with most other portable ACs)
Cons
- Only 4,350 SACC BTUs
- Poor performer in all three of our cooling tests – took long to cool and shut off midway through two of three tests
- Not very energy efficient – only draws 760 watts of power (the top rated Midea Duo draws over 1200 watts) but takes very long to cool, if it cools at all, which makes it highly energy inefficient overall
- Noisy – produces more noise than average and produces audible compressor buzzing noise even on high fan speed
- Window kit limitations – the kit only includes two panels and they’re both very long, so it’s likely you’ll need to cut one of the panels to properly fit them into your window.
Conclusion
The SereneLife SLPAC8 is the worst portable air conditioner we’ve tested so far. It struggled to cool a relatively small 100 sq. ft. room even at a very reasonable outdoor temperature of 83° F. It shut off midway through cooling the same room at higher outdoor temperatures.
This unit also doesn’t run efficiently, is noisy, and has a very limited window kit.
If you’re looking to buy an inexpensive portable AC unit there are much better options on the market.
The best small portable AC unit we’ve tested is the Black+Decker BPACT05SM. Among small AC units it was a top two performer in our cooling test, it’s energy efficient for a small AC unit, it runs more fairly quietly, and it’s still highly affordable.
We recommend the BPACT05SM over the SLPAC8 if you’re shopping for a small and/or inexpensive portable AC unit.
The best portable AC unit we’ve tested overall is the Midea Duo. It cools significantly better than small ACs, is significantly more energy efficient, runs more quietly even though it’s much bigger, and it’s priced very fairly relative to its overall cooling capacity.
Additional specifications and notes
Window Kit
Number of Window Panels – 2 (primary panel with hose cutout + one extension)
Minimum Window Width (one panel) – 26 9/16” (length of primary panel)
Minimum Window Width (two panels) – 36 7/8” (primary panel + extension)
Maximum Window Width (two panels) – 50 3/16” (primary panel + extension)
Weather stripping included – none
Notes
If your window’s width is less than 26 9/16” you will need to cut the primary panel to make it fit.
If your window’s width falls between 26 9/16” (one panel) and 36 7/8” (two panel minimum) you will need to cut the extension panel to make the combination of panels fit.
Top rated competitors have shorter primary panels (less than 20” long) and extension panels of a variety of different lengths so that you can fit them into any size window without needing to cut any panels.
Most competitors also include weather stripping to better seal around the window panels, while the SLPAC8 does not include any weather stripping.
Hose Connectors
End Adapters – pre-installed? - yes
AC Side Hose Connection – rotate and push hose into place
Window Kit Side Hose Connection – push and pull to side to lock in place
Hose Length Min/Max – 16 to 60"
Hose Diameter – inner diameter was measured at 5.25”
Notes
The SLPAC8’s single hose can extend just about as far as most other single hose units and slightly farther than dual hose models. For example, the top rated Midea Duo’s dual hose can only extend 48” (compared to 60” for the SLPAC).
Control
Modes – cool, dehumidify, fan
Set temp range - 60 to 86° F
Fan speeds - low, high
Swing – no
Smart – no
Notes
The SLPAC8 only has two fan speeds (many competitors have 3), and you cannot set its louvers to automatically tilt up and down (swing – many competitors have this functionality). You also cannot control it using an app on your phone like you can with many competitors, though it does come with a physical remote control.
Condensate
Dehumidifier mode pints/day – 61 pints/day
Drainage options - one drain outlet at the bottom of the back of the unit
Drain hose – included
Notes
Like every other portable AC unit we’ve tested, the SLPAC8 can also be used as a dehumidifier. You have to connect an included drain hose to the back of the unit for it to work properly as a dehumidifier, as the SLPAC8 does not have a bucket to collect condensate like a traditional dehumidifier.
Filters
Top filter (over evaporator) - very easy to remove – clips in with no screws
Bottom filter (over condenser) – more difficult to remove – multiple screws
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