Selecting a new air conditioner

Rice

Rice

Resident Smart Arse
I recently had to buy a new air conditioner. I am not one to just go to a shop and listen to a shop boy's recommendation on the unit that will make the best commission on that day.

Took me a while trolling through a lot of models but I had a criteria most of you guys would not consider.

Unit operating sound level inside and out.

Unit operation maximum outside ambient temperature

Lightning surge survive-ability.

Wide operating voltage to survive brown outs and high mains. (Happens all the time in rural Thailand)

Last of all Printed circuit board physical protection from insects and corrosion.

and of course power consumption. All the other cosmetics is what ever to me.

I can go into details of each brand what I found but instead of boring you I will cut to the chase.
Mitsubishi Electric Mr. Slim “KA Series (Happy Inverter/Mr Slim).” The new model is designed to meet specificly the needs of Thailand's environment. Japanese quality at a more accessible price point, while maintaining the durability and trusted performance standards of Mitsubishi Electric. (Don't get it confused by Mitsubishi heavy industries it is a different company). The KA Series comes with 46 C operating circuits! Very important. Well it ticked every box on the above list.
Be warned other models don't have those same specifications must be KA.

I got my 13000 BTU on special as well at Homepro. Extra bonus.
PS The nice young bloke sales feller. Was a bit miffed. Walked into the shop asked to see that unit. He took me to the unit got the display just right took a big breath to start his pitch and I said GREAT! SOLD. His face !!!.
 
Rice said:
I recently had to buy a new air conditioner. I am not one to just go to a shop and listen to a shop boy's recommendation on the unit that will make the best commission on that day.

Took me a while trolling through a lot of models but I had a criteria most of you guys would not consider.

Unit operating sound level inside and out.

Unit operation maximum outside ambient temperature

Lightning surge survive-ability.

Wide operating voltage to survive brown outs and high mains. (Happens all the time in rural Thailand)

Last of all Printed circuit board physical protection from insects and corrosion.

and of course power consumption. All the other cosmetics is what ever to me.

I can go into details of each brand what I found but instead of boring you I will cut to the chase.
Mitsubishi Electric Mr. Slim “KA Series (Happy Inverter/Mr Slim).” The new model is designed to meet specificly the needs of Thailand's environment. Japanese quality at a more accessible price point, while maintaining the durability and trusted performance standards of Mitsubishi Electric. (Don't get it confused by Mitsubishi heavy industries it is a different company). The KA Series comes with 46 C operating circuits! Very important. Well it ticked every box on the above list.
Be warned other models don't have those same specifications must be KA.

I got my 13000 BTU on special as well at Homepro. Extra bonus.
PS The nice young bloke sales feller. Was a bit miffed. Walked into the shop asked to see that unit. He took me to the unit got the display just right took a big breath to start his pitch and I said GREAT! SOLD. His face !!!.
Click to expand...


Great info..

I have immense sympathy for you @Rice ,,,you can't simply go out and enjoy the multiple pleasures of shopping - you have to analyse the arse out of everything. It is a burden for you, but you carry it with dignity. The fact that you know that you are not 'normal' probably helps.

It also means that lesser mortals, like myself, can benefit from your educated analyses and reap the rewards of your recommendations. ;)
 
CO-CO said:
Great info..

I have immense sympathy for you @Rice ,,,you can't simply go out and enjoy the multiple pleasures of shopping - you have to analyse the arse out of everything. It is a burden for you, but you carry it with dignity. The fact that you know that you are not 'normal' probably helps.

It also means that lesser mortals, like myself, can benefit from your educated analyses and reap the rewards of your recommendations. ;)
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your understanding. I mean it!
 
I have bought 5 of these units in the last year. I think they are great, have no issues with them and they work great. I just upgraded my home air from a 24K btu to a 32K btu because it was undersized and put the 24K in my guest house
 
From Chat gpt:-



The Mitsubishi Electric Mr. Slim “Happy Inverter / KA Series” air conditioners in Thailand are currently selling at roughly these prices (2026 models):
ModelBTUApprox. price (THB)
MSY-KA09VF9,212 BTU฿11,690–15,000
MSY-KA13VF12,283 BTU฿12,290–16,500
MSY-KA15VF15,013 BTU฿17,290–21,000
MSY-KA18VF17,742 BTU฿20,290–27,000
MSY-KA24VF21,154 BTU฿28,290–34,000
These prices vary depending on whether installation, copper piping, brackets, or credit-card promotions are included.
A few current examples:
  • MSY-KA09VF (9,212 BTU) listed around ฿14,500 at Thai appliance retailers.
  • MSY-KA18VF (17,742 BTU) commonly listed around ฿23,500–26,900.
  • Shopee Thailand listings show KA Series units generally between ฿14,000 and ฿25,000+, depending on size and installation package.
You can also check official-style dealer pages here:
In Thailand, the KA Series is considered a mid-range inverter line: quieter and more reliable than budget brands, but cheaper than Mitsubishi’s premium “Move Eye” or “Super Inverter” series. Reddit users in Southeast Asia frequently mention Mr. Slim units as reliable and quiet.
 
When asked if it was a good model for Thailand, Chat gpt said:-


Yes — for Thailand specifically, the Mitsubishi Electric Mr. Slim KA Series is a very good fit.

Mitsubishi Electric Mr. Slim KA Series
€1.15•TieDex
Thailand’s climate is hard on air conditioners: high heat, humidity, long daily runtime, dust, and unstable power conditions in some areas. The KA Series is designed around exactly those conditions.
Here’s why it works well in Thailand:

Strong performance in extreme heat​

Mitsubishi specifically states the KA Series is built to cool effectively even with outdoor temperatures up to 46°C, which matters during Thailand’s hot season. It also includes a “Fast Cooling” mode for rapid pull-down cooling.

Quiet operation — important in condos and bedrooms​

One of the biggest complaints about cheap Thai-market air conditioners is noise. The KA Series is marketed at about 19 dB indoor noise, which is extremely quiet. Reddit users in Thailand and Southeast Asia regularly describe Mitsubishi Mr. Slim units as noticeably quieter than many budget brands.

Good electricity efficiency​

Electricity costs matter if the AC runs daily. The KA Series uses inverter technology and carries Thailand’s Energy Label No. 5 certification. The published SEER rating is around 18.5 for many models, which is solid for a mid-range inverter system.

Reliability in humid tropical climates​

Mitsubishi Electric has one of the stronger reputations in Thailand for durability and long service life. HVAC installers and long-time users frequently mention that Mr. Slim systems “rarely give problems if installed correctly.”

Easy to service in Thailand​

This is a major advantage people often overlook:
  • spare parts are widely available
  • many Thai technicians know Mitsubishi systems
  • authorized service coverage is strong nationwide
That matters much more in Thailand than having fancy app features.

Downsides in the Thai market​

WeaknessReality
Higher price than Chinese brandsUsually ฿3,000–8,000 more expensive
Fewer smart featuresLimited Wi-Fi/app functions on KA Series
Shorter parts warranty than some competitorsCompressor warranty is stronger than general parts warranty

Compared with other popular Thailand brands​

BrandMain strengthCompared with KA Series
DaikinPremium airflow & featuresOften more expensive
CarrierGood value/featuresUsually noisier
Haier / TCL / MideaCheap upfrontLower long-term durability
Mitsubishi Heavy DutyVery powerful coolingLarger outdoor units
Mitsubishi Electric Mr. Slim KAQuiet + reliable balanceLess “techy” but dependable

Best use cases in Thailand​

The KA Series is especially good for:
  • bedrooms
  • condos
  • daily all-night use
  • people sensitive to noise
  • owners planning to keep the AC 5–10+ years

Most important factor: installation​

In Thailand, installation quality matters almost as much as the AC itself. Several complaints online about Mitsubishi systems were actually caused by poor installation practices (especially improper vacuuming and piping work).
A properly installed Mitsubishi usually performs much better long-term than a badly installed premium unit.

Overall​

For Thailand, the Mitsubishi Electric Mr. Slim KA Series is one of the safer and more dependable mid-range inverter choices you can buy:
  • very quiet
  • efficient
  • built for tropical heat
  • strong local support
  • good long-term reliability
It is not the cheapest and not the most feature-packed, but it is well suited to Thailand’s climate and everyday usage patterns.
 
@CO-CO it appears you have learnt well to seed query AI well. Needless to say I did it manually. Not that I don't know how to use AI. But I have a deep layer of mistrust in AI.
Thanks for the confirmation in AI. Anyway

Mistrust in AI. I once spent a day queering two AI about The Chinese baby milk poisoning case. At first I was told "What case" after refining and refining the query it went too yes there was one until I got it to admit Mainland Chinese are murderous unscrupled people that have no human decency. That can poison babies for money.
Making AI do this damages its Algorithm. It will remember that. Although it won't repeat it if asked.

Took all day because the bias is actually baked in to the algorithm. It was a deep dive experiment. The CCP has covered it up as best they can 6 infants were confirmed to have died from kidney damage and renal failure. Around 300,000 children were affected, with more than 50,000 requiring hospitalization this is a total lie around 1000 babies died and god knows how many were injured.

Sorry but it is my OP. 555
 
Last edited:
Rice said:
@CO-CO it appears you have learnt well to seed query AI well. Needless to say I did it manually. Not that I don't know how to use AI. But I have a deep layer of mistrust in AI.
Thanks for the confirmation in AI. Anyway

Mistrust in AI. I once spent a day queering two AI about The Chinese baby milk poisoning case. At first I was told "What case" after refining and refining the query it went too yes there was one until I got it to admit Mainland Chinese are murderous unscrupled people that have no human decency. That can poison babies for money.
Making AI do this damages its Algorithm. It will remember that. Although it won't repeat it if asked.

Took all day because the bias is actually baked in to the algorithm. It was a deep dive experiment. The CCP has covered it up as best they can 6 infants were confirmed to have died from kidney damage and renal failure. Around 300,000 children were affected, with more than 50,000 requiring hospitalization this is a total lie around 1000 babies died and god knows how many were injured.

Sorry but it is my OP. 555
Click to expand...


I simply find it better than Google........ I totally agree that all AI answers should be fact checked - but us mere mortals have to start somewhere
 
Great info Rice .
Now will do some comparison between LG and Mitsubishi KA Series A/C.
I do like the 3 LG I purchased after building my house or should I say ours ?
The 18,000 BTU LG unit in the bedroom went tits up, I replaced it with a HAIER I I'm not satisfied with.
Could not find a repairman with equipment and experience enough to diagnose and repair the unit.
I diagnosed the unit myself the compressor was OK.
After I replaced the unit with the HAIER, I found out LG makes a unit to plug into the outside unit to diagnose solid state electrical circuit boards.
The story goes on, but that's enough for now.
 

Which one should you buy?​

  • Go with the Mitsubishi KA Series if: You want a reliable, quiet machine that will last for a decade with minimum hassle. It is ideal for bedrooms, rental properties, or anyone who doesn't care about smartphone apps and just wants a sturdy, trouble-free AC.
  • Go with the LG Inverter if: You love smart home automation, want to turn your AC on via your phone before you arrive home, or need 4-way auto-swing to distribute air evenly across a complex room layout. It gives you much more "bang for your buck" tech-wise.
Which room are you planning to install this in, and how important is smartphone control to you?
__________________________

LIKE and HATE for a smartphone tool would not sway my decision.
 
Bells and whistles are great it is a shame Japan just does not step up with them.

Now here is the thing there is a little known up coming company called GREE.
If bells and whistles are your thing get a load of these features.
They were my runner up. I just erred toward the establishment that's all. Reports are they are quite reliable but they have only been out a few years.
You can tell they have only just left the drafting board. As the Japanese ones are iterations of a very old and trusted lineage.
The Gree Airy series is amazing in it's new tech.

1780063125425.png
 
Rice said:
Bells and whistles are great it is a shame Japan just does not step up with them.

Now here is the thing there is a little known up coming company called GREE.
If bells and whistles are your thing get a load of these features.
They were my runner up. I just erred toward the establishment that's all. Reports are they are quite reliable but they have only been out a few years.
You can tell they have only just left the drafting board. As the Japanese ones are iterations of a very old and trusted lineage.
The Gree Airy series is amazing in it's new tech.

View attachment 83951
Click to expand...
Holy snapping duck shit Batman, you could fly this f*cker to the moon and back in perfect comfort !!!.
 
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