Model: Panasonic Pearl Split AC 1.5 Ton(YC-18RKY3)
Purchase: At a Retail Dealer in Pune in Apr-15.
I will cut to the chase and list the issues with this Split AC-
1. “Japanese Quality” Tag: Don’t be fooled; only the brand is Japanese, this AC is made 100% in India.
2. Post-Purchase Surprise # 1: Panasonic does not supply the electric wire and the plug that would connect the indoor unit to the power supply. They sell you an electrical appliance and don’t give you a wire. How weird is that!? The installation guy sells it to you at a premium price. They only supply the wire that connects the outdoor unit to the indoor unit.
3. Post-Purchase Surprise # 2: They write an ambiguous specification on website- “charge-less copper pipe length= 7.5 m”, which a layman interprets as the AC will come with 7.5 m pipe. In reality they give you only 3 m of pipe length. So you need to pay for the extra Cu-pipe you may need.
4. Remote Control: Most AC remote control devices nowadays come with a backlight display panel, so that you can operate it in darkness while sleeping in your bed at night. This one doesn’t. It does not work from a distance more than 8 ft away from AC.
5. Vertical Air Direction: the louvre flap vertical movement span is not more than 25° degree angle. Compare with other AC brands, they move almost 75-90-degree. I prefer the AC air to not flow directly onto me. This restricted movement forces me to sleep under cold air constantly blowing onto me.
6. Horizontal Air Direction: Surprise my friend! Panasonic has generously provided the option to adjust this manually! Remote control will NOT move the flaps horizontally.
7. Installation Crew: This is common to all AC brands. Buying the AC is only 50% of the battle; the real fight starts after buying it. Installation is done by rookie people, who come unequipped with nothing but a drill machine and pipe cutter. Forget the horse-ladders or Mission Impossible style safety-secured rope harness for outdoor unit installation. You have to rely on purely Indian style “jugaad”. 80% of AC complaints arise out of screwed-up installations.
8. THE DEAL BREAKER Problem - Cracking Sounds: I have used Voltas AC myself and numerous other brands in offices and hotel rooms. None of those ACs makes plastic cracking sounds. But this special product cracks up loudly every time it restarts to cool the room again, making sure that you wake up every time it wakes up too! How nice it feels to wake up 3-4 times during every night’s sleep.
9. After Sales Service: Disgusting! I noticed the cracking sound problem from day one and notified the customer service immediately. 4-weeks after purchase, the problem is still there and all I got was lip-service. A couple of their “technician” advised me- you keep using it and slowly you will learn to ignore the cracking sounds! Awesome!
Emotions run high when you are disgruntled by a faulty product you purchased; but let me clarify I have another product of same brand, but it is made in Japan and I love that product. The experience I described is the reality check arising out of living in India- we(have to) adjust with everything.
- Thank You! We appreciate your effort.