Got a Sharp AH-XP13LV today. Have some queries!

[hotshot05]

We bought it from Sales Emporium, Behala(Kolkata, West Bengal) yesterday. It cost us Rs.33700.
The installation guys came today at 3pm.

The installation did not go smoothly(atleast not as smooth as I had expected it to be). When they were installing the copper pipe, they said that they have some special wrapping tape which will keep the insulation on the pipe safe from the weather and from animals. But it will cost a whooping Rs.80/feet. I was hearing about it for the first time. But since it is an inverter AC and a long time investment, I paid for it. They charged for 13 feet of tape. So the tape alone cost Rs.1040!

I am really interested to know if it was at all necessary?

Then the next thing are the exposed copper pipes at the point where they are connected to the ODU. Is this at all ok?

These do not even compare to the shock which I got next. The guys said that I am supposed to buy the plug which is to be attached to the wall socket myself. It is not provided by Sharp. When my dad had talked with the guys at the shop, they had not mentioned any such thing. And frankly, how does any electrical item come without a plug?
So, for now, they have inserted the wires directly into the electrical socket.

Am I really supposed to buy the plug myself?

Also, they did not vacuum the copper pipe. They just released a bit of the gas inside the ODU(there was a noise of gas escaping when they did that). Nothing else. Should I complain to Sharp?



Total installation cost - Rs.2400(for angle) + Rs.1040(for wrapping tape) = Rs.3440

The installation was done by a franchisee of Sharp. I forgot the name of the company.

@RishiGuru, @4nd3r50n, @vvvinashhh - Can you shed some light on these matters?

 

[Arjun]

The sharp guys did not bring this tape for my AC installation , i got this tape installed on the copper pipes from a AC repair guy near my house , They charged Rs 250 for an entire roll & Rs 200 for applying tape since the ODU is in unreachable place some climbing has to done so it was a difficult job ,

Yes i had to buy a plug

They had left the copper pipe exposed in my installation too but i called them again & got it covered by foam .

Was the Rs 2400 only for angle stand? I was charged Rs 1500 for installation + Rs 750 stand

 

[sri_k]

Vaccuming is to be done,is important procedure as advised by many members here in TE..You may check my thread..Even in my installation,the copper pipes have been kept exposed,have uploaded pix in my thread..

Will call some other AC technician to insulate it&also in my case the pipes are covered by regular pvc tape which needs to be covered by duct tape(grey color)...

As stated by arjun,the stand costs rs750/ which is pretty standard among all AC brands..

 

[hotshot05]

The sharp guys did not bring this tape for my AC installation , i got this tape installed on the copper pipes from a AC repair guy near my house , They charged Rs 250 for an entire roll & Rs 200 for applying tape since the ODU is in unreachable place some climbing has to done so it was a difficult job ,

Yes i had to buy a plug

They had left the copper pipe exposed in my installation too but i called them again & got it covered by foam .

Was the Rs 2400 only for angle stand? I was charged Rs 1500 for installation + Rs 750 stand

My ODU is placed at a very accessible place. No climbing required. It is on the verandah.
Your roll of tape cost Rs.250 and mine Rs.1040. Huge difference!!! Yours also looks a bit like scotch tape. Right?

The guys bought two stands with them. The other stand was a simple iron angle only. No paint or anything on it. The guy told me that if I take that one, it would cost Rs.2250 and if I take the one that I have used here, it costs Rs.2400(made by Godrej). They did not give a breakup of the cost. Once in passing, he might have said that the angle stand costs Rs.1000.
They did not mention installation cost separately.


This seems like I have been overcharged for everything!!!

 

[Crazy_Eddy]

When they were installing the copper pipe, they said that they have some special wrapping tape which will keep the insulation on the pipe safe from the weather and from animals.

This 'special' tape is used in every standard installation.

Then the next thing are the exposed copper pipes at the point where they are connected to the ODU. Is this at all ok?

It might not have much of an effect but its preferable to have it fully insulated. Otherwise it's a bit like wearing a thick jacket in cold weather and then walking around barefoot.

So, for now, they have inserted the wires directly into the electrical socket.

*gasp* Were they drunk? Please remove it and don't use it till you get a plug.

Also, they did not vacuum the copper pipe. They just released a bit of the gas inside the ODU

Did they refill the gas? Check pressures?

 

[vpraveenis]

You will need to buy the AC power socket with an MCB separately. It will not come with the AC. Also you seem to be having a motor and AC connected to the same phase? (I am guessing from pics above) Better for you to get an electrician to fix the socket and take care of wiring.

 

[vvvinashhh]

The Godrej Boyce Outdoor ODU L stand costs Rs 950,its better and more expensive than the other ones.I have got that too.
The AC Insulation Tape generally costs Rs 170 a roll [10feet so two rolls in your case = Rs 340 minimum] and then some Rs 200/Rs250 charge who ever applies it.But no matter what even if you have been overcharged,thank god that you have got it done than not!
Vacuuming was a big damn necessity.Get it done or a leajk is enevitable in the long run if only any air is left inside the copper tubes.
Plugs wont come as standard kit , you will have to buy one,get the one by Crabtree for Rs 80.

 

[hotshot05]

Did they refill the gas? Check pressures?

Nope. They did not do anything of that sort.
@Crazy_Eddy & @vvvinashhh I had not checked the threads properly before the installation. So I did not know that vaccuming is this essential. But now I feel like I should get the vaccuming done.
Should I complain to Sharp directly? Or should I call the franchisee whose people had come for the installation?

You will need to buy the AC power socket with an MCB separately. It will not come with the AC. Also you seem to be having a motor and AC connected to the same phase? (I am guessing from pics above) Better for you to get an electrician to fix the socket and take care of wiring.

No no. The motor starter is used for the AC only.
Do AC's require some other kind of starter? The electrician himself suggested this.

 

[vvvinashhh]

Your electrical connection is spot on. Dont Worry. Call Up Sharp,or mail them better.

 

[hotshot05]

Your electrical connection is spot on. Dont Worry. Call Up Sharp,or mail them better.

Can you suggest an email id which will give me prompt response?

 

[prtk]

@hotshot05 - I am not sure how you made the deal. If it was all extra for the installation then I guess the dealer might have charged the money. I always buy products including installation. So when I bought the sharp AC 1.5T Inverter - it cost 43k which included stand, installation, the waterproof tape came along with the installation as well as everything needed for the installation. Finally, the installers vacuumed the pipes and I guess that process itself took them around 30 minutes. The installers were really great and had brought white cement (to fill the area drilled by them for installation). I am not sure about the plug because at our house we had already given provision next to the AC a direct connector without need for plug, but other than that the installation was done fine. I guess you should call up the call center or email them and hopefully they would respond. I think their email is sharp @ service007.com

 

[hotshot05]

@hotshot05 - I am not sure how you made the deal. If it was all extra for the installation then I guess the dealer might have charged the money. I always buy products including installation. So when I bought the sharp AC 1.5T Inverter - it cost 43k which included stand, installation, the waterproof tape came along with the installation as well as everything needed for the installation. Finally, the installers vacuumed the pipes and I guess that process itself took them around 30 minutes. The installers were really great and had brought white cement (to fill the area drilled by them for installation). I am not sure about the plug because at our house we had already given provision next to the AC a direct connector without need for plug, but other than that the installation was done fine. I guess you should call up the call center or email them and hopefully they would respond. I think their email is sharp @ service007.com

You did not have to pay the installation charge to the guys who came to your house? You paid everything to the dealer at his shop?

 

[prtk]

@hotshot05 - well my price was including everything. The dealer said 43k for the 1.5T inverter and that included transporting the AC to our house, Installation, the outdoor unit stand, pipe, the waterproof tape and cover over the pipe. So did not have to pay a single penny later maybe all was built into the price.

 

[vvvinashhh]

Your ODU stand was a Godrej Boyce or just Iron angles?

 

[prtk]

It was a complete stand worth around 800Rs fully powder coated but no manufacturers name was mentioned

 

[vvvinashhh]

I paid around Rs 2700 or a total of Rs 43700 along with installation for the AC,Tape,Pressure monitoring, Vacuuming ,Godrej Boyce stand included. Now Why the Godrej Boyce stand because it is very rigid and heavy and more importantly it offers the maximum distance between the ODU and the Installation wall. And the stand is Vibration resistant because of the Fixtures it comes with and not just plain nut and bolts.

Where are you located?