Black+Decker BPACT08WT Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Black+Decker BPACT08WT | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Portable Air Conditioner | Best Portable Air Conditioner On a Budget | |||
Price | $349 List $349.00 at Amazon | $633 List $551.85 at Amazon | $350 List $295.99 at Amazon | $339 List | $431 List |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | This versatile unit goes easy on the wallet in terms of power-consumption and purchase price | This powerful portable air conditioner has more cooling capability and innovative features than any other to help you beat the summer heat | This portable AC is easy to install and even easier on the budget | This portable AC is a breeze to set up and take down and demonstrates excellent energy efficiency, but it's loud and underperforms in cooling | This portable air conditioner is easy to cart or carry around and set up; just don't expect tons of cooling power |
Rating Categories | Black+Decker BPACT08WT | Whynter ARC-1230WN | SereneLife SLPAC10 | Midea MAP08R1CWT | SereneLife SLPAC8 |
Cooling (35%) | |||||
Energy Consumption (15%) | |||||
Noise (20%) | |||||
Portability / Install (25%) | |||||
Convenience (5%) | |||||
Specs | Black+Decker BPACT08WT | Whynter ARC-1230WN | SereneLife SLPAC10 | Midea MAP08R1CWT | SereneLife SLPAC8 |
Manufacturer Recommended Cooling Area | Up to 150 sq ft | Up to 600 sq ft | Up to 450 sq ft | Up to 350 sq ft | Up to 350 sq ft |
Single or Dual Hose | Single | Dual | Single | Single | Single |
Wi-Fi / App Enabled | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Modes (fan speeds) | - Cold (1-3 + Auto)
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- Cold (1-3 + Auto)
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- Cold (1-3)
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- Cold (Auto)
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- Cool (Low, High)
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Energy Star Certified | No | No | No | No | No |
BTU | 8000 BTU (ASHRAE) 4000 BTU (DOE) |
14000 BTU (ASHRAE) 12000 BTU (DOE) |
10000 BTU (ASHRAE) 6000 BTU (DOE) |
8000 BTU (ASHRAE) 5300 BTU (DOE) |
8000 BTU (ASHRAE) 4000 BTU (DOE) |
24-Hour On/Off Timer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Control Type | Touch | Button | Button | Button | Button |
Remote Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Washable Dust Filter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Manufacturer Window Width Minimum | 20.5" | 26.7" | 26.7" | 19.4" | 26.7" * |
Manufacturer Window Width Maximum | 59" | 49" | 50.1" * | 62.2" | 50.1" * |
Measured Window Kit Width | 6.5" | 9.8" | 4" | 6.5" | 4" |
Refrigerant Type | R32 | R32 | R410a | R32 | R410a |
Child Lock | No | Yes, for the remote only | No | No | No |
Manufacturer Dehumidify/Moisture removal | Not Specified | 87 pt/day | 3.1 pt/hr | Not Specified | 2.5 pt/hr |
Measured Weight | 46 lbs | 75 lbs 1 oz | 52 lbs 4 oz | 50 lbs 14 oz | 44 lbs 3 oz |
CEER | 5.4 | 12.3 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 5.7 |
Estimated Summer Cost | $156.88 | $216.15 | $167.34 | $132.48 | $125.50 |
Average dBa Reading on High | 58.6 | 58.4 | 61 | 60.2 | 63.7 |
Difference of averaged temps | 7 | 11.9 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 4.9 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
We appreciate the Black+Decker BPACT08WT for its good value. It's one of the cheapest products in this class and one of the more capable coolers in the 8,000 BTU subcategory. It's among the easiest units to set up and move around, and it has above-average energy efficiency.
Performance Comparison
Cooling
Our cooling metric makes up 35% of the review's score and is one of the most important of them all. The Black+Decker BPACT08WT demonstrated middling cooling performance overall, but it did well for a lower 8000 BTU unit.
To conduct consistent cooling tests, we set up a 1680 cubic feet indoor space (14x10ft. room with 12ft. ceilings) with carefully controlled start temperatures between 83 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded and averaged from four temperature-sensing dataloggers placed around the room. Next, we partitioned off an adjoining section of our warehouse and warmed it to much higher temps to simulate summertime outdoors. Between the two spaces were a wall and a typical home-styled window where we set up the portable AC units' window interface kits and hoses. This unit managed a temperature drop of 7 degrees Fahrenheit after 60 minutes, from a start temp of 82.4 degrees to a final temp of 75.4 degrees, which brought it in towards the back of the pack at large but highest among the lower 8000 BTU units.
Portability/Install
The Black+Decker had an above-average showing in our portability tests. We based this score on how easy it is to carry the AC, roll it around, and set up the exhaust ducting. Combined, this trio of tests accounts for 20% of the final score. This unit is relatively easy to carry, with handles that are decently comfortable to grab.
There is enough contouring to make them relatively ergonomic, though we wish they were a bit bigger. The Black+Decker is one of the lighter-weight AC units we tested, weighing in at 51.3 pounds. This also makes it very easy to roll around, offering only the slightest rolling resistance. It also maneuvers very easily, tracking straight while pushing without any pull to one side or the other.
The exhaust duct installation requires a screwdriver to complete, but it isn't overly difficult. You use pre-drilled holes to screw the pieces together, so you don't have total adjustability in its 20.5" to 59" range, but you can always drill your own if you need to make it fit better in your window.
Noise
We evaluated the noise metric by listening to each and every unit set to low, medium, and high. We then brought out our SPL meter to measure the decibels put out by the units when set to high.
The Black+Decker BPACT08WT put out 58.6 dBa with the fan on high, and we noticed a loud humming from this machine that we found somewhat annoying, especially for those who would have to spend most of their time around the unit. But overall, this was fairly average in terms of its noise level compared to the rest of our test lineup.
Energy Consumption
Energy efficiency is more important now than ever, and electricity costs can add up over time, which is why the energy metric makes up a hearty 15% of the total score for each unit in our review. The 8,000 BTU Black+Decker BPACT08WT scored well above average in this metric.
This unit consumed .88 kWh in our test. Over 90 days with 12 hours of daily use, the Black+Decker BPACT08WT was projected to consume 950.4 kWh for approximately $153.39, making it one of the more efficient and economical units reviewed.
Convenience
The last 5% of the review score comes from our convenience metric, which grades each portable AC unit on its modes, display, controls, and extra features. The Black+Decker BPACT08WT did respectably well in this metric but wasn't among the highest scorers.
It has a nice and legible blue settings display viewable from most angles and from a moderate distance and features a touch interface with good modes, including a Dehumidfy program. It comes with a remote, child locks, and a pretty basic timer, but no smart mobile app that you'd find on the highest scorers in this metric.
The most surprising omission of the Black+Decker BPACT08WT is its poor vent adjustability. You can't move it much vertically, although the tiny shift it does allow seems relatively effective.
Should You Buy the Black+Decker BPACT08WT?
If you don't require top-notch cooling power from a larger BTU unit and high energy efficiency is important to you, it's hard to go wrong with the BPACT08WT. Not only is it the most capable of the smaller 8,000 BTU units, but it's also one of the most portable and easiest to install.
What Other Portable Air Conditioners Should You Consider?
If you're looking for a portable air conditioner with superior cooling power and similar energy efficiency to the BPACT08WT, go for the SereneLife SLPAC10. If you live in an extremely hot climate, we'd recommend the powerful Whynter ARC-1230WN due to its equally extreme cooling powers.