Here's a few examples of how reliable Shinco's are...
(Copy/pasted from hvac boards. Google "Shinco" and you'll find it)
I recently purchased two different Shinco inverter type mini-split air conditioners and have had problems with both of them, each giving an “E4” error code after operating okay for a few days. I cannot determine what the “E4” code means, and the importers GT World cannot, or will not, supply the information. Needless to say I am very frustrated.
First unit purchased was their 2-ton inverter type unit. Great price delivered to my door in Southern California ($1,067). Had a professional install it, vacuumed the lines, etc. and the unit ran great for two-three days. Then one afternoon I looked up and “E4” appeared on the display. The outdoor unit was not operating. Hmmm, so the barely adequate “manual” advises to turn the power off for three minutes, and then turn it back on. This doesn’t work. I reset the remote control unit and still nothing. My technician looks it over, checks the pressures and everything looks fine.
I contacted GT World and they send me two new printed circuit boards for the outdoor unit. I paid $130 for overnight shipping because I wanted to fix it as soon as possible. Installed the boards which went well but they did not correct the fault. I still had the “E4” showing on the display. So I called GT World and arranged to return the unit and get another one, only they were out of 2 ton units and I would have to get a 1 ½ ton instead.
Luckily the west coast distributor is located only 10 minutes from my work location, so returning it was easy (but I had to pay for my technician to de-install the unit). I picked up the 1 ½ ton unit and my guys installed it. It worked just fine.
For two days. Then imagine my surprise and frustration when it also displayed the mysterious “E4” fault code!
So the owner of the installation company came out and went through the unit very carefully. He checked the pressures (high and low were okay), the supply voltage (it was fine), the wiring (all connections tight and wired properly) and everything else he could think of. Without the fault codes he was also frustrated at being unable to accurately and specifically identify the problem.
So we’ve settled on the possibility that my drain system might be filling up in the indoor unit and causing the unit to turn itself off. When the unit sits for a while and the water evaporates it will run again until the tray fills, the float switch activates and the outdoor unit is deactivated. It sounded plausible, and I will pursue that avenue of inquiry next. I suppose I will need to disassemble the indoor unit and check for this possibility.
But it would be so much easier if I only had the Shinco Fault Codes. I would then know what the heck “E4” meant and might be in a position to do something about it. As it stands now I feel like a one-legged blind man engaged in an ass-kicking contest.
Anyone have the Shinco fault codes? Or has anyone else had a similar problem with a Shinco mini-split? Any assistance or insight would be greatly appreciated.
Don
aka “Orangeroost” because I like to “roost” (throw dirt) on orange KTM dirtbikes.
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