Stay Cool During a Power Outage, While Camping, Within An RV, or In Any Smaller Living Space Using the 4Patriots ChillZone Portable Air Conditioner

4Patriots is a family-owned, Nashville-based company that was founded in 2008. It specializes in creating and selling high-quality emergency preparedness products, from portable power units and water filtration systems, to emergency food and water rations, and more. After years of research and development, the company recently released a portable air conditioner that can be used virtually anywhere, indoors or outdoors. It can be set up in less than 10 minutes in any room of a home, e.g., in a garage, attic, or basement; within a tent while camping; inside an RV; or even outside while you’re relaxing on your porch or patio or watching your child’s baseball game on an extremely hot day.

What’s great about the 4Patriots ChillZone portable air conditioner is that it comes with all of the accessories needed to power the unit using a standard 120 volt electrical outlet or rechargeable battery pack. And, to keep energy prices down and provide cooling when no traditional power is available, you also get a solar panel that can recharge the battery pack using sunlight. 

4Patriots ChillZone Portable Air Conditioner with Solar Panel & Battery Pack

$1,999.00 from 4Patriot

If you live somewhere that gets hot during the summer months, and you never want to risk being exposed to excessive heat — even during a power failure — the 4Patriots ChillZone is ideal. It can cool down a small living space quickly, extremely efficiently, and rather quietly. 

In conjunction with the release of the ChillZone, the folks at 4Patriot provided me with a review unit to test out. I quickly discovered that while expensive, it offers many conveniences not offered by a traditional window air conditioning unit or portable air conditioner. To get started, I set up the ChillZone in Massachusetts on a 92-degree Fahrenheit day in mid-August. Keep reading to learn more about my firsthand experience using this innovative and portable air conditioner.

The 4Patriots ChillZone Works Much Like a Traditional Air Conditioner

Air conditioners come in a wide range of designs and sizes. Their power is measured by the number of BTUs they generate (a BTU represents the amount of hot air an AC unit can remove from a space in one hour). When determining an AC unit’s capabilities, consider that 20 BTUs are needed per square foot that you want to cool. A typical window air conditioner ranges from 5,000 to 18,000 BTU. So, for a small room (between 150 and 350 square feet), you’ll want an AC unit that offers between 5,000 and 8,000 BTU.

Thus, the higher an air conditioner’s BTU rating, the better. The 4Patriots ChillZone offers 2,350 BTUs, so it can handle cooling down about 117.5 square feet of space. Considering just BTUs, this portable AC unit is suitable for small spaces. What sets it apart, however, is that it can be powered using a traditional 120 volt outlet or a rechargeable battery pack. 

Furthermore, the rechargeable battery pack can be recharged either by plugging it into a 120 volt electrical outlet or using the included portable solar panel. This allows the 4Patriots ChillZone to be used in places and situations where a traditional portable or window air conditioner won’t work, such as in an RV or camping tent, or in a home during a power failure. 

Just like a traditional air conditioner, once the 4Patriots ChillZone is connected to a power source, you also need to use the provided water drain tube to direct the condensation generated by the AC unit into a container or somewhere that won’t cause water damage. It’s necessary to use the included large and expandable air duct to divert the warm air from the AC unit away from the device while it’s working.

What’s Included with the 4Patriots ChillZone Solar Portable AC

I discovered that the 4Patriots ChillZone comes with most of the accessories needed for the unit to function within minutes after removing it from the box. However, based on how you plan to power the unit, a different configuration of cables (all of which are included) is required. Figuring out the proper way to set up the ChillZone, based on where you plan to use it, is the trickiest thing about using the device, but the 14-page owner’s manual outlines the basics.

Here’s everything that’s included with the 4Patriots ChillZone:

• The ChillZone portable air conditioner.
• Hot air duct connector and expandable duct.
• Cold air duct connector and expandable duct.
• Power Adapter.
• Water drain tube.
• Removable and rechargeable battery pack.
• 24V DC power cable.
• USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable.
• ChillZone and solar panel storage and carry bags.
• 100-watt folding solar panel and separate carry bag.
• User manuals.

As I was setting up the ChillZone for the first time for use with the rechargeable battery pack, it took me a few minutes to figure out how to properly connect the battery to the bottom of the AC unit, and then attach the power cable, water drain tube, and hot air duct. I found that using the cold air duct is optional, but desirable if you want to direct the cool air in a specific direction. The manual that comes with the ChillZone and the five-page manual for the battery pack provide basic setup information, without going into too much detail. 

What’s not included is a container to connect to the water drain tube to collect the water, and an adjustable window duct kit to block the open portion of a window when the hot air duct is placed through it or directly up to a window’s screen. Whether or not these two things are needed depends on where you plan to set up and use the ChillZone.

Who will the 4Patriots ChillZone Solar Portable AC Appeal To?

The 4Patriots ChillZone is rather expensive compared to a traditional window or portable air conditioner, and it probably offers less power (in terms of BTUs). For example, Black & Decker offers a 12,000 BTU portable AC unit priced at $400 for use indoors, while a 5,000 BTU window air conditioner from Amazon Basics costs only $121. There are many other options, too.

But, when you purchase the ChillZone, what you’re paying for is peace of mind, knowing that in almost any situation, you can stay cool. This is particularly useful to people with a medical condition, older people who don’t like the heat, or anyone who just wants to be comfortable on extremely warm days when they’re staying in a small space. Few other portable AC units can be battery powered, and even fewer come with a solar panel for recharging the battery pack. This also makes it appealing to RV owners, people who enjoy camping, and “preppers” who want to be prepared for a power outage or other emergency situation.

Using the 4Patriots ChillZone Solar Portable AC On a Hot Day

Setting up just the ChillZone and plugging it into a 120 volt power outlet is the easiest way to get the unit up and running fast. When I did this for the first time, I immediately felt the cold air being generated and blowing from the device’s circular cool air output. The controls are very intuitive: Once plugged in, I simply pressed and held down the power button for a few seconds to turn on the device.

Next, I used the up and down arrow buttons to set the desired temperature (between 60 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit). The display on the unit shows the current temperature, the desired temperature, the operating mode being used, and the selected fan speed (which is adjustable by repeatedly pressing the Fan button). There are three fan speeds to choose from.

I found that the higher fan speeds cause the ChillZone to generate a bit more noise. If you’re awake, this isn’t an issue, but the sound from the device may be too loud if you’re trying to sleep and you’re in close proximity to the ChillZone while it’s operating. There’s also an option to use the ChillZone as a fan, which circulates, but does not cool down the air.

If you choose to use the ChillZone with the rechargeable battery pack, first you need to charge the battery. Again, you can do this by plugging it into a traditional power outlet (it takes about five hours to charge), or by connecting it to the included solar panel. For the solar panel to work, it must be set up outside and pointed at the sun on a bright and sunny day. Even under the best conditions, though, using the solar panel takes up to 12 hours to recharge the battery from empty to 100%. 

Based on a variety of factors (such as the fan speed and the starting temperature of the space where the ChillZone is set up), expect to get about five hours of functionality from the battery between charges. If you connect a fully charged battery to the ChillZone and simultaneously use the solar panels, this will extend the battery life up to two additional hours.

One added perk is that the battery pack can also be used as a power bank to recharge your mobile devices simply by plugging them into the battery pack using a USB Type-A or USB Type-C cable. Taking advantage of this feature, however, decreases the amount of time the ChillZone will run using battery power. 

Keep in mind, the ChillZone is portable and can be set up almost anywhere, but it’s not waterproof or water resistant. Do not use it while camping in the rain or on a boat, for example.

My Final Thoughts: Is the 4Patriots ChillZone Solar Portable AC Worth It?

I found the 4Patriots ChillZone is well made and reliable. I also love the idea of having a portable air conditioner that can be set up in any room in minutes, and be able to use its rechargeable battery (and solar panels) to keep the unit functioning even during a power failure. And, since the solar panels cost no money to operate, if you rely on them to recharge the ChillZone’s battery between uses, using this AC unit won’t increase your electricity bill.

Based on my testing, the 4Patriots ChillZone works exactly as advertised. However, its two biggest drawbacks are its high price and low BTU rating. So, to enjoy the best results, it needs to be used to cool down small spaces. On the plus side, what 4Patriots charges for the ChillZone includes the battery pack, solar panel unit, the required accessories, a power charger, and a variety of cables, plus two cloth carrying/storage cases that hold everything. 

4Patriots ChillZone Portable Air Conditioner with Solar Panel & Battery Pack

$1,999.00 from 4Patriot

Despite my extremely positive experience using the ChillZone, I am having a hard time stating that it’s worth the $2,000 that 4Patriots charges for it — especially since there are so many less expensive (and more traditional) portable and window air conditioner options available. That said, if you want a battery powered and portable unit that can be recharged using a solar panel, this is definitely the air conditioner you want.