FUNAI RAC-I-ON30HP.D01/S / RAC-I-ON30HP.D01/U air conditioner

Our verdict on the FUNAI RAC-I-ON30HP.D01/S

FUNAI Onsen is not a “regular” air conditioner but an air-to-air heat pump. Formally, the box still labels it a split system, yet by design it’s a purpose-built unit aimed at year-round operation and maximum heating-mode efficiency. The model is manufactured at a Gree plant—one of the most conservative and reliable Chinese players. The Onsen tested here is the 30 size, roughly between a “9” and a “12” in cooling capacity; retail price is 125 thousand rubles. That’s expensive by conventional split-system standards, but for a heat pump it’s a typical bracket.

The indoor unit is large—no exaggeration: its width approaches one meter. The design is conservative, in Gree’s style, with a horizontal decorative insert and a flat front panel. The declared energy rating is A+A+A, and the line-set length is 15 meters (Gree is traditionally conservative with published specs).

Inside, everything is built with margin. Two fine filters are installed in the pockets right away, and the package includes an additional full set of replacements—a rare market-level generosity, especially when buying through a local installer. There’s built-in Wi‑Fi (not “Wi‑Fi ready,” but a complete module with Gree’s branded USB stick), an indicator board with its own light-filter film, Gree’s recognizable ionizer, and neat heat-exchanger brazing done uniformly along the entire length.

The remote is a modern Gree unit: a color backlit display, clock readout, and clear mode separation. Seven fan speeds are specified—Silence + five intermediate + Power; in practice, all seven measure as distinct airflow levels, but they can only be stepped through sequentially (no dedicated turbo/quiet button). At minimum speed the unit measured 31 dB—an excellent result for a heat pump of this size.

A stress test on a lab variac: the air conditioner holds 150 V confidently; current rises, but the compressor keeps pumping refrigerant. At 100 V it shuts down. For a heat pump this isn’t critical: this class of equipment is typically installed where the mains supply is stable.

Inside the indoor unit is a two-row heat exchanger with 16 loops at 71 cm, 6 mm copper; by our measurement method the surface area is 0.43 m². A good figure, but the indoor section is not where Onsen tries to stand out—Gree logically puts copper where it matters most.

The outdoor unit is the key argument for this model. Weight is 44.5 kg—no longer the familiar “Chinese” outdoor size, but a full industrial-grade module; it calls for reinforced brackets. Inside you find a Gree compressor with EVI technology (additional refrigerant injection) and triple sound insulation—one decorative layer plus two functional layers. An electronic expansion valve is present. Dual DC fan motor, a heated drain pan cable for meltwater discharge, and thick, high-quality insulation on the refrigerant lines. Vibration measurement came in at 0.13—exceptionally low for a unit of this mass.

The outdoor heat exchanger is what makes this unit memorable. 7.5 mm copper, 48 runs of 81 cm plus a separate 152 cm section; total copper-tube length is 50 meters. That’s a new record in our measurement series (previously 45 m on a Hisense). Copper surface area is 1.19 m²—more than a square meter. For reference: the average air conditioner in our sample shows 0.24–0.37 m². A huge heat exchanger is precisely the engineering rationale behind the claimed heating down to −30 °C: at extremely low ambient temperatures the refrigerant must boil on the outdoor coil, and that requires surface area.

Bottom line on FUNAI Onsen: it’s a serious heat pump for conditions where standard split systems can no longer deliver heat effectively. Strengths: record outdoor-coil copper area, EVI compressor, triple insulation jacket, heating down to −30 °C, electronic expansion valve, ready-to-use Wi‑Fi, two sets of filters, and very low noise and vibration for its size, backed by Gree’s proven platform. Weak points: the manufacturer did not use a galvanized base pan on the outdoor unit (and a heat pump generates condensate all winter), the outdoor fan motor looks simpler than you’d want at this price, plastic wire ties in the outdoor unit instead of more robust solutions, and the indoor unit’s dimensions make it a poor fit for apartments with standard-sized living rooms. Recommended for country houses and server rooms where a year-round refrigerant system with an extended temperature range and long service life is required—however, it should not be made the sole source of heating in Russia’s central regions.