For the past ten years, I have relied almost entirely on air conditioning to get through the summer. Where I live, temperatures regularly reach 45°C (113°F), and the heat can be difficult to manage.
However, running an AC unit all day comes with a significant downside: high electricity bills. This year, I decided to look for a more cost-effective way to cool my home during the daytime. I wanted to see if a modern desert cooler could do the job without using as much power.
To test this out, I received the Kenstar TALL BOY Honey Comb 105 Litre BLDC Desert Cooler (Model: KCLTBDBL105FRH) as a review unit. It retails for ₹15,990 ($168) and features a Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motor, which is designed to be energy efficient.
After using it for a week, including during a particularly hot and humid stretch of weather, I have a clear understanding of how it performs, where it works well, and what its limitations are. Here is my experience using it as a daily cooling solution.
Design and Dimensions
The first thing you notice about the Kenstar Tall Boy is its height. It stands 1428 mm tall, which is about 4.7 feet. It is a large appliance that will be very noticeable in whatever room you place it in. However, the height serves a specific, practical purpose.
Many standard desert coolers are relatively short, meaning the air they blow often hits the side of a bed or the back of a chair. By elevating the 40.6 cm (16-inch) fan, the Tall Boy directs the airflow higher up. When I am sitting at my desk or lying in bed, the air reaches me directly rather than cooling the floor.
Despite being tall, the cooler’s footprint is fairly standard for its capacity, measuring 630 x 445 mm. It fits reasonably well into the corner of my dining room and doesn’t take up too much floor space on my balcony. The body is made from ABS and HIPS plastic. It feels sturdy enough for regular indoor and covered outdoor use, and it hasn’t shown any signs of strain.
When the cooler is empty, it weighs 18 kg, which is manageable to move. But this model has a 105-liter water tank. Once you fill it up, the total weight exceeds 120 kg. To handle this, Kenstar included four castor wheels at the base. I was initially concerned about moving it when full, but the wheels roll smoothly on flat floors. I can push it from the living room to the terrace without much effort, though you do have to be careful over door thresholds.
BLDC Motor and Power Consumption
This model comes with a BLDC motor. Traditional desert coolers of this size usually consume between 200 and 250 watts of electricity. The Kenstar Tall Boy is rated at 145 watts. While that might not sound like a massive difference on paper, it adds up over a month when you are running the cooler for 10 to 15 hours a day. It is a noticeable reduction in power consumption compared to older models.
This low wattage also provides a very practical benefit during power cuts. Because it draws only 145 watts, the cooler runs easily on my standard home inverter. In areas where the power grid can be unreliable during peak summer months, being able to keep your primary cooling appliance running on battery backup is highly convenient.
Kenstar says that the motor uses a double ball bearing system. In practice, this is meant to reduce internal friction, which should help the motor last longer and run a bit smoother. It comes with a five-year warranty on the motor, which provides some peace of mind regarding its durability.
Cooling Performance and Airflow
If you are transitioning from an air conditioner to a desert cooler, there is a learning curve. I made the mistake of setting the Tall Boy up in a closed bedroom on the first day. Desert coolers use evaporative cooling, which naturally adds moisture to the air. Because the room lacked ventilation, the humidity increased quickly, and the room just felt sticky and uncomfortable.
Once I realized my error, I moved the cooler to my dining area and opened a window to allow for cross-ventilation. The difference was immediate. In an open space, the cooler works effectively. The fan pushes out 4500 m³/h (cubic meters per hour) of air, and Kenstar claims an air throw of 50 feet.
While I didn’t measure the exact distance, it easily circulates air across my entire living space. The motorized louvers move side to side, helping to distribute the air evenly rather than blowing it in just one direction.
The cooling media consists of honeycomb pads on three sides. They hold water well, don’t sag, and provide consistent evaporation.
For particularly hot afternoons, the cooler has an ice chamber on top. You can add ice cubes to cool the water before it runs through the pads. It does lower the temperature of the air noticeably for a short period. Once the ice melts, it returns to standard evaporative cooling, which is still effective as long as you keep a window or door open.
Day-to-Day Use and Maintenance
Living with a 105-liter cooler is fairly straightforward. The large tank is very convenient; a full tank easily lasts me 12 to 15 hours of continuous use. I can fill it in the evening and run it through the night without worrying about the water running out. There is a clear water level indicator on the front, so you can check how much water is left at a glance.
The cooler includes a dust filter net on the outside of the cooling pads. This is a simple but useful feature. It catches larger dust particles, pet hair, and insects, stopping them from getting stuck in the honeycomb pads. This means the pads stay cleaner for longer, and the air smells fresher. Also, a quick heads-up for new buyers: if you have just bought it, you will likely notice a distinct smell for the first two days of use, but it eventually goes away completely.
The control panel is a modern touch interface that is intuitive and easy to use, and it also comes with a handy remote control. The touch panel works really well with absolutely no issues, housing all the necessary buttons including power, fan settings, cooling on or off, swing, and a timer. It offers seven different fan speeds, which is highly practical. You can keep it on a low setting for a gentle breeze or turn it up when you need to cool the room quickly.
There are a few drawbacks to keep in mind. First, moving this volume of air generates noise. On the lower settings, it is a manageable background hum. But on the highest fan speeds, it is quite loud. If you are watching TV or taking a phone call in the same room, you will likely need to turn the fan speed down.
Second, maintenance is required. If you live in an area with hard water, minerals will eventually build up on the honeycomb pads. You will need to periodically drain the tank and descale the pads to keep the cooler working efficiently. It isn’t a difficult process, but it is an extra chore you don’t have with an AC.
The Verdict
The Kenstar TALL BOY 105 Litre BLDC Desert Cooler is a practical and effective appliance, provided you use it in the right environment. It will not replace an air conditioner in a sealed room, and it won’t drop the room temperature to 18°C.
However, if you have a large, well-ventilated space, like a living room, a spacious bedroom with open windows, or a covered patio, it performs very well. The 4.7-foot height ensures the air reaches you where you are sitting, and the 105-liter tank minimizes the need for constant refilling.
At ₹15,990 ($168), the initial cost is reasonable, and the 145W BLDC motor helps keep ongoing electricity costs down. It is a sensible, energy-efficient alternative for managing the summer heat, especially if you need an appliance that can run on a home inverter during power outages.
You can purchase this model from here.
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