Portable AC comparisons

Danby DPA065 vs DPA072 vs DPA080: 6,500, 7,200 or 8,000 SACC?

The Danby DPA065B6WDB-6, DPA072B8WDB-6 and DPA080B1WDB-6 are all current-category, single-hose portable air conditioners with the same 12,000-BTU/h ASHRAE headline. Their DOE/SACC capacities are different: 6,500, 7,200 and 8,000 BTU/h respectively. If a questionnaire or room-sizing plan uses SACC, those are the numbers to compare. The common ASHRAE label does not turn them into interchangeable 12,000-SACC machines.

Exact ratings and cabinet tradeoffs

• DPA065B6WDB-6: 6,500 SACC; Danby estimate up to 300 sq. ft.; 17.13 × 12.99 × 28.74 inches; 63.7 lb; CEER 6.7.
• DPA072B8WDB-6: 7,200 SACC; estimate up to 350 sq. ft.; 17.72 × 14.09 × 30.43 inches; 72.8 lb; CEER 7.0.
• DPA080B1WDB-6: 8,000 SACC; its exact page/specification disagree about the room-area figure (250 versus 350 sq. ft.); 17.87 × 14.37 × 27.56 inches; 73.9 lb; CEER 7.2.

The area figures are manufacturer estimates, not a promise that a room of that size will cool comfortably. Sun, insulation, ceiling height and internal heat all change the load. The DPA072 is the middle step by SACC, but it is the tallest and heavier than the DPA065. The DPA080 is slightly shorter than the DPA072, yet wider and deeper; its body measurements do not erase the unresolved room-area conflict. Check cabinet size and airflow clearance together rather than reading the rating as a footprint proxy.

Setup, drainage and controls

All three use a single exhaust hose, so none answers a must-have dual-hose setup. They need a workable route through a suitable window opening. Their manuals permit adapting or trimming the included slider, but the exact uncut panel span is not documented in the reviewed materials. If you cannot trim or need the slider to fit a fixed numeric range, verify the kit before choosing any of the three.

Drain and control distinctions matter more than the shared headline. The DPA072 manual documents wireless app control and Follow Me sensing; app status is not established for the DPA065 or DPA080B1, so do not transfer that feature across the suffixes. These are cooling-only configurations, not heat pumps. Each has manual drainage of a full internal pan and a gravity route for continuous Dry-mode drainage; none is a lift-pump solution. The DPA072 manual specifically calls for 12 inches at the front/sides and 20 inches behind and before the horizontal louver. The DPA065 manual calls for 20 inches at the front, sides and back. Apply each model's own instructions; do not assume one family's clearance is universal.

How to choose among the three

Choose the DPA065 if 6,500 SACC is adequate and lower listed weight matters more than crossing the 7,100-SACC threshold. Its cabinet is narrower than the DPA072 and its maker estimate is smaller. Choose the DPA072 when its 7,200-SACC rating and documented app control are useful, the heavier/taller body fits, and its gravity-only Dry drain can run downhill. Consider the DPA080B1 if the room calculation genuinely calls for 8,000 SACC; clarify its conflicting manufacturer area claim and verify any feature—especially app, sound or inverter—that matters to you, because unknown is not a promise.

Energy labels also differ by small steps, not by a household savings guarantee. Their CEER values are 6.7, 7.0 and 7.2. The DPA065 and DPA072 EnergyGuides show standardized estimated annual costs of $95 and $100 under the label's assumptions; these values should not be compared as personal bills without considering rates and runtime. The DPA080 label and its exact evidence should be read separately. A higher CEER can be one comparison input, but it does not compensate for an unsuitable capacity, window route or drain plan.

Before ordering, verify the room load, the actual window kit dimensions, the route and length of the exhaust hose, clearance around the cabinet and where gravity water can go. Then compare the separate DPA065, DPA072 and DPA080B1 assessments. A small gain in a published rating is not enough reason to accept an awkward lift or incompatible installation.