Base pan and cabinet for an air conditioner

An outdoor section for an air conditioner, comprising:

• a base, said base being fabricated from an engineered material and having an integral peripheral rim extending upward therefrom and at least one integral lead-in which extends upward therefrom, said lead-in including a guide surface, said lead-in, said peripheral rim and the base comprising a unitary piece;
• a heat exchanger coil having a lower surface which rests on said base;
• and
• a side panel having a lower edge, said side panel being connected to said base and being interposed between said heat exchanger coil and said peripheral rim, said guide surface of said lead-in guiding at least one of said lower surface and said lower edge into a predetermined position with respect to said base during assembly of said outdoor section.

An outdoor section for an air conditioner, comprising:

• a base;
• a plurality of side panels connected to the base;
• a plurality of corner panels, said plurality of side panels and said plurality of corner panels cooperating to form a wrapper, at least two of said corner panels and at least two of said plurality of said side panels having vertically running edges that are secured to each other in a vertical sliding relationship;
• a heat exchanger coil supported by said base and disposed in said wrapper;
• an orifice member supported by said wrapper, said orifice member defining a fan orifice;
• a frame connected to and supported by said orifice member;
• a fan;
• a fan motor fastened to said frame and to said fan, said fan being positioned to draw air through said wrapper, said coil and said fan orifice;
• and
• a top cover, said top cover having a plurality of openings and being disposed above and supported by said frame, air flowing out of aid orifice, past said frame and out of said openings when said fan is in operation.