It’s hot inside let’s turn on the AC!!
The air conditioner is one of the high-power-consuming appliances at home. During sunny days you might have noticed a drastic increase in power consumption as well as the utility bill (if you use AC). This article will guide you through the types of Air conditioners, their power consumption of ac, and electricity bill calculation.
Online electricity bill calculator for AC
Types of household Air conditioners
Here we will discuss the following types of air conditioners:
- Central Air conditioners
- Split air conditioners
- Window units
Central air conditioners
Central air conditioners deliver cooled air through a system of supply and return ducts. The cooling unit (evaporator, condenser, and compressor) is placed outdoors.
Split air conditioners
Split ac consists of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The evaporator unit is placed inside the room and the condenser-compressor unit combination is placed outdoors. The coolant is circulated between the indoor and outdoor units using copper pipes.
Window AC
It is the most commonly used type of residential air conditioner. It is a single unit containing the evaporator, condenser, and compressors altogether. It is fixed in the slot made in the wall or window sill.
Difference between Inverter AC and Non-inverter AC
Inverter ACs are becoming much more popular in the market today. The key difference between an inverter and a non-inverter air conditioner is that an inverter air conditioner is capable of controlling the speed of its compressor motor. Once the required temperature is attained, the speed of the compressor motor is lowered. This can save a lot of energy. But the conventional AC or the non-inverter AC cannot control its speed. It can either run at the full speed or stop at zero. Each time it turns on, it consumes 6-8 times its rated current during the start. Also, inverter ACs are less noisy than conventional ones.
Understanding Tonnage of AC
Air conditioning units are rated in tons. One ton is equal to 12,000 Btu per hour (3.517 kW). That is the amount of heat required (288,000 Btu) to melt one ton of ice in a 24-hour period. Therefore 288000, when divided by 24, gives 12000Btu, which is equal to one ton.
Understanding Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER)
The Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is the ratio of output cooling energy (in BTU/hr) to input electrical energy (in watts) at a given operating point. EER is normally calculated with a 95 °F (35 °C) outside temperature and a room temperature of 80 °F (26.6 °C) and at a relative humidity of 50%.
EER = (Cooling energy in BTU/ hr) / (Electrical energy consumed in watts)
OR
EER = (Cooling energy in kW/ hr) / (Electrical energy consumed in watts)
*Either of the above formulae can be used based on the local standard.
Understanding Energy Star
Energy Stars indicate the efficiency of the air conditioners. More stars indicate higher energy efficiency. The below table indicates the star ratings and EER of air conditioners.
Number of stars and EER of Split A/C units
| Number of stars | Minimum EER | Maximum EER |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Star | 3.10 | 3.29 |
| 2 Star | 3.30 | 3.49 |
| 3 Star | 3.50 | 3.99 |
| 4 Star | 4.00 | 4.99 |
| 5 Star | 4.50 |
Number of stars and EER of window A/C units
| Number of stars | Minimum EER | Maximum EER |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Star | 2.5 | 2.69 |
| 2 Star | 2.7 | 2.8 |
| 3 Star | 2.9 | 3.09 |
| 4 Star | 3.1 | 3.29 |
| 5 Star | 3.3 |
Power consumption of AC
Power consumed by split A/C
| 1 Ton | 1.5 Ton | 2 Ton | |
| 1 Star | 1100W | 1651W | 2200W |
| 2 Star | 1036W | 1554W | 2071W |
| 3 Star | 940W | 1408W | 1878W |
| 4 Star | 782W | 1174W | 1565W |
| 5 Star | 781W | 1172W | 15623W |
Power consumed by window A/C
| 1 Ton | 1.5 Ton | 2 Ton | |
| 1 Star | 1355W | 2032W | 2710W |
| 2 Star | 1279W | 1918W | 2557W |
| 3 Star | 1174W | 1761W | 2348W |
| 4 Star | 1100W | 1650W | 2200W |
| 5 Star | 1065W | 1599W | 2131W |
Bill and consumption calculation
From the above table, energy consumption can be calculated as follows:
Let’s calculate the power consumed by a 1.5-ton 5-star rated split a/c operated for 10hrs.
Number of Units consumed = (Power consumed in kW) x (Operation Hours)
Power consumed can be noted from the table above or from the brochure or nameplate details of the air conditioner.
Number of Units consumed = (1172/ 1000) kW x 10 hrs
=11.72 units (kWh)
Electricity bill = Number of units consumed x Rate per unit
Online electricity bill calculator for AC
Factors affecting the efficiency of an air conditioner
The following are the major factors affecting the efficiency and performance of an air conditioner and directly impact the power consumption of the air conditioner.
- SEER Rating
- Outdoor temperature and temperature set-point (Higher the difference between the outdoor temperature and the set-point, the greater will be the power consumption)
- Technology used (Inverter technology or conventional technology)
- The number of people and appliances inside the room.
We hope that the above article has fulfilled your requirement and you can calculate the power consumption of the air conditioner yourself now.
Read More: How to save on electricity bills?
Your information is Good.
information is very thorough and useful.
This information is very very useful.
Very useful to calculate the cooling power consumption, but what about when it is in heating mode?