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What Is a Power Inverter in an Air Conditioner?

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What Is a Power Inverter in an Air Conditioner?

In the United States, inverter air conditioning and heating is relatively new technology – but some believe that it is the future of HVAC systems.

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By using direct current (DC) voltage to cool or heat a home, inverter power air conditioning and heating allows homeowners the ability to adjust capacity as needed. This can provide highly efficient comfort.

So, are these the HVAC systems of the future? How do they work? What are the benefits? Read on to learn more.

How Does a Power Inverter Work?

A power inverter is an electronic device that changes direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). The power inverter itself does not produce power, it simply redirects the current.

Power inverters can be completely electronic or a combination of electric and mechanical. People use power inverters for various reasons, including heating and cooling their homes.

With inverter air conditioning, the inverter increases the cooling capacity when it detects that the outdoor temperature is high or that there are more people in a room. On the contrary, if it detects a cooler temperature outside or fewer people inside, it reduces the cooling capacity.

With an inverter, the compressor runs continuously, varying the cooling capacity per heat load. As a result, you get precise temperature control and energy efficiency.

Benefits of a Power Inverter

Inverter air conditioning and heating compressors offer numerous benefits.

1. Precise Comfort

One of the biggest benefits is that a power inverter allows you to change the amount of cooling or heating capacity that is actually needed to reach the desired temperature in your home.

Since you are able to reduce the capacity, your HVAC system can run on longer cycles. Longer cycles allow more air exchanges as well as more heat transfer. With increased air exchanges, your home can reach the desired temperature while adding more dehumidification during the humid months, and more humidification in the dry months.

Ultimately, by running longer cycles at lesser capacity, you can expect increased comfort and efficiency.

2. Less Energy Consumption

An inverter AC gives you the ability to control the speed of the compressor motor, which eliminates stop-start cycles. This means your system will use less energy overall and you’ll save on energy costs.

3. Increased Lifespan of Your AC

With that in mind, when your system is using less energy, it will have less wear and tear. This could increase the lifespan of your AC.

Purchasing a Power Inverter for Your Air Conditioner

If you’re looking to buy a DC to AC power inverter to run an air conditioner, the first thing you need to consider is the size of the air conditioner itself. All air conditioners require different AMPs and BTUs to run efficiently, which will determine the type of power inverter you need.

Your air conditioner should have a power label that lists the wattage and amp requirement. Small window units for example typically need 3,000 to 5,000 BTUs. In contrast, a large air conditioning system may need as much as 15,000 BTUs.

It’s important to know that when purchasing a power inverter, it should be at least 15% to 20% below the continuous wattage of power. This will help extend the life of the inverter. For example, if you’re looking to buy a power inverter to run an air conditioner 24 hours a day in warm weather, look at the wattage. If the wattage draw is 1,875 watts, we recommend investing in the 3,000 watt unit instead of the 2,000 watt unit. Purchasing the larger unit will essentially pay for itself when you get five to 10 more years out of it than you would with the smaller option.

Learn More About Inverter Air Conditioning at Sansone

At Sansone, we believe in delivering precise comfort to your home for less. That’s why we’re always at the forefront of cooling and heating trends. As inverter air conditioning becomes more prominent, we’re here to keep you informed. If you’d like to learn more about this technology, contact us today!

Broward: (954) 800-2858
Palm Beach: (561) 701-8274
St. Lucie: (772) 879-5656

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