The electrical component is something that many people overlook when purchasing an air conditioner. In other words, what size and wattage of air conditioners are appropriate for your space?
It should be no shock that air conditioners consume significant electricity. However, if the wrong size is selected, you may waste electricity and money.
This guide will walk you through essential details concerning your AC electricity consumption in your daily life.
Air Conditioning units require anything from 15 to 60 amps depending on the number of tons, equivalent to 208/240 volts. On a 120-volt circuit, a small air conditioner will use 7.5 amps. Medium-sized air conditioners on the same circuit will use roughly 15 amps. They’ll need a separate 240-volt circuit for larger ones, drawing up to 30 amps.
What’s the Difference Between Voltage, Amperage, and Wattage?
Electricity, like water, circulates in a circular pattern through a conductor, which is a wire. Therefore, each electrical term, such as amps, volts, and watts, has a significant impact on the flow of electricity.
Voltage
Voltage is a measurement of electromotive force that aids in determining the type of electrical current that will flow through a wire. One volt equals.001 kilowatts per hour are measured in volts (or 1000 Ws).
Volts are used to calculate the “pressure” of electricity; the higher the volts, the greater the pressure.
Amperage
The current that can circulate through a wire is measured in amps and is called a page. Your electrical circuit needs amps for lights and appliances such as lamps, TVs, microwaves, and cooking ovens.
They all use amps because power flows from one spot to another via an electric circuit with low resistance when there are no interruptions in the loop.
Wattage
Wattage is how a gadget consumes energy and is measured in watts. Like horsepower, Watts can measure output over time and account for input (resistance).
So, a one-watt device will require one amp flowing at 120 volts, equal to.001 kilowatts per hour (or 1000 Ws).
Types of Air Conditioners and Their Electricity Requirements
Many distinct air conditioning systems conduct the same procedure for various purposes. However, the optimum system selection depends on your needs because they are all built to work under different settings.
Mini Split Air Conditioners
208/240 volts is required for the vast majority of mini-split AC. Some systems with smaller capacities need 110/120 volts. The amp’s needs might range from 15 to 45 amps depending on the BTU capacity. A dedicated circuit is required for all small splits.
PTAC Air Conditioners (Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners)
208/240 volts (or 265/277 volts for some commercial installations) is required for all PTAC units. The units have three amp capacities: 15, 20, and 30 amps. Most PTAC units are plugged in. However, they can also be hardwired.
Window Air Conditioners
Window units come in a variety of electrical configurations. Smaller units are usually powered by standard 110/120 volts and can be plugged into a conventional wall socket. However, 208/240 volts is required for some large models. Therefore, these machines have different plug types depending on how many amps they need.
Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner
TTW units are usually offered in 110/120 voltages and 208/240 volts. You are strongly advised to use a dedicated circuit for your through-the-wall equipment.
Central Air Conditioner
208/240 volts are required for central air conditioning units. They need to be hardwired and have their circuit. Units require anything from 15 to 60 amps depending on tons.
How Many Amps Does An Air Conditioner Use?
A central air conditioner’s size and BTU rating determine the number of amps it consumes. The current in amperes can range from 15 to 60 amps. It also runs on a voltage range of 208 to 240 volts.
How Many Amps Does a 5,000 BTU Air Conditioner Use?
A 5500 BTU air conditioner draws between 3.6 and 5.4 amps. As a result, it will mark a maximum current of a little over five amps. Furthermore, these compact units have varying levels of 115 to 125 volts. As a result, these machines can be plugged into a regular household socket.
How Many Amps Does a 6,000 BTU Air Conditioner Use?
A window air conditioner with 6,000 BTU can use between 4.35 to 6.52 amps of electricity. The higher the BTU rating, the higher the amp draw. The majority of 6,000 BTU air conditioners draw between 5 and 6 amps.
How Many Amps Does an 8,000 BTU Air Conditioner Use?
An 8000 BTU air conditioner must operate correctly with a current of between 5.8 and 8.7 amps. Furthermore, these air conditioners are mainly window or portable air conditioners.
For a room of 350 square feet, an 800 BTU air conditioner should be used.
How Many Amps Does a 9,000 BTU Air Conditioner Use?
The running current for a 9,000 BTU air conditioner requires 7 or 8 amps. However, since the motor is the most significant component in a 9,000 BTU air conditioner, the starting current needed for that motor will be anywhere from 6 to 8 times higher than the running current.
How Many Amps Does a 10,000 BTU Air Conditioner Use?
If you’re looking for a 10000 BTU air conditioner and want to know the current rating, you’ve come to the right place. The current used by a 10000 BTU air conditioner ranges from 7.3 to 10.9 amps.
How Many Amps Does a 12,000 BTU Air Conditioner Use?
On the other hand, a 12000 BTU Window Air Conditioner consumes a current of 8.7 to 13 amps. Large air conditioners like this consume more energy and require a dedicated circuit to handle the electrical current. For cooling a room of 500 to 600 square feet, a 12000 BTU air conditioner is ideal.
How Many Amps Does a 15,000 BTU Air Conditioner Use?
On average, an air conditioner consumes 12-16 amps. The BTU and the mode of operation determine the actual value. An RV’s 15,000 BTU air conditioner requires 12.5-13 amps.
Therefore, a 15,000 BTU air conditioner is ideal for an RV.
How Many Amps Does an 18,000 BTU Air Conditioner Use?
Each zone of an air conditioning system consumes 500 to 700 watts of power. That means the entire AC unit will require 27 amps of power.
Therefore, running a portable air conditioner with 18,000 BTUs, about 13-19 amps, is more amperage than is necessary.
How To Calculate The Number Of Amps An Air Conditioner Needs?
Air conditioners are typically sized based on capacity (measured in British Thermal Units or BTU for short). Here’s an example of how the size of an air conditioner is determined mainly by square footage.
- BTU to electrical power (measured in Watts)
- Watts to electrical current (measured in Amps)
Formula: AC Unit Capacity (BTU) = EER/P (in Watts)
EER stands for Energy-Efficiency Rating, which may be found on the specification sheets of air conditioners ranging from 5,000 to 18,000 BTU. The EER ranges from 8 to 12 on average
Any electrical device’s power is determined by multiplying voltage by amperage. 115V is used to power most AC units up to 15,000 BTU. As a result, if we have P (Power in Watts, which we computed with Equation 1), we can use the two equations to calculate how many amps an air conditioner requires.
Formula: AC Unit Capacity (BTU) / (EER x V) = I (in Amps) (in Volts)
Example 1: A 5,000 BTU Capacity with an EER of 10
Consider a 5,000 BTU unit with an EER of 10. We also know that the outlet’s electrical potential is 115V. So here’s how we figure out how many amps the unit needs to run.
5,000 BTU / (10 x 115V) = 4.35 Amps
The lower the amps drawn by the air conditioner, the more energy efficient it is. As a result, we’ll pay less for electricity while still getting the 5,000 BTU cooling capacity. Window air conditioners with an EER of 11 or higher are the most energy-efficient. You can find the most excellent window air conditioners here.
Example 2: A 10,000 BTU Capacity and an EER of 12
The most energy-efficient portable air conditioners can have an EER of 12 or higher. So, for example, let’s use a 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner with an EER of 12 that runs on 115 volts. It is how we can figure out how many amps a 10,000 BTU air conditioner consumes.
10,000 BTU / (12 x 115V) = 7.25 Amps
This air conditioner draws 7.25 amps to deliver 10,000 BTUs of cooling power. The 5,000 BTU AC unit from Example 1 uses 4.35 amps to deliver 5,000 BTU of cooling capacity.
Example 2’s higher-efficiency device (12 EER) provides 100 percent more cooling power than Example 1’s 5,000 BTU unit (10 EER). The energy efficiency rating is the only difference (EER).
Advice On Buying Cost-Effective Air Conditioners
When choosing a new energy-efficient air conditioner, a few crucial features will help keep your energy bill—and the temperature in your home—low.
- Engage the services of a qualified contractor. Not only will your HVAC contractor install your air conditioner, but they can also assist you with the selection process.
- Keep an eye on the SEER Rating. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio determines the efficiency of an air conditioning machine (SEER). It’s worth noting that a rating of 14 to 22 is regarded as an energy-efficient classification, so look for something in that range.
- Calculate the load on the system. The size of the air conditioner your home will require is determined by a load calculation. It is calculated by your HVAC professional (in BTUs).
People Also Ask
Is it cheaper to run a 110 or 220 air conditioner?
Although both high current and high voltage can be deadly in the event of an electric shock, the current required for a lethal electric shock could be as low as 80 milliamperes.
As a result, high wind is riskier than high voltage. 110V wires, on the other hand, are typically considered more secure and safer because they use lower voltages and can only carry half the current of 220V wires because the voltage is proportional to the amperage.
Is it safe to plug an air conditioner into an extension cord?
No buts: air conditioners should always be plugged into a properly grounded permanent outlet. The electricity consumption of air conditioners is excessive.
Although it is simple to plug equipment into extension cords, we do not recommend using an air conditioner. It is because it puts the electrical system at risk of catching fire and causing damage to the structure. Electrical fires occur when the AC’s electric current exceeds the extension cord’s capacity.
Can I plug a 115-volt air conditioner into a 110 outlet?
The standard household voltage in most homes is 120 volts. The power provider provides your home with two 120-volt wires, or legs, of electrical energy. The 120-volt cables that go to regular outlets in your walls are acceptable for 110-volt or 115-volt air conditioners.
