![]() ![]() For a central air conditioning unit, a 240-volt outlet would be standard, while for a window-unit air conditioner, a 110-volt outlet would be used. You can take the amp number and multiply it by the outlet voltage needed to power the system you have. You can generally assume these amperage values for purposes of rough calculation: A 4-ton unit = 21 amps, a 3-ton unit = 18 amps and a 2-ton unit = 15 amps. The same formulas and equations can be used to get specific, too, since your air conditioner should have a label that shows things like amperage, volts, watts and other factors you need to consider. It’s possible to do rough calculations of how much energy an air-conditioning system uses and how much it costs. The amount you need, and will end up using, depends on many different factors, such as the size and configuration of your home and your personal preferences. A watt is basically one joule of energy per second.Simply put, a volt expresses how much potential energy there is between two points on a wire. ![]() ![]() An ampere describes how much electricity is flowing past a certain point.To figure costs, you also need to know about amperes, watts and volts. For example, a 3-ton unit would generate 36,000 BTUs of cooling power.Įlectricity gives the air conditioning unit the power it needs to generate the cooling BTUs, and how much electricity you are using is expressed as kilowatts per hour (kWh). One ton is equal to 12,000 BTUs, so you can calculate the cooling power your unit should have. A single BTU is basically how much energy your air conditioner uses to reduce the temperature of one pound of water by one degree F. BTU stands for British thermal unit, and is a standard expression of an air conditioner’s cooling power. The expression “ton” hearkens back to when we measured refrigeration in terms of how many tons of ice it could freeze in a day. Tonnage and BTUs Count Toward Cost and PerformanceĪir conditioning capacity is measured in tons and BTUs. An all-important motor runs the compressor to generate the energy to turn the fan, push the coolant and propel the air, among other things. A compressor pump sends the refrigerant back outside to the condenser coil, which condenses it from a gas back to a liquid, which drains into a pan. The resulting cool, dehumidified air is then blown through the vents to keep you comfortable.Īs the refrigerant works, it changes from a liquid to a gas. Cooling the air usually involves increased air flow and perhaps a mechanism, process or feature that makes the air feel cooler.Īn air conditioner draws in outside air and runs it over super-cooled evaporator coils that contain refrigerant, and those work together to extract heat and humidity from the air. True conditioned air results from a combination process that involves both cooling the air and removing the humidity from it. Both involve air flow and feeling better, so it’s easy to think of them as the same thing, but there are distinct differences between the two. One basic, often-misunderstood fact is that there is a scientific difference between cooling air and conditioning it, as well as what happens with your body during both processes. The air conditioning bill in summer is the electricity bill in Florida, and just about all options except for the natural breeze have a cost attached. It can literally pay to know your cooling options, what each option entails, how different systems work, average consumption and costs, basic operations and what is not recommended. This figure has probably grown since then. About 27% of Floridians’ electricity usage is the air conditioner, and the annual expense for their electricity in 2009 averaged nearly $2,000. Any Floridian can benefit from a little AC education, because it’s the first step toward a lower electric bill in summer.Īnnual electricity expenses in Florida are 40% higher than in the rest of the United States. Some families sacrifice a lot to stay cool during the long summers, and people normally run their systems from April through September. Dollars used for cooling a home in Florida can make up a significant part of the home budget. The cost to run an air conditioner in Florida can present a challenge for any household, and shows up as kilowatt hours (kWh) used per day and per month. Warm winters, sandy Atlantic and Gulf beaches, natural features, friendly people and many other things about the Sunshine State draw residents, and as different as everyone and their lifestyles may be, they all share a few things in common: The heat and a constant quest in the summer to feel cool, yet not break the budget. People flock to Florida for its beauty and unique way of life that includes such a broad variety of characteristics across the state. ![]()
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