Pros & cons of inverter grade aircon ( 7 FACTS EXPOSED )

Table of Contents

Before we tell you what is inverter grade aircon, benefits of inverter air conditioner, disadvantages of inverter air conditioner, is inverter aircon better, is inverter aircon worth it, inverter vs non inverter aircon power consumption and the best way to use inverter air conditioner, please allow us to explain what is an inverter first.

An inverter is a machine that’s contrary to the adapter. This is for the uninitiated is helpful converter Alternating Current into unidirectional current (AC to DC). A simple instance is a laptop adapter, cell phone charger adapter, etc. instead, inverters change DC to AC.

What does inverter grade means? In the electrical sector, the inverter is an electric circuit application. Well in the other saying, the air conditioner is one of the household devices that use a lot of power. So if you decide to install the inverter grade aircon at home, you’ll naturally pick the most efficient aircon and this is where the part of the inverter feature utilized.

Pros & cons of inverter grade aircon

What is inverter compressor?

Inverter compressor is derived from fusing two different words. Therefore, an inverter compressor can best be explained and understood by defining these words separately.

How inverter aircon works?

What is an inverter aircon? If during a warm day you select a temp of 25-degree centigrade without inverter technology, the AC mechanically turns off when room temp is below 25-degree centigrade and will working again when the temp rise above 25-degree centigrade.

This procedure will be repeated and will cause too much energy are wasted. Besides the occurrence of interference by the audio of the aircon life and death procedure over and over again cannot be prevented.

Confused? Let me explain further. Inverter aircon, the outdoor compressor has the ability to speed up or slow down. These units are different from non-inverter ones wherein the compressor only runs at one speed.

Once you switch on your aircon and you set its temperature to 25 degrees Celsius, for instance, the compressor will start to work at full speed. It is similar for both non-inverter and inverter units.

The only difference is the moment the room reaches the temperature that you want.

For non-inverter aircon units, the outside compressor is going to switch off completely. The blower unit inside the house is going to continue blowing and circulating the air.

With the compressor unit no longer turned on, the room will soon start getting warm all over again. Once it happens, the outdoor unit is going turn on at full speed all over again as well.

This start-stop operation is something that you can often hear at night and might end up disturbing your sleep.

As for inverter aircon units, the compressor unit outdoors is not going to switch off completely. It will slow down instead and use lesser power to retain the temperature.

What is a compressor?

The compressor is linked to the heart and powerhouse of an air conditioner because it is responsible for its cooling effect. It does this by converting an air conditioner’s refrigerant (which is usually in gas form) into liquid form by generating heat through compression.

What is an inverter?

An inverter is an electronic device that converts a direct current (DC) to an alternating current (AC).

An inverter compressor is a gas compressor that uses an inverter to operate. Some brands incorporate inverters into the compressor to make it quieter.

What is full dc inverter aircon

A full DC inverter air conditioner checks the temperature of your surroundings by using a processor. Then it adjusts the working of its compressor based on your surrounding’s temperature.

When the compressor needs more power, it will provide it with more power. When the compressor needs less power, a full DC inverter will provide it with less power.

Due to this setting, the compressor of your AC will keep running all the time. However, it will adjust its output based on the temperature of your surroundings. This way your AC will be able to provide different levels of heating and cooling and also save energy at the same time.

How does a full DC inverter aircon save energy?

Conventional air conditioners are always running at peak capacity & they start multiple times.

Whenever a conventional air conditioner starts, it needs an extra boost of electricity to start the compressor and motors. Since a conventional AC starts multiple times, it will consume a lot of electricity every time it starts. Moreover, running at full capacity all the time will also require a lot of electricity.

This way a conventional AC consumes too much electricity and increases your energy bill.

A full DC inverter air conditioner solves this problem. Here’s how:

  1. This AC uses low voltage to start & saves a lot of electricity consumed at the time of starting up.
  2. It doesn’t turn on & off multiple times which saves a lot of electricity.
  3. It doesn’t always work at full capacity. Instead, it adjusts the working of the compressor according to the temperature of your surroundings. When more electricity is needed, it provides more. When less electricity is needed, it provides less. This helps save a lot of electricity.

That is how a full DC inverter aircon saves energy and decreases your electricity bills.

Pros of inverter aircon  

  • Quite – since it utilized less energy, the inverter grade air conditioner will be much silence than a non inverter grade aircon. Also since the device regulates its procedures according to room temperature in its place of abruptly on/off, you’ll avoid loud start and stop sounds that happen in non-inverter air conditioners.
  • Power Efficient – the compressor is not regularly working at complete energy, as the system uses a full controlled compressor that processes at a variable pace setting. This makes the inverter grade air conditioner a much more power-efficient eco-friendly choice than a non-inverter grade air conditioner.
  • Fine investment – though costly, the inverter grade air conditioner can be considered a fine investment given its functions flexibility as well as durability. Its lifespan is very long to other option s. These functions and entire other aforementioned aspects make it affordable invert grade air conditioner system worth its high costs.

Cons of inverter aircon

  • High Energy Bills – non-inverter grade air conditioners are notorious for skyrocketing energy bills due to the start-up procedure of their aircon compressor unit. Mismanagement of AC habits could lead to uncontrollable costs in a long time.
  • Shorter-lifespan – the frequency of this air conditioner turning off/on regularly speeds up wear and tear in the unit, shortening the Inverter Grade AC lifespan.
  • Costly – As inverter air conditioners utilize the more advanced features, they’re much more costly than non-inverter aircon and they also added expenses such as big installation fees and have AC parts that are most costly to change.
  • Noisy – as the non-inverter grade, AC built to turn Off/On each time a certain temp is reached it can make a lot of sounds that might annoy somebody, particularly if working or sleeping.

How to know if aircon is inverter

The easiest and simplest way to know if your aircon is an inverter is to search for the model number of your unit. If you got an energy consumption display plug or smart plug, you can tell according to the power consumption as it changes smoothly when you lower the thermostat point.

If you don’t want to use an energy meter, you can also tell if you have an invert unit if you listen closely. In traditional non-inverter AC units, the compressor is usually off or on so it is just quiet when off or produces a pitch when running. If you noticed the-pitch of the sound that the compressor makes when you make changes in lowering the thermostat point, this means you have an inverter unit. You will find it easiest to listen to the compressor when the fan has been set to low.

Many manufacturers also clearly mark the inverter system on the unit’s body primarily for marketing purposes while the non-inverter ones often don’t have such markings.

At the end of the day, the thing you have to remember here is that the outdoor unit of an inverter AC unit will have  a change in sound and frequency levels.

When to use an inverter aircon?

If your current air conditioner is very loud and you hate it or if your current air conditioner consumes a lot of electricity & increase your electricity bills.

Then you should start using inverter air conditioners. They work very smoothly and silently. Moreover, they consume less electricity and help you save a lot of money on electricity bills.

Can inverter AC run without electricity?

No, an inverter air conditioner cannot run without electricity.

Electricity powers the whole inverter AC system & helps it start the motors and compressor.

When there will be no electricity, the inverter AC won’t be able to start its compressor and motors. Therefore, it will not be able to run.

That’s the reason why inverter AC units cannot run without electricity.

Can DC inverter AC work on low voltage?

Yes, DC inverter air conditioners can work on low voltage.

One of the best features of a DC inverter air conditioner is that it can smoothly work on voltage as low as up to 120-140 volts.

This ensures that your AC can work without any interruption despite low voltage.

Moreover, this also allows you to run your AC on solar panels, generators, or UPS having appropriate capacity.

How many electric fans are equivalent to an inverter aircon?

A fan always consumes less energy than an inverter aircon.

If a 1-ton inverter aircon (900W power) runs for 8 hours a day, then it will consume at least 7.2 kWh on daily basis.

On the other hand, if a ceiling fan (80W power) runs for 8 hours a day, then it will consume at least 0.64 kWh on daily basis.

According to this data, 11-12 ceiling fans running for 8 hours will consume the same amount of electricity consumed by a 1-ton inverted air conditioner running for 8 hours.

This shows that there’s a huge difference between the electricity consumed by a fan as compared to the electricity consumed by an inverter air conditioner.

Do I need to turn off the inverter aircon?

Yes, we recommend your turn off your inverter aircon when it is not needed.

Normally, the inverter aircon can continuously run for many days without any problem.

But it is always a good practice to turn off the inverter aircon when it is not needed. It will help you save energy and a lot of money.

Think of it yourself. What’s the purpose of keeping an inverter aircon running when there’s no one at home OR when you don’t need its cooling/heating?

It will only be a waste of energy & cost you a lot of money in the form of high electricity bills.

However, when you need the inverter AC running, you can keep it running for as long as you want.

What is difference between inverter ac and split ac?

An inverter ac and split ac are almost incomparable because the split ac has most of the features of an inverter ac but surely has some dissimilarities.

  1. Compared to an inverter ac, split ac is more affordable. Although, you might have to pay more money for maintenance.
  2. An inverter ac consumes power less than every other ac type including the split ac.

Inverter air conditioner vs conventional

For some people, it is hard to spot the differences between an inverter air-conditional and the conventional type. Some might even tell you simply that one is new and the other is old. Here, I will explain to you the technical differences between the two.

  1. An inverter air-conditional has a controllable compressor unit which makes it possible for users to easily regulate room temperature i.e you can easily switch from maximum to minimum level. Whereas, conventional air conditioning on the other hand has no such function. It can only operate at its highest level or switched off.
  2. Inverter air-conditional reduced energy consumption because it can be fully regulated. While conventional air conditioning can cause excessive use you energy.
  3. Inverter air-conditional produces less noise compared to a conventional air conditioner.
  4. Compared to conventional air-conditional, inverter air conditional is more expensive.

Inverter vs non inverter window type aircon

Here are some likely differences between an inverter air conditioner and none inverter window type air conditional

  1. Installation and removal of window air conditioning is easy and can be done with little or no extra charges. While installation and removal of inverter Air conditioning can be a little bit complicated and can attract charges.
  2. Another key difference between the two is the speed at which they both work. An inverter air conditioner cools the room faster than a non-inverter window air conditioner.

Inverter vs non inverter aircon power consumption

When the time comes that you need to get a new air conditioner unit for your home, two of the most popular choices that you can find in the market right now are the non-inverter and inverter air conditioner.

Air conditioners are your go-to appliance when the days get warmer. There are millions of air conditioner units sold every year and average households allot over 10% of their utility bills on these cooling systems alone.

This leads to the common issue on choosing the right unit for you. There are different factors that could affect your decision. However, one of the most critical things you need to consider before you buy one is the inverter vs. non inverter aircon power consumption.

These two systems both excel when it comes to their performance. They also provide the same function as far as cooling is concerned. However, the compressor motors that the units use are different and as a result, you can expect that their power consumption will also be different.

Power Consumption of Inverter and Non-Inverter Air Conditioner Units

The power consumption of inverter AC units is found to be 5% up to 10% lower compared to that of conventional non-inverter AC systems.

Based on the data from Amazon and BEE website, an inverter Whirlpool 1 Ton Split AC consumes 712 kWh while a non-inverter one uses 758 kWh, with a power consumption difference of almost 40%.

Meanwhile, a non-inverter Whirlpool 1.5 Ton Split AC uses up 1,106 kWh unlike its inverter counterpart that only consumes 1,071 kWh. With these figures, you can see that there is a difference of up to 4% in terms of power consumption of the two AC units.

How Does a Non-Inverter AC Work

As mentioned earlier, the specific type of compressor used is the only difference between a non-inverter AC and an inverter AC. The rest of their components are pretty much the same. To understand the inverter vs. non inverter aircon power consumption, you need to know how a non-inverter AC works.

These units have been designed to provide peak load performance. It has one speed compressor running at maximum speed every time cooling is required that shuts down once the room turns cold. This single stage compressor cannot adjust its tonnage and speed depending on the cooling demand.

This means that in conventional non-inverter ACs, the compressor tends to start and stop frequently and run at their maximum speed all the time. These frequent starts and stops can further increase your AC’s power consumption since more current is required for starting the compressor compared to running it.

While non-inverter air conditioner units are cheaper and need very easy compressor maintenance if they malfunction, they also consume more power than inverter AC units of the same size. Cooling of rooms is also not uniformed, so the room temperature can become too hot or cold for the body all of a sudden.

Now that you know the difference of inverter vs. non inverter aircon power consumption, it is easy to see that you will be better off with an inverter AC, especially if you want to save on your energy bills.

Is inverter aircon better?

Yes, an inverter aircon is better. However, they are usually expensive and that’s a thing you have to deal with.

Is inverter AC good for the living room?

Yes, an inverter air conditioner is an excellent choice for a living room.

Here are the reasons why:

  1. Inverter AC works silently. It won’t disturb you with loud noises and provide nonstop effective cooling and heating.
  2. Inverter AC works by consuming less electricity. This way you save money due to low energy bills.
  3. Inverter AC units are very effective. They’ll provide you with superb cooling or heating all the time.

How many hours to use inverter aircon to save electricity?

An inverter air conditioning should be operated for at most 8 hours per day to help save electricity bills.

How much can you save with an inverter aircon?

You can save up to 40% to 50% on electricity bills if you have one DC inverter air conditioner running in normal condition.

Similarly, if you have a 3 or 4 DC air conditioner running at normal condition, then you can save up to 60% on electricity bills.

By running at normal conditions, we mean that the AC temperature is not set to an extreme point. If you’ll set the temperature for extreme cooling or heating, then you may not be able to do huge savings.

How many hours do you need to operate an inverter air conditioner for it to be efficient?

There’s a common myth that you need to run your inverter aircon for 8 hours so it can be efficient. But that’s wrong.

An inverter aircon will start working efficiently the moment it starts.

We recommend you not to constantly turn your inverter air conditioner ON & OFF. Instead, you should let the AC run until you need its cooling or heating. This way they use less energy and are more efficient.

How to properly use an inverter aircon?

You can get the best out of your inverter aircon if you put it to proper use by scheduling its usage period. You can do this by switching your ac on 20 to 15 min earlier before you need it. Then use the ON and OFF timing option on your inverter ac and set it to 25c. Then you go to bed and switch the ac off after you wake up.

How to set a timer on the Condura inverter aircon?

Condura inverter air conditioner allows you to set a timer per 0.5 hours (30 minutes) interval.

Here’s how you can set a timer:

  1. Take the remote controller in your hand & press the clock button.
  2. The LCD screen of the remote control should display “Timer ON”.
  3. Now press the UP & DOWN arrow buttons and set the time after which the air conditioner will turn off. For example, if you want to turn off the AC after 5 hours, then you will set the hours to 5.
  4. Once you have set the timer, then wait for a few seconds & the new settings will activate.  

That’s how you can automatically turn your air conditioner ON & OFF. It will help you save electricity & money.

How to turn on an inverter air conditioner without a remote?

There are 4 ways to turn on an inverter air conditioner without a remote:

1. Use the power button of the indoor unit

Most of the inverter air conditioners have a power button connected to the indoor unit.

It might be installed separately on the wall or it might be installed somewhere on the indoor unit.

You can simply press it to turn your inverter air conditioner ON & OFF without a remote.

2. Use the mobile app

Modern inverter air conditioners can also be controlled with smartphones.

Most inverter air conditioners have mobile apps that you can download and then connect your phone with the AC.

This way your phone will work like a remote & you will have complete control of the AC in your hand.

Some AC can also be connected to smartphones with Bluetooth and then you can control them.

3. The home control center

If you have some sort of smart home control system installed, then you can also use it to turn your air conditioner ON & OFF.

It can also help you connect the inverter AC with your phone and control it remotely.

4. Circuit breaker

If you always run your inverter air conditioner at a fixed temperature only then you can get a circuit breaker installed.

This way you can turn the inverter air conditioner ON & OFF with a single button.

You don’t have to worry about the remote getting lost or damaged, etc.

Which gas is best for inverter AC?

R-410A is the most common gas which is used for inverter air conditioner systems.

Experts say that this refrigerant gas is Ozone-Friendly as it does not cause any significant ozone depletion. Moreover, R-410A gas is also good in terms of efficiency and energy savings.

But the downside of this gas is that it can potentially cause global warming.

Can inverter AC heat the room in winter?

Yes, an inverter air conditioner can heat the room in winter.

These days, there are a lot of modern DC inverter air conditioners that come with both heating and cooling options.

You can use them for heating your room in winter.

How to convert inverter AC to the heater?

If your inverter air conditioner has both heating and cooling options, then you can easily convert it into a heater with a single button click.

You can check for the mode button on the remote control. Set your AC into heating mode and it will start working as a heater.

However, different models & brands have different methods for turning on the heating mode. So, we recommend you follow the instructions given on the user manual of your air conditioner to do it correctly.

But if your inverter AC does not support heating mode, then it won’t be possible to convert it into a heater.

How inverter AC works as a heater?

The heating mechanism of an inverter AC is exactly the reverse of the cooling mechanism.

The inverter AC contains a refrigerant.

When the refrigerant is compressed, it converts into a very high-pressure and hot gas. Now, this refrigerant passes through a condenser (which is a very long tube present in the outdoor unit outside your house).

During this process, the heat starts dissipating from the refrigerant into the environment with the help of a fan.

When most of the refrigerant’s heat is lost, it converts back into a liquid. This way the heat stays outside your house.

To produce heating, this entire process of heat transfer is reversed with the help of a reversing valve.

When your inverter AC is working in heating mode, the reversing valve flips. As a result, the direction of refrigerant flow also reverses. When the direction of refrigerant flow reverses, hot air starts coming into your house and cold air is pumped outside.

That’s how an inverter air conditioner works as a heater.

It does not use energy to produce heat. Rather, it just reverses the cooling process. The heat that was going outside during cooling now starts moving inside. Whereas, the cold air that was moving inside during cooling, now starts moving outside during heating.

How to change normal AC to inverter AC?

Converting a normal non-inverter air conditioner into an inverter air conditioner is a very complicated and technical process that can cost you a lot of money.

Non-inverter air conditioners have an AC motor compressor with a fixed speed.

You will have to replace it with a DC motor compressor having variable speed.

To do this, you will also have to replace the electronic circuitry board of your non-inverter AC with a new electronic circuitry board that supports a variable-speed DC motor compressor and runs it properly.

Moreover, you will also have to do some other technical replacements.

This whole process is not a cakewalk at all. It is very complicated & requires a lot of time and money.

Even after doing all these replacements, there is still no guarantee that your AC will now work smoothly like a proper inverter AC. You may still not get the same benefits & features as a factory-built inverter air conditioner.

We recommend you replace your normal non-inverter air conditioner with a new inverter air conditioner. It will cost you less than that tedious conversion. The idea of converting a normal air conditioner into an inverter air conditioner is very costly, time-consuming, unreliable, and ineffective. 

Final words

Is inverter aircon better? Yes. As the outcome of using Inverter grade aircon technology, this is the finest choice for saving power. Even it is more costly than the usual choices, it can save your money and energy in a long time because the energy bills lower if utilized in the proper place. Does inverter ac need stabilizer? You will find out soon.

We also strongly recommend you to learn single split vs multi split air conditioners.

Inverter grade aircon faq

How do you determine if your aircon is an inverter ac?

For a non-inverter AC, the compressor is either off or on so only 1 pitch or quiet. If you hear the pitch of the compressor makes changes so you lesser the thermostat set point it is an inverter unit. It will be simplest to listen to the compressor if you fix the fan to low.

How long does it take for a inverter grade aircon to cool a room?

If the required temperature is twenty-five degrees, the inverter AC being slow at the begin will take one hrs to bring down the temperature, whereas the regular air conditioner using full power will do that in, let’s say twenty minutes, surely, the regular aircon as the compressor needs to do a lesser job in cooling.

Which inverter grade aircon is the best?

The Daikin aircon is a ductless mini-split inverter AC with a heat pump system. If you are looking for a unit that chills down your home professionally, with as little noise as easy, then this is the one for you. It has a complete angle lover design and auto swing with a relax mode that make sure that cooling or heating is done perfectly, all for your relaxation and comfort.

What is the best temperature for inverter grade aircon?

If the ambient temperature is thirty degrees celsius, the perfect temperature would be around twenty-six degrees. Lower the temperature, the compressor runs longer and uses more energy, and the higher the temperature, little runs for the compressor.

Is inverter grade aircon good for home use?

It is best to use at home. It has top performance, efficient chilling capacity, quicker cooling time. Though the price is on a higher range, the additional cost can be recovered within a few months due to the lower working cost.

Is inverter grade aircon a wise decision for office?

Is inverter aircon worth it? An inverter aircon represents the open-air compressor that can speed up or reduce speed. Non-inverter work different, where the compressor can just run at one speed. When you start your aircon and fix the temperature to twenty-six for your office, the compressor begins working at full speed. No, doubt, the best choice for your office.

Does inverter grade aircon require more maintenance?

An inverter air condition consists of extremely durable circuitry and a relatively top number of moving parts, so the maintenance of inverter ac is high.

Do inverter grade aircon cut off?

An inverter AC does not cut off the compressor, instead, runs the compressor at less power after getting the set temperature. Thus saving up to forty percent on power bills.

Should I buy inverter grade aircon?

An inverter grade aircon is better suited for one’s house if the duration for which the AC would be in operation is greater than 4 hours per day.

Can I run my inverter grade aircon 24 hours per day?

Well, because it is warmer outside, it is normal for a grade inverter aircon to run without cycling off and on as often. Also, running with fewer cycles (turning off and on) is not necessarily a bad thing.

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