Cheaper to run 2 110 air conditioners or 1 220?

Answer 1

Whoever wrote this answer has the math correct, I will admit it. 220 volt circuit is two 110 volt circuits put together. 110+110=220. As seen below in the following equation, the 220 unit and 110 unit use the same amount of wattage, if you double the 110 volts amperage use. 220 volt circuits are used with major appliances such as air conditioners, dryers and electric oven/ranges for this reason. The amount of current they draw (amperage). The reason behind using a 220 volt circuit verses the 110 is the wire size needed to carry the amount of current used. It comes down to the cost of wiring and that is it. In the equation below the 220 volt/10 amp unit would only use 14 gauge wire. The 110 unit would have to use a larger gauge wire to perform the same function with 12 gauge wire. The larger the gauge number, the smaller the wire, thus less the cost. Sorry to say there is no cost difference to operate a 110 A/C to a 220 unit. Unlike the statement made below, it will take you forever to see the cost difference in your electric bill as you will be using the same amount of power for both. If the fellow below does not believe me, try this on for size. Take amp meter to L1 and view the use. Then take a second amp meter and view the use of L2. Now that you have simotaneous readings, add them together. See, no savings at all. A 220 Volt appliance uses half of the current that a 110 Volt appliance does. Your house power starts with 220V with neutral phase grounded. 110V is obtained from either one of the 220v wires and neutral. Your meter measures current at the 220V rate. If you use a 220V appliance your meter will record power used. If you use the half voltage of 110V you will have to double the current to obtain the same power output. Your meter will record double what you are actually using. Your circuit panel is laid out for two 110V circuits and their combined 220V. Orginal layout of your house wiring was a gusse at trying to pair 110V devices that may be on simultaniously. This helps ballance the two 110V circuits and gives a truer reading on the meter. In addition to this meter error are current losses. The more current the more loss! example: 220V X 10A = 2200W or 110V X 20A = 2200w So the 220V appliance is a winner in both cases. DEFINETLY ENERGY EFFICIENT ! The catch is you need a 220V outlet installed. Depending on your cost for the outlet it may take an few extra months to realize a savings.

Answer 2

The EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) of an air conditioner is BTUH (British Thermal Units per Hour) divided by watts. (A good EER is greater than 13.0) Actually, the best measure is the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) which is the EER measured over the entire cooling season. Given equal BTUH and EER, both air conditioners would use the same kw. If one operated at 110, it would use twice as many amps as the one at 220, with the same effective power, so the end result would be the same. However, you have to consider if the two air conditioners are fighting each other, i.e. one is off while the other is on due to inequal thermostats, and you have to consider the power factor, as kw is not the same as kvar (kilo volt-amps). You also need to consider that each air conditioner needs a dedicated circuit, so you are committed to two circuits with two air conditioners, and you might as well put in a single 220 for one air conditioner It is probably best, and cheaper, to run one big air conditioner on 220, unless you intend to cool two separate spaces, as the purchase price per BTUH is not linear. The added cost of running 220 is not that large in comparision to the price, but you need to shop around and look at the big picture. (But don't forget the "fighting" issue - that would definitely impact things.)

Answer 3

It wont save you much at all this is more the type of wiring used.

anonymous@oola.com