Summer is in full swing, which means hot, sticky weather for many of us. If you’re like me, the thought of turning on the oven or stovetop makes you break out into a sweat.
A portable air conditioner can be a lifesaver during these summer months. But before you run out and buy one, you may be wondering: how many watts does a portable AC use?
Portable AC Wattage
It is essential to know how many watts your portable AC uses. This will enable you to understand how much power you are consuming and whether or not you need to upgrade your electrical system.
Watts measures the energy consumption rate and is calculated by multiplying the voltage by the current.
Portable AC wattage refers to the power consumption of your portable air conditioner. In other words, portable ac wattage is the amount of power your portable air conditioner uses. The higher the wattage, the more power your air conditioner consumes.
Portable air conditioners have a portable wattage that ranges from 754W to 1480W. However, the average portable wattage for most portable units is 1175W.
To calculate the wattage of your portable air conditioner, you need to know two things: the voltage of your AC unit and the amperage. Once you have this information, you can multiply the voltage by the amperage to get the wattage.
For example, if your portable AC has a voltage of 120 volts and an amperage of 15 amps, it would have a wattage of 1800 watts.
It is also crucial to note that not all portable air conditioners are created equal. Some units may have a higher wattage than others. This is due to various factors, including the size of the unit, the type of compressor, and the efficiency rating.
How Many Watts Does a Portable AC Use?
The thought of purchasing a portable air conditioner might be urging, but before you do, ask yourself how much power does a portable AC use? You don’t want an appliance that will put a serious dent in your electricity bill.
A typical central air conditioner uses about 3500 watts of power to give you some perspective. So if you’re looking at a portable air conditioner that uses 1000 watts, it’s using about one-third the amount of power as a central A/C unit. That’s not too bad!
Now, let’s take a closer look at how many watts a portable AC use. Most people believe that since they are small and compact, they must use very little energy.
However, this is not always the case. A portable air conditioner typically uses about 940 watts of power. However, some models can use as little as 900 watts or as much as 1650 watts.
Portable air conditioners also consume electricity while switched off but plugged in. However, they do not consume as much power (1 to 6 Watts) during this period as when they are turned on and running.
However, a portable air conditioner’s amount of power depends on specific models and features. For example, a unit with a built-in dehumidifier will use more power than one without this feature. Additionally, units with higher BTUs (British Thermal Units) will also use more power.
When considering the purchase of a portable air conditioner, be sure to check the power consumption rating so you can estimate your increased electricity costs.
Also, make sure to choose an Energy Star certified model; models that have this certification use about 20% less energy than other models. There are several energy-efficient portable air conditioners available at Amazon. A good example is this one here.
So, how can you determine how much power your portable air conditioner is using? The first step is to check the appliance’s manual or look for an energy label.
This label will list the wattage of the unit and other important information such as the BTU rating and annual cost to operate.
Low Wattage Portable Air Conditioners
Low-wattage portable air conditioners are becoming increasingly popular as people look for ways to reduce their energy consumption. These units typically use about 600-700 watts of power.
They are ideal for smaller spaces such as dorm rooms or apartments. In addition, low-wattage portable air conditioners are excellent choices for RVs, campers, and boats. These units are powerful and are designed to be efficient, still providing the cooling power you need.
Nonetheless, a low-wattage portable air conditioner doesn’t mean that it adds to the unit’s efficiency. Some low-wattage units are less effective than the medium-wattage and high-wattage units.
Some of the most popular low-wattage portable air conditioners are made by Honeywell, Whynter, and Black + Decker. These units typically range in price from $200-$400. So, be sure to do your research before making a purchase.
If you’re looking for an even more energy-efficient option, consider the Honeywell MN12CESBB. This unit uses about 700 watts of power and has a BTU rating of 12000. It also features a remote control, digital display, and three fan speeds.
How Much Electricity Does a Portable Air Conditioner Use?
Kwh and portable air conditioners, a common measurement of electricity usage, are in kilowatt-hours. A kilowatt-hour is simply a measure of how much electricity you use over time. In terms of portable air conditioners, the unit will use X amount of watts per hour.
We will give you a detailed summary of how much electricity a portable airconditioner uses in an hour, a day, and a month to give you more insight. The average time most people run their portable air conditioners is 10 hours a day.
A portable Ac uses 1.176kWh of electricity in one hour, equivalent to 11.76 kWh in one day. It uses 35.28kWh over a month.
Now that we know how much electricity portable air conditioners use let’s break down what this means in terms of cost. The cost of running a portable air conditioner depends on the unit’s wattage and the price you pay for electricity per kilowatt-hour.
For example, if you have a portable air conditioner that uses 800 watts and you pay $0.15 per kilowatt-hour, it would cost you $0.12 per hour to run the AC. If you use it for ten hours a day, that’s $12 per day or $360 for a month.
The bottom line is that the cost of running a portable air conditioner depends on how much electricity it uses and how much you pay for electricity.
Do Portable Air Conditioners Use a Lot of Electricity?
Yes, portable air conditioners use a lot of electricity. Compared to many other household appliances, portable air conditioners consume much power.
Some large portable air conditioners can use over 1.48kWh of power per hour. That is more than some air conditioners that are installed in homes!
So, if you are looking to save on your energy bill, a portable air conditioner may not be the best option for you.
However, there are a few things that you can do to reduce the amount of electricity that your portable air conditioner uses. One thing is to make sure that the unit is properly insulated.
Another thing is only to run the unit when it is necessary. Finally, ensure to turn off the unit when you are not using it. By following these simple tips, you can help reduce the amount of electricity your portable air conditioner uses.
Portable Air Conditioner Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency in a portable air conditioner is the ability of the unit to use less energy to do the same thing. For example, a more energy-efficient portable air conditioner uses less electricity to cool your home than a less-efficient model.
Several factors determine the energy efficiency of your portable air conditioner. These key factors are; the British Thermal Unit (BTU), CEER, room size, EER, and power consumption of your unit.
Understanding how these different factors affect your air conditioner’s energy efficiency is essential. A clear understanding of these factors will help you make an informed decision when choosing a new unit.
Portable Air Conditioner BTU
The British Thermal Unit (BTU) measures how much heat a portable air conditioner can remove from a room in an hour. The higher the BTUs, the larger the room that can be cooled.
When it comes to portable air conditioners, there are two common listed BTU ratings; the ASHRAE and DOE SACC.
ASHRAE
ASHRAE stands for American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. The ASHRAE BTU is the most common way portable air conditioners are rated in North America. The ASHRAE BTU is based on the cooling capacity of the unit in British Thermal Units per hour (BTUs/hr).
DOE SACC
DOES SACC is the Department of Energy Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio Cooling Capacity acronym. The DOE SACC considers how much heat a portable air conditioner can remove from a room and how much electricity it will use.
The resulting number is called the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the portable air conditioner.
For most portable air conditioners, the BTU will range from about 8000 BTUs to 14000 BTUs(ASHRAE). Units with 14000 BTUs are recommended for rooms up to 550 square feet, while units with 8000 BTUs are recommended for 350 square feet.
Portable Air Conditioner Room Size
Room size for a portable air conditioner is defined as the amount of space the unit can effectively cool. But this is not a precise number as there are other important factors to consider, such as ceiling height, insulation, and heat-generating appliances in the room.
When choosing a portable air conditioner, it is important to select one that is the right size for the room you want to cool. If you choose a too-small unit, it will have to work harder and run longer to cool the room, using more electricity and costing you more money.
Consequently, if you choose a too-large unit, it will cool the room too quickly and then shut off before it can remove all the humidity from the air. This can leave your room feeling damp and sticky.
The room size for most portable air conditioners ranges from 200 to 700 square feet. But again, this is only an estimate, and you should take other factors into account to get an accurate cooling capacity for your specific needs. For rooms exceeding 700 sq ft, consider getting wall or window ac units.
Portable Air Conditioner SEER
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is a rating system used to measure the efficiency of air conditioners. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the air conditioner.
Unlike the wall and window air conditioners, SEER is not commonly listed in the product specifications for portable air conditioners.
Portable Air Conditioner EER
EER stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio and is a rating system used to measure the efficiency of air conditioners. The higher the EER rating, the more efficient the air conditioner.
Most portable air conditioning units have an EER that ranges from about 1.57 to 12.2. The EER rating of a portable air conditioner is usually lower than the SEER rating. This is because portable air conditioners are not as well insulated as other air conditioners.
The EER is attained by dividing the AC unit BTU rating by the unit’s wattage. For example, if a portable air conditioner has a BTU rating of 8000 and a wattage of 900, the EER would be calculated as follows:
8000 BTU/900 watts = 8.89
Portable Air Conditioner CEER
The combined Energy Efficiency Ratio measures how well a portable air conditioner uses energy. The higher the CEER, the more efficient the portable AC unit is. Most portable ACs have a CEER ranging from 1.60 to 14.7.
CEER combines on, standby, and off-time energy consumption into one efficiency ratio calculation. This allows it to give a more accurate portrayal of how much energy a portable air conditioner uses. To calculate CEER, divide the BTU per hour (BTU/h) by the wattage.
Conclusion
There are several factors to consider when purchasing a portable air conditioner. The size of the unit, the features offered, and the price are all important factors. However, one of the most important factors is how much power the unit will use.
Most portable ac units use between 940 and 1650 watts of power. The amount of power that a unit uses will affect your electric bill.
If you are concerned about how much your electric bill will increase, you should check out different portable ac units and get one that uses less power.