How Many Watts Does A 12000 BTU AC Use?

Knowing your AC’s power consumption in watts is crucial for calculating electricity costs and sizing your electrical system correctly. Operating an oversized air conditioner without adequate wiring can lead to circuit overloads, fires, and other safety risks.

In this article, we’ll explain how many watts does a 12,000 BTU AC use, and the determining process. We’ll also cover the conversion from BTU to watts, factors that influence power draw like efficiency ratings, operating modes, and voltage, as well as maintenance tips.

How Many Watts Does A 12000 BTU Ac Use?

A 12,000 BTU air conditioner uses around 1,200 to 1,500 watts depending on its Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). The higher the EER, the more efficient the AC unit is, consuming fewer watts for the same cooling capacity. The exact wattage of the air conditioner depends on the manufacturer and model of the unit.

The Consumption Rate For A 12000 BTU AC:

Conditions	Watts
Moderate Use	900 Watts or Less
Every Day Use	More Than 900 Watts
Every Day Rough Use	Up to 1350 Watts

How To Determine The Watts For An Air Conditioner?

We have three separate techniques to calculate the wattage consumption rate for any air conditioner. It will clearly indicate the fingers to the potential wattage.

Find Out The Wattage

You only have to check out Watt’s specification sheet. Here you will get the wattage consumption rate, which is the power of the AC, in Watts. 

In the same section, you will also find the voltage of the AC in Volts and also the amperage of it in Ampers.

It will specifically mention the wattage that the AC is going to consume.

Check Out The Volts And Ampers

What if the spec sheet doesn’t mention the wattage? Yes, it can happen. Sometimes, some brands don’t include the wattage and prove only the Volts or Ampers.

For instance, you have an air conditioner; its specification sheet reads that it takes 10 Ampers and 120 Volts to function. 

• Here, the simple equation for wattage from volts and ampers is: Wattage = Volts (x) Ampers

• So, 10 Ampers (x) 120 Volts = 1200 wattage. 

You have found out the wattage that your air conditioner will consume.

Use The EER And BTU Ratings

If nothing of the above help you, you still have another option available. Yes, you can simply find out the wattage for any particular AC using these two ratings.

Take an air conditioner, for instance, that is 5000 BTU and has an EER rating of 10. The simple equation for wattage out of it is: Divide BTU by the EER rating.

So, the Wattage here is-5000 BTU/10 EER = 500 wattages. 

Calculate The Wattage For A 12000 BTU AC

With the equations given above, anyone can do the math now. All we need is the BTU and EER rating.

Consider The BTU

British Thermal Unit or simply BTU is a measurement unit for measuring the energy consumption rate.

It simply indicates, the amount of energy, that your AC will consume, per hour, to remove the heat from any given space.

BTU is a crucial statistic that may help you choose the right air conditioner for the size of your house, even if it may seem unnecessarily complex.

As you already know, 1 ton stands for 12000 BTU.

Consider The EER

As far as the EER rating is concerned, we all want to cool down our houses from the summer heat wave.

In the same way, no one will ever dissent that we need the best air conditioner in terms of energy efficiency. 

The EER meaning the Energy Efficiency Rating just indicates the efficiency of an AC in terms of energy saving.

Most of the 12000 BTU window air conditioners come with either an EER rating of 10 or 13.

Do The Math

Your 12000 BTU window Air conditioner’s EER rating is 10. So, the wattage will be 12000 BTU/EER 10 = 1200 wattage.

Now, if the EER rating is 13, the Wattage will be 12000 BTU/EER 13 = 913 wattage.

Take a 3-ton AC with an EER rating of 13. What will be the wattage of this AC?

3 tons simply means (3 x 12000 = 36000 BTU) AC. The wattage will be “BTU divided by the EER rating. 36000 BTU/13 EER = 2769 wattage.

How Much Will A 12000 BTU Ac Add To The Electricity Bill?

If you are using your AC for 8 hours a day. Let’s say, the wattage is 1050.  So, you are using 1050 (x) 8 = 8400 watt-hours every day. 

8400 watts are equal to 8400 watt-hours per day / 1000 = 8.4 kWh per day. In a month, the consumption is 12 x 8.4 kWh per day = 100.8 kWh per day.

So, the monthly cost for it will be 100.8 kWh per day (x) 11 cents = 1109 cents = $11.

Thus, in the given circumstances, it will cost you an average of $11 monthly and $132 yearly for moderate use. 

When it comes to calculating how much a 12,000 BTU air conditioner will add to your electricity bill, there are a few factors to consider. These include:

Energy Efficiency

The more energy-efficient your air conditioner is, the less it will add to your electricity bill.

Look for units with a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, as these are designed to operate more efficiently and consume less energy.

Usage

The more you use your air conditioner, the more it will contribute to your electricity bill. If you only use it occasionally, the impact on your bill will be minimal.

If you use it frequently or for extended periods, your electricity bill will be higher.

Local Electricity Rates

Electricity rates vary by location, so the cost of running your air conditioner will depend on where you live.

Be sure to check with your local utility provider to get an accurate estimate of your electricity costs.

FAQs about how many watts a 12000 BTU ac use

Final Words

When purchasing an air conditioner, that is a question that is frequently asked is how many watts a 12000 BTU ac use. It is indeed a legit question to ask.

So, the typical answer is-when operating every day, a 12000 BTU air conditioner builds up around 900 watts per hour. 

For rigorous use or based on other factors like SEER rating, you may have to count more watts and pay more consequently.

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