How Many Watts Does A 4 Ton AC Unit Use?
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A 4 ton ac unit is a unique cooling system to have in your home. But how many watts does a 4 ton ac unit use?
And is that something you need to worry about when upgrading or replacing your air conditioner?
We’ll take a closer look at the wattage a 4 ton ac unit consumes and what you can do to offset any increases in your monthly energy bill.
How Many Watts Does A 4 Ton Ac Unit Use
A 4 ton ac unit uses about 9,000 watts of power. This significantly increases from the 1,500 watts that a central air conditioner uses.
For comparison, a window air conditioner only uses about 700 watts.
The reason for this increase is the size of the compressor and the fan motor. These two components work together to move cooled air throughout your home.
A 4-ton air conditioner uses the following amount of electricity:
| SEER Rating | 4-Ton AC Average Wattage | 4-Ton AC Maximum Wattage |
|---|---|---|
| 14 SEER 4-Ton AC | 3429 Watts | 5911 Watts |
| 15 SEER 4-Ton AC | 3200 Watts | 5517 Watts |
| 16 SEER 4-Ton AC | 3000 Watts | 5172 Watts |
| 17 SEER 4-Ton AC | 2824 Watts | 4868 Watts |
| 18 SEER 4-Ton AC | 2667 Watts | 4598 Watts |
| 19 SEER 4-Ton AC | 2526 Watts | 4356 Watts |
| 20 SEER 4-Ton AC | 2400 Watts | 4138 Watts |
| 21 SEER 4-Ton AC | 2256 Watts | 3941 Watts |
| 22 SEER 4-Ton AC | 2182 Watts | 3762 Watts |
| 23 SEER 4-Ton AC | 2087 Watts | 3598 Watts |
| 24 SEER 4-Ton AC | 2000 Watts | 3448 Watts |
| 25 SEER 4-Ton AC | 1920 Watts | 3310 Watts |
How To Calculate Air Conditioner Wattage
It is easy to calculate the wattage of your air conditioner. All you need is a Nerdy tool like a Kill A Watt or a wattage meter.
If you want to be really geeky about it, you can use an online calculator like this one from the Department of Energy.
We must first distinguish between maximum wattage and average wattage:
An AC’s wattage when running at 100% cooling output is known as the maximum running wattage.
For example, an 18 SEER 3-ton air conditioner has a maximum running wattage of 3,450 watts.
Actual wattage your air conditioner consumes is known as running wattage.
The SEER rating, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, determines how many watts (on average) your air conditioner uses.
Also, the SEER rating influences this; a central air conditioner with a SEER of 13 operates at 58% cooling output (it’s a weighted average; you can find out more here about calculating the SEER rating).
Besides, the SEER rating helps us calculate the maximum wattage your AC unit can use. Follow the below calculation to find your air conditioner’s wattage:
The average wattage of an air conditioner is calculated by dividing the capacity in BTUs (the 12,000 BTU conversion factor) by the SEER rating.
Average AC Wattage (18 SEER 3-Ton) = 3 Tons × 12,000 BTU / 18 SEER = 2,000 Watts
This 18 SEER 3-ton AC will average consume 2 kWh per hour. However, during the on and off cycles, it can use 100W, 500W, 1,500W, 2,000W,3 000 watts, or even 3 450 watts but typically uses about 2000 watts.
We can calculate the maximum wattage that your air conditioner can use by multiplying the cooling capacity in BTUs (the 12,000 BTU conversion factor) by the SEER rating.
Maximum AC Wattage = Average AC Wattage / 0.58
The above example shows how to calculate the wattage of an air conditioner. However, this is only one way to do it.
Which Factors Affecting On AC Power Consumption
Multiple factors will affect the power consumption of your air conditioner. These include:
- The size of your air conditioner: An air conditioner that is too small or too large for the room will have to work harder, using more power, to maintain the desired temperature.
- Age of air conditioner: Older air conditioners are less efficient than newer models and will use more power.
- Cooling capacity: A higher cooling capacity means that more power is required to operate the unit.
- SEER rating: The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is a measure of how much cooling your air conditioner can provide per watt of power consumed. You need to know that, if the SEER rating is higher, then more efficient of the Ac.
- No of people in the room: More people in the room will generate more heat, requiring the air conditioner to work harder and use more power.
- The room temperature: A higher temperature will require the air conditioner to work harder to cool the room down, using more power.
- The insulation of Ac: Good insulation will keep the heat out, making it easier for the air conditioner to cool the room and use less power.
- Number of windows: More windows mean more heat coming into the room, making it harder for the air conditioner to maintain the desired temperature and use more power.
- The sun exposure of the room: A room exposed to direct sunlight will be warmer, making it harder for the air conditioner to maintain the desired temperature and use more power.
- The number of appliances in the room: Appliances generate heat, making it harder for the air conditioner to maintain the desired temperature and use more power.
Now that we understand how to calculate the wattage of an air conditioner.
So when you search for an air conditioner, consider all the factors that will affect its power consumption.
FAQs
How Much Power Does 4 Ton Of AC Consume?
The consumption of a four-ton air conditioner is around 4 kWh per hour. If a four-ton air conditioner consumed 12 kWh each day, the usage would be 48 per day.
It is essential to keep in mind that the size of the air conditioner is not the only factor that will affect the power consumption.
How Many Units Does AC Consume Per Hour?
It depends on the size of the AC, age of AC, cooling capacity, the SEER rating, and other factors. But A 5-star air conditioner (1.5 tons) consumes 1.6 units each hour.
Whereas a 3-star air conditioner (1.5 tons) uses 1.7 units each hour. So, a 5-star 1.5 ton AC would use 40% less power than a 3-star 1.5 ton AC.
Is It Cheaper To Run AC All Day?
Your air conditioning will last considerably longer if it is left on all day instead of being turned off. It is cheaper to run the AC all day if you have a good insulation in your house.
If you do not have good insulation, turning the AC off when you leave the house is better. So, it all depends on the insulation of your house.
Why Does AC Use So Much Electricity?
Inside the evaporator coil, the Freon is pressurized and turns from a liquid to a gas. As it evaporates, it absorbs heat from the air around it, cooling the air inside your home.
When the Freon reaches the compressor, it is turned back into a liquid so that it can start the process again. This process uses a lot of electricity.
Final Thoughts
We hope this article has helped you understand how much power an air conditioner uses and the factors that affect its power consumption.
Be sure to consider all of these factors when searching for an air conditioner.
So that you can find the most efficient model for your needs. Also, be sure to check the SEER rating to ensure that you are getting a quality air conditioner.
