For the sake of argument and discussion, let’s use a perfectly matched, balanced, and calibrated R-410a home a/c system as an example.
Why do folks say it’s more efficient for said home a/c system to run continuously for 2 hours and then off for 5 minutes instead of cycling on/off much more often to achieve the same interior cooling setting on the thermostat? (I understand how home a/c system work, but I’d like to know why some say longer run times = greater efficiency.)
I’ve heard this claim time and again, but I’d like to know the science behind it. I live in Texas where a/c units run for hours during the day from June through September.
In: Engineering
It’s related to why 3 is usually the first speed on a fan.
It takes a lot of energy to get something like that spinning and running from a full stop, but less to just keep it going. but that initial startup takes a *lot* of power.
On top of this, full blasting your AC as hard as it can essentially go will overall be more efficient by making the house go *below* whatever setting you have set, giving you a bit of time to actually get above your set temperature and kicking back on much later. It’s much easier on the motor and compressor to just turn on once for an hour, get the house to 72 (if it’s set to like 75) then go off for a while, rather than trying to continuously turn off and on to keep it at a steady 75 exactly.
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