Why do air conditioners and refrigerators have to keep turning on and off to keep the air within a temperature range, instead of adjusting their output to maintain an exact temperature?
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They do make these type of Air conditioners, they are called “inverter compressors”. They use a different type of motor which requires a lot more electronics to run which can make them more un-reliable.
AC works basically by compressing and decompressing a coolant. You decompress (cool) on the side you want cold, allowing it to absorb heat, and compress (heat) on the side you want to dump the removed energy (heat) into.
It’s easier to develop a system to handle a single standard compression rate and pressure system than it is to develop one that can do variable rates.
Also if you find an optimal rate, it’s better to use that and just bring the temp down to the target, as opposed to using less optimal (energy inefficient) rates of compression and decompression.
I’m gonna guess you live somewhere with a cooler climate? Grew up in Texas now live in Boston and notice a vast difference in the AC technology
Well it is a case of: Do you want a $200 AC unit or a $2000 AC unit or a $20000 AC unit?
It seems like half the people here have never driven in a car before. A vehicle has multiple ways to control the cooling capacity of the A/C and has for years. It’s not some new technology. If you want that kind of control, it’s just going to be more complex, more expensive, etc.
There are inverter ACs which do exactly what you are expecting. They usually don’t shut down completely unless required. They can run variable frequencies depending on the load due to inverters.
Let me guess: you’re in the U.S.?
Because the air conditioners that you know of are the very old ones, newer ones can do what you describe as wanting them to do.
ITT: People in US not sure of air conditioning system. Not surprised considering Air conditioners were not common at all when I went. Only hot states seem to have it more commonly.
People are mentioning continuous variable speed but I recommend reverse cycle split systems, they’re basically variable speed you keep them on and they will hold the exact temperature over time and will save a lot of costs. They also make almost no noise and don’t freeze you and make you warm all the time. They are also not crazy expensive but will probably be around 500-1500.
Op, what bubble do you live in? All the refrigerators and Air conditioners I have seen are adjustable from Asia to Africa.
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