I have a simple question.

When someone buys an inverter air conditioner, is the main reason to save electricity, or mainly to avoid the frequent compressor startups of a traditional AC?

In other words, should we think of inverter AC primarily as an energy-saving technology, or as a way to eliminate on/off cycling and high starting current?

I would be interested to hear opinions

My understanding is that it is an energy saving tech and it achieves that saving by eliminating the ON/OFF cycling. Regulating motor speed instead of cycling on/off, they significantly reduce electricity consumption

1 hour ago, esmail-kassir said:

In other words, should we think of inverter AC primarily as an energy-saving technology

Yes, controlling cooling to match a setpoint is more energy efficient than hunting for it with on and off cycles.

42 minutes ago, hoohloc said:

significantly reduce electricity consumption

I am not sure how much "significant" would be. Running at 100% loading, an inverter AC won't be more efficient than conventional. Both inverter ACs and conventional ACs are power hungry devices that should be used as little as possible.

1 hour ago, frivan said:

Yes, controlling cooling to match a setpoint is more energy efficient than hunting for it with on and off cycles.

I am not sure how much "significant" would be. Running at 100% loading, an inverter AC won't be more efficient than conventional. Both inverter ACs and conventional ACs are power hungry devices that should be used as little as possible.

I have a older normal 12k btu AC and a new 12k inverter, the difference in power usage under the same conditions is about 1600w vs 900w .

Edited March 16Mar 16 by Demo
spelling

47 minutes ago, Demo said:

I have a older normal 12k btu AC and a new 12k inverter, the difference in power usage under the same conditions is about 1600w vs 900w .

In summer (cooling only) yes, but if you use it to heat a room in winter, the figures will be a little different. That's my experience in anycase. I decided to install an 18000BTU TCL inverter aircon in my home office, and was so impressed with its efficiency that I installed another 24000BTU TCL inverter in my living room, all on a baby 5K Sunsynk inverter. Both worked well during the summer and I have used both simultaneously for many hours. I did some testing on the heating side though, and it consumes about 10-25% more power, all depending on a number of factors.

10 minutes ago, Yellow Measure said:

In summer (cooling only) yes, but if you use it to heat a room in winter, the figures will be a little different. That's my experience in anycase. I decided to install an 18000BTU TCL inverter aircon in my home office, and was so impressed with its efficiency that I installed another 24000BTU TCL inverter in my living room, all on a baby 5K Sunsynk inverter. Both worked well during the summer and I have used both simultaneously for many hours. I did some testing on the heating side though, and it consumes about 10-25% more power, all depending on a number of facto

11 minutes ago, Yellow Measure said:

In summer (cooling only) yes, but if you use it to heat a room in winter, the figures will be a little different. That's my experience in anycase. I decided to install an 18000BTU TCL inverter aircon in my home office, and was so impressed with its efficiency that I installed another 24000BTU TCL inverter in my living room, all on a baby 5K Sunsynk inverter. Both worked well during the summer and I have used both simultaneously for many hours. I did some testing on the heating side though, and it consumes about 10-25% more power, all depending on a number of factors.

Yeah, cooling only ☺️

My experience has also been in not too hot conditions the inverter type will use less power due to lower work load. It is a major plus to have no surge for starting and kinder to your battery and inverter.

Inverter type just is a better all round choice.