Inverter AC Vs Normal AC – A Comparison
It’s important to get an idea of how both the inverter AC and a normal AC works, and differ in operation, to be able to choose the better one of the two for your needs. So without further ado, let’s begin.
Inverter AC Vs Normal AC
In the new generation of ACs, the word “Inverter AC” has now picked up some momentum in a last decade. To make an informed decision about whether to buy an inverter AC or not, we first have to understand how exactly the normal AC works and how inverter AC differs in operation.
A normal AC consists of a compressor which is a heart of operation and essentially responsible for major chunk of power consumed by an AC. When the room temperature is higher than the set point, the compressor starts and as soon as it falls below set point, the compressor stops (i.e. it works in on/off mode). The compressor of an inverter AC however does not stop; it just slows down to the speed such that, the room temperature remains constant. The speed of compressor keeps on varying to maintain desired room temperature.
Since a normal AC works on on/off mechanism, there is an associated noise on every compressor start. As the compressor of inverter AC keeps on running continuously, the operation of inverter AC is very quiet compared to that of normal AC. The room temperature keeps on fluctuating due to intermittent operation of compressor in normal AC. While the continuous operation of inverter AC compressor maintains room temperature fairly constant.
Another use of an AC is dehumidification. better dehumidification is achieved by intermittent but full blast operation of normal AC compared to that of inverter AC.
Talking about power consumption, an inverter AC consumes about 20-40% less power. An AC with 1.5 Ton capacity is most commonly used in India. A normal 1.5 ton 5 star BEE rated AC shall consume anywhere between 1100 to 1170 watts of power depending how low the room temperature set point has been given. A 1.5-ton inverter AC on the other hand shall consume around 800 to 830 watts for the same temperature set point.
A normal AC consumes around 275 electrical units a month for 8 hours of operation while inverter AC consumes around 195 electrical units. if the electricity tariff is 5 Rs/unit, this will lead to difference of around 400 Rs/month. Again, this math will change with hours of operation and power cost in a particular are.
A Final Word
To summarise, compressor of inverter AC runs with variable speed while in normal AC, it works in on/off state. The room Temperature of remains fairly uniform in case of inverter AC while in case of normal AC it keeps on fluctuating. Inverter AC is quieter than normal AC. Last but not least, the power consumption of inverter is about 20-40% less as compared to normal AC depending on room temperature set point.
However, comfort and luxury comes at a cost. The cost of inverter ACs is often around 20% higher than the normal AC. So it is up to user’s discretion, which one to opt for. For instance, in a domestic use, a normal AC will be used seasonally for 8-10 hours a day at max leading to saving of nearly 400-600 Rs a month that will recover the additional cost of inverter AC in 5-7 years. While if it is used in any commercial place like a shop or showroom, it will be used for nearly 12-15 hours a day and almost year along at higher commercial electricity rates which reduces breakeven time to 12-15 months.
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The comparison was very educative. All the technical points were covered.
Thank you, sir! Glad to know we managed to be a little helpful to someone who served in the army. 🙂
Another important criteria is missing when comparing inverter with normal air conditioner is maintenance cost. In inverter AC PCB is used to control the speed of the compressor which is very expensive around Rs.14000.00 and the failure of PCB is reported frequently.
You brought up a very interesting point to this discussion, Dipak. Thank you for your comment.
I have been using Daikin split inverter ac 1.5 tonne and frequently faced problems. I have changed the pcb unit once which was costly around 4k/5k. Now again my ac was giving problems so I got it checked and it’s motor needs to be replaced as well the pcb. And now the combined cost will come to 8.5k
Another difference you forgot to mention sir is that in non inverter split ac there is a pcb unit at the outdoor too. While in normal ac only a capacitor and compressor is there which makes it easier to repair.
So even after investing 8.5k I will have the fear that my outdoor pcb might need a replacement as well which will then take my cost to around 15k.
And these new parts will not come under warranty. So I have decided to unistall this and buy a new one.
But I am confused whether to buy a non inverter ac or an inverter ac with pcb and motor warranty. Your help would be appreciated
First of all, thank you for your comment and pointing out about the issue of PCB in inverter ACs. I see that it has been missed out and will update it soon in the post.
It’s sad to hear that you have faced so many issues and expenses with your Daikin AC in only 6 years. I do understand that PCB damage can be a major issue with some inverter ACs.
Coming to your question about whether you should choose a non inverter or inverter AC with PCB and motor warranty, I’d firstly have to say that a lot depends on your use and requirements. If you use your AC a lot (say more than 6 hours a day), then an inverter AC might seem a better option for its energy savings and better cooling efficiency. However, if you’re not going to use your AC for more than 4 hours or so, then a non inverter AC may be just as fine.
That said, I’d personally prefer to get an inverter AC with good PCB warranty. I did some in-depth research for you and narrowed down on two inverter AC options, both offering 5 years warranty on the PCB and 10 years on the compressor.
Panasonic 1.5 ton inverter AC (Amazon link)
LG 1.5 ton inverter AC (Amazon link)
My personal favorite is Panasonic, as it’s also a 5 star AC so you would get the most benefit of energy cost savings as compared to LG as it’s a 4 star AC. Panasonic also has WiFi and some other cool features, and the price difference between them is not much.
Hope my insight helped. Thanks again for your comment.
I just forgot to mention that my ac is only 6 years old.
Thanks for the Very useful article. What’s ur opinion about o general inverter 1.5 split ac ? Now 5 years warranty on pcb , 10 years on compressor. If conditions permit which one is better in terms of efficiency..split or window.
I believe these days split ACs are much more popular than window ACs. Window air conditioners are getting outdated. I’d recommend you to read our post on the best 1.5 ton split ACs here.