BernardAir conditioning is necessary to maintain the humidity and cool temperature of a building or a home in hot conditions. Initially, air conditioners or ACs only worked on alternating current (a current signal which flows in pulses).
After the advent of solar-powered systems, DC air conditioners also appeared in the market. These air conditioners use Direct Current, or DC, a current in which electrons flow steadily in a single direction. Solar systems produce DC, which powers a dc air conditioner.
Are people shifting to DC air conditioning systems due to the current direction, or is there another reason? How does the working mechanism of a DC air conditioner differ from an AC one? Here are the answers to all these questions.
How Does A DC Air Conditioner Work?
A DC air conditioner uses DC components inside. Unlike an AC air conditioner, there are DC fans and DC motors which function to produce cool air. Solar panels convert the sunlight into DC power. This power passes through a voltage regulator that directs it to the battery banks associated with the solar system.
These batteries charge and deliver DC into the house’s outlets. When you plug in your DC air conditioner, it uses the DC (not the AC) to operate.
Why Purchase DC Air Conditioners?
The use of DC devices and appliances is gaining momentum. But why is it so in the first place? Here are some of the benefits for clarification.
Energy Efficiency
In non-DC air conditioners, the compressor starts and stops frequently. When you power on the air conditioner, it starts working and stays on until the desired temperature of the room is attained. When the sensors sense the required temperature is obtained, the compressor powers off.
It restarts when a low temperature is sensed. However, when the compressor starts, it consumes the maximum energy.
Contrastingly, a DC air conditioner works similarly to a car accelerator. The compressor speeds vary according to work needed to maintain the temperature. Hence, the compressor uses optimal power rather than the maximum current.
Less Running Costs
The compressor is the main component in an air conditioner and likely consumes the highest energy. However, DC ones operate their compressors at variable speeds, resulting in lesser power consumption and, ultimately, fewer running costs.
Silent
We all have observed an AC air conditioner working, and if the room’s noise level is lower, you can hear the machine whirring. In comparison, a DC air conditioner offers sound-less operation. It is because the DC ones don’t have to restart their compressors again, preventing the clicking sounds.
Durability
When a machine works at maximum power, it is more prone to wear. AC air conditioners completely turn off the compressor at a specific temperature and rework it after some time at the maximum power. Therefore, they wear out more quickly. In comparison, DC ones last long due to their efficient and steady working mechanism.
Wrap Up
DC appliances are getting popular rapidly, and DC air conditioners are one famous illustration. As the name specifies, these air conditioners operate on direct current. Although the technology is relatively new, it offers certain benefits compared to conventional AC air conditioners.
Firstly, they require less maintenance and running costs. DC air conditioners are also more energy efficient due to their steady working mechanism. They are eco-friendly and offer more durability than AC air conditioners. However, it is essential to plug a DC air conditioner into a DC outlet. Supplying AC to a DC-powered appliance will damage the machine.