However, generally speaking, a central air conditioner will consume between 3000 and 3500 watts per hour. While window units use between 900 and 1440 watts per hour, portable units consume between 2900 and 4100. The central air conditioners that are available today are more efficient than ever. Most central air conditioners use between 15 and 60 amps and approximately 240 volts, while a window air conditioning unit uses between 3 and 20 amps and 120 volts.
Air conditioners use 500 to 4000 W (0.5 to 4.0 kW) of power at a time and 4 kWh over the course of a day, which means that most batteries are not adequate on their own to back up the air conditioner. If you're weighing your options, you may be wondering if a central air conditioning system consumes more or less electricity than another option. You don't have an air conditioning system, but you probably have an oven or a heat pump that uses a network of ductwork. A typical household battery is likely to have the rated power needed to run the air conditioner, but you'll need several batteries for a central air conditioning unit to fully operate for an extended period of time. You can use the yellow EnergyGuide label on your air conditioner to determine the volts and amps it uses.
Now, let's look at the details of everything you need to know about central air conditioning systems and your electricity. Don't think that central air conditioners are a bad investment because of the experiences you have had in the past. Air source heat pumps are an efficient electric heating and cooling option for your home or business and are an excellent alternative to traditional central or window air conditioning. So, a 3,000 watt central air conditioner will actually use about 1,950 watts every hour, and a 1,000 watt window air conditioning unit will use approximately 650 watts every hour.
Even in cold climates, heat pumps are often much more efficient (and therefore less expensive) than air conditioning. Although you are going to use much more central air conditioning, this system will also benefit you much more, as it can help you save money in other areas.
