Be it inverter ac or non-inverter AC, it is very important to have a stabilizer.
Even if your air conditioner comes with in-built stabilizer, we recommend to still purchase an additional stabilizer. Because, an in-built stabilizer is not capable of handling high range fluctuations.
For more information on why your AC needs a stabilizer, we recommend reading this article.
In this article, we shall discuss the need for a stabilizer for the inverter AC, its significance, and how it works. Shall we get into our discussion!
Does An Inverter AC Require A Stabilizer?
A stabilizer acts as a protecting guard against voltage fluctuations. Just like refrigerators, televisions, and other home appliances, even an air conditioner requires a stabilizer. The role of a stabilizer is to provide and maintain constant voltage load to the appliances even during voltage fluctuations.
Low or high, whenever there is an unwanted power fluctuation, it might create a mishap to the electrical appliances and permanently damage them. A stabilizer protects these appliances as a shield from these fluctuations. Not only that, but it also increases the longevity of the electrical equipment.
It is imperative to opt for a good stabilizer to maintain a stabilized continuous power supply. The right choice of a stabilizer with the required wattage and rating is dependent on the frequency of the fluctuations in your area.
How Does a Stabilizer Work on Inverter AC?
Let me take you through the working mechanism of a stabilizer. It basically has two crucial functionalities that assist in the working of the stabilizer. They are – Buck and Boost.
What is a Boost?
Let us say there is an under-voltage condition. In such a scenario, the stabilizer initiates the boost operation. As per the name, this function boosts the voltage of the electrical appliances with the required power supply.
What is a Buck?
Similarly, if there is an over-voltage situation, the stabilizer allows the buck function to operate. As a result, it minimizes the voltage and maintains a steady power supply, as required.
For performing these operations, the stabilizer uses a transformer connected to various configurations with the help of switching relays.
Is It Possible to Connect the AC Without a Stabilizer?
Yes, you can absolutely connect your AC without a stabilizer, provided it has an S-UTR (Ultra Tropical Rotary) compressor. These compressors are capable of withstanding fluctuations and nullify the need for an extra stabilizer during the voltage fluctuations. They will ensure a continuously stabilized power supply to your AC units.
You may say that your air conditioner does not have an S-UTR compressor. What to do in such a case? Well, do not worry. Most AC manufacturers produce ACs that come with inbuilt stabilizers. That means your AC does not require an external stabilizer.
However, some manufacturers give a disclaimer statement. In case of an extreme power fluctuation, their inbuilt stabilizers cannot assure the air conditioner’s safety.
As said, you can always connect your AC without a stabilizer. Your appliance may have an inbuilt stabilizer. Despite that, you will still be taking a great risk. To counter this, you will need an external stabilizer that ensures longer life of your appliance and also peace of mind to you.
What Should Be The Required kVA Voltage For An AC Stabilizer?
The exact wattage that your AC stabilizer requires is dependent on the appliance itself. Let us assume you have an appliance with 1000W. If you need a stabilizer for the same, you would require one with a rating of 1.2kVA, i.e., 1,200 VA at least.
The stabilizer sizes are usually in VA (Volt Ampere) or kVA (kilo Volt Ampere). The key point to note here is that the stabilizer size should meet the needs of your AC unit. That means it should keep up with the power rating of your appliance.
If you want to know the power rating of your AC, you can find it mentioned on a label attached to your unit. This will help you determine whether the stabilizer size will suffice your appliance or not. To confirm the same, this is what you can do. Try adding 20% to the total wattage of the appliance.
Find the table below for a better understanding. It talks about the maximum wattage that your voltage stabilizer requires for Inverter ACs with a capacity of 1/1.5/2 Tonnes.
| Tonnage | Max Wattage | Max kVA |
| 1 Ton | 1300 Watts or 1.3 kW | 1.6 kVA |
| 1.5 Ton | 1900 Watts or 1.9 kW | 2.4 kVA |
| 2 Ton | 2500 Watts or 2.5 kW | 3 kVA |
Is AC with Inverter Technology an Energy-Efficient Appliance?
In an AC with non-inverter technology, the compressor switches on and off frequently. Firstly, it turns on and keeps running at full speed. After the room reaches the desired temperature, it turns off. This process continues as long as the AC is operating. This abrupt switch on and off of the compressor, makes your appliance consume more energy.
Contrary to it, the compressor in an inverter AC does not turn on and off but runs continuously at variable speeds throughout. It further maintains a constant temperature in the room by consistently adjusting its speed according to the room temperature. This way, it helps you save on your electricity bills when compared to a non-inverter AC.
In a non-inverter AC, the compressor always runs at a maximum speed. Whereas in the inverter AC, the compressor runs at variable speeds by adjusting its speed accordingly. Hence, the energy consumption in the former is more than the latter appliance. This concludes that an AC unit with inverter technology is energy efficient and can help you save about 30-50% on your utility bills.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Ans: It is not advisable to use a regular voltage stabilizer to an AC. This is primarily because the AC stabilizers use time delay functionality, which is not available in the normal stabilizers. As a result, these stabilizers may not safeguard your AC as much as dedicated ones do.
Ans: Installing a wall-mounted AC stabilizer increases the aesthetic appeal of your room. Hence, it is not mandatory to have one. If you are particular about the looks and appearance, you may go for this. Else, it is not recommended.
Ans: Absolutely, yes. You can definitely use the AC stabilizer for your LED TV. There are no issues as such for using. Moreover, the voltage range of the AC stabilizer comes much within the range of the TV for its operation. Hence, that would not be a problem. However, you need to ensure that the TV load connected to the AC stabilizer is not beyond its range. Ideally, the maximum wattage for TV should be around 2 kW and not more than that.
Conclusion:
To conclude, both inverter and non-inverter ACs require a stabilizer. Although your inverter ACs come with an inbuilt stabilizer, it is always suggestible to have an external stabilizer to prevent any mishaps. Next time, when you are buying an inverter AC, make sure you buy a stabilizer as well for it.
I hope this article provided you with ample information on stabilizers for AC inverters and their benefits. Write to us in the comments section below if you have any questions on the same. Feel free to share your inputs with us and let us know if we missed out on any points.
We would love to hear and learn from you.
Stay home, stay healthy and stay safe!!!
