What is DC Inverter AC?

DC inverter AC technology is a recent advancement of innovation in air conditioners. Since its inception, air conditioners with DC inverter have become more popular than conventional AC units.

This technology controls the speed of the compressor in order to manage the temperature. Apart from this, their several other benefits offered by this compressor technology are aplenty.

Let us learn more about this technology, the working principle, and its advantages and disadvantages in this article. We will also explore what makes them different from the other air conditioners.

Let us dive into the discussion.

What is a DC Inverter Air Conditioner?

A DC inverter air conditioner uses the inverter technology to regulate the temperature. Let us learn how this is possible. The DC inverter units sense the temperature inside the room and accordingly provide various levels of cooling and heating effect. This compressor regulation based on the surroundings and requirements helps save electricity consumption. Thereby, you will save on your power utility bills.

What is the Working Principle of a DC inverter Air Conditioner?

As the name suggests, the main job of a DC inverter is to convert the alternating current (AC) into a direct current (DC). The DC inverter produces alternating current based on the frequency required and also the voltage. The compressor motor uses this variable frequency alternating current.

When the frequency of the alternating current changes, the motor speed also changes. This further makes the compressor operate at variable speeds.

How is a DC Inverter AC Different from Normal Air Conditioners?

Now that we are aware of how a DC inverter AC works, let us analyze how it is different from conventional air conditioners. The normal or regular AC units cannot produce variable levels of cooling. They do not have this feature. Hence, the compressor of the device runs either at full speed or remains turned off. The compressor turns on only when the temperature inside the room decreases or increases than the required degree.

It is when the compressor of normal air conditioners activates to bring the room temperature within the specified range. During the course, it will either run at full speed or shut down completely. That said, the conventional AC units do not actively regulate the ambient temperature.

Contrary to the above, the DC inverter uses a processor for sensing the temperatures in the surroundings. Accordingly, it changes the compressor speed (increases or decreases). In this way, the inverter technology in the AC helps in maintaining a consistent room temperature throughout.

How Does a DC Inverter Air Conditioner save Electricity?

The upsides of using a DC inverter air conditioning unit are that it is environmental-friendly and consumes less power. You may ask us how is it possible to save the electricity when the compressor keeps running all through the time. Well, here is the answer to your question.

As mentioned earlier, although the compressor operates continuously, it does not run at full capacity. That said, it runs at variable speeds depending on the temperature inside the room.

The inverter AC compressors operate at full capacity, only when the surrounding temperatures are either too hot or cold. This way, it regulates the temperature by optimizing the compressor speed. Furthermore, it saves electricity by consuming less power.

If we consider the non-inverter AC, the compressor runs at high speed irrespective of the temperature conditions. Consequently, it consumes more electricity every time the compressor turns on. Similarly, it requires more power when it operates at full capacity.

What are the Differences Between DC Inverter ACs and Non-inverter ACs?

Let us explore the key differences between the DC inverter air conditioner and the non-inverter AC units. This will help you gain complete insights into why the inverter AC is the most preferred.

DC Inverter ACs vs. Non-inverter ACs

Characteristic Features	DC Inverter Air Conditioners	Non-Inverter Air Conditioners
Eco-friendly	The air conditioners with DC inverter technology are very eco-friendly in nature. Moreover, they use environment-friendly gases that are safe for the ozone layer.	The conventional air conditioning units are not eco-friendly.
Energy Efficiency	The DC inverter ACs have high energy efficiency. They consume less power than non-inverter ACs.	The non-inverter AC units consume more power irrespective of the temperature required.
Start/stop cycles	The compressors of the DC inverter ACs do not have a start or stop cycles. The compressor runs continuously at variable speeds.	Contrary to the DC inverter ACs, the non-inverter AC units have start or stop cycles. The compressor starts and runs to attain the required temperature. Once the room reaches the ambient temperature, the compressor turns off. It is a continuous process.
Speed Operation	The inverter AC cools or heats the room quickly than the non-inverter AC unit.	The air conditioner without inverter technology takes more time to cool or heat the room.
Uniform heating/cooling	The compressor of the inverter AC unit runs at variable speeds to maintain a steady temperature throughout.	The compressor of the non-inverter AC runs at full capacity to maintain a consistent temperature. Furthermore, it adds to your electricity bills getting heavy on your wallet.
Silent Operation	The inverter AC tends to be quiet when operating.	The non-inverter AC makes a loud noise when it operates.
Power Fluctuations	The DC inverter air conditioners do not put any extra load on the power circuit. Hence, they minimize the chances of power fluctuations.	The non-inverter AC units cause power fluctuations.
Compatibility	The DC inverter air conditioners are compatible with solar panels and UPS. You can run your ACs on these devices.	You cannot run your non-inverter ACs on solar power or UPS.
Smart Technology	These appliances are smart ACs that allow the user to have full control over the energy utilization.	These non-inverter appliances do not allow the user to have full control over the energy utilization.
Cost-effective	The DC inverter AC units are very cost-effective in the long run.	Although these appliances are less expensive than their inverter counterparts, they increase your electricity bills. They can be expensive in the future.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of DC Inverter Air Conditioner?

Although the inverter technology in air conditioners offers many benefits, there are some limitations to it. Let us learn about the merits and demerits of the DC inverter AC units below:

Advantages of a DC inverter Air Conditioner:

• The DC inverter air conditioners have high energy efficiency.
• Unlike the conventional ACs, these AC units do not have start/stop cycles.
• The DC inverter air conditioners have low operational costs.
• These devices help in maintaining consistent ambient temperature throughout.
• These AC units tend to make less noise when operating.
• The DC inverter air conditioners do not put any extra load on the power circuit. Hence, they minimize the chances of power fluctuations.
• Since the inverter AC units do not cause any voltage fluctuations, they help in safeguarding other electrical components.
• The air conditioners with inverter technology are eco-friendly because they use environment-friendly gases that are safe for the ozone layer.
• These appliances consume less electricity than conventional AC units.
• The DC inverter air conditioners are compatible with solar panels and UPS. They can run on these devices.
• The inverter ACs work effectively even at low voltages.

Disadvantages of a DC Inverter Air Conditioner:

• The DC inverter air conditioners are comparatively very expensive than the normal ACs.
• These air conditioning units are difficult to repair, as they have complex built-in circuits.
• They have high maintenance costs as the spare parts of these units are expensive.
• The DC inverter ACs require professionals to repair them. Not all local service technicians are skilled enough for the same.
• The DC inverter air conditioning units use refrigerant gases that are not easily accessible.