Inverter Air Con: Beware Of High Standby Power

[aiwentimotai 0]

Well, sounds similar.

Note that the reply from brand M says that <b><!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->the heater turns on when temperature is above 21 degrees<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>. This is my problem with the heater - In Singapore climax, it hardly falls below 25 degrees, so the heater is ON all the time in standby mode.

The Daikin reply seems to be targeted at counties with 4 seasons, which then, I do understand the heater is necessary in that climax. However, in Singapore, if the temperature gets below 21 degrees, the world will be a very different place, and by that time, my worries will not be about aircon but where to get a boat when polar cap melts further to sink Singapore <img src="http://www.renotalk.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />

<!--quoteo(post=573261:date=Sep 12 2010, 09:45 PM:name=wolflet)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolflet @ Sep 12 2010, 09:45 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=573261"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I did some digging into this heater issue after the discussion and found this post

<a href="http://forums.energymatters.com.au/energy-efficiency/topic594.html" target="_blank">http://forums.energymatters.com.au/energy-...y/topic594.html</a>

The author is using a daikin aircon and states that it also contains a heater that draws 50W at standby.

He contacted the manufacturers and was told this

"After speaking to the manufacturers, I have discovered the reason is that they have to maintain a minimum temperature of the refrigerant at all times. If the fluid becomes too cool, it increases in viscosity and can damage or severely reduce the life expectancy of the compressor if it is started in that "cold fluid" situation. As a result, in order to be ready to be "instantly activated" the units have a small heater that constantly maintains the fluid temperature.

The advice from the manufacturer is that it takes at least 6 hours for the unit to warm the fluid sufficiently to allow a safe start, possibly slightly less on a hot summer day and probably more (ideally 12+ hours) in winter when the unit is very cold. However, to save this constant 50W draw, the air conditioners can be switched off at the switchboard AS LONG AS THEY ARE ALLOWED TO WARM UP FOR AT LEAST 6 HOURS OR PREFERABLY OVERNIGHT BEFORE THEY ARE ACTIVATED."

So maybe we can also consider turning on the power to the aircon 6 hours before starting to prevent damage to the compressor?

But this may only apply to certain models of daikin and probably not applicable to those being sold in singapore<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I found this info from another Australian site: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1615103

"i too have a Daikin Inverter Ducted System, it uses heaps on standby.. 97 watts an hour .. that's 2.3kWs every day. there is a big outdoor plastic on/off switch next to the outdoor unit. you can turn it off there. the only thing you MUST remember is when there is a hot / cold day coming up you MUST turn that switch back on 2 hours at least before you turn it on inside (to circulate it's oils and things) or you will kill it pretty quick

yearly total: about 840 kWh's or @ 19c/kW ~$160 just to have it sitting there"

[Darksire 1]

Any user who switch off supply to air con frequently can share if their compressor is still working?

[yaksowmi 0]

thank you for sharing your research. its great info to know

[powerlee 3]

This is really helpful. thx