1. What is the Air Conditioning Power Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the power required for air conditioning based on room area and the unit's energy efficiency ratio (EER).

Purpose: It helps HVAC professionals and homeowners determine the appropriate AC unit size for a given space.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P_{kW} \) — Power required (kilowatts)
• \( A_{room} \) — Room area (square meters)
• \( EER \) — Energy Efficiency Ratio (dimensionless)
• 44.6 — Conversion factor (W/m² to BTU/hr)
• 3412 — Conversion factor (BTU/hr to kW)

Explanation: The formula converts cooling load per area to power requirement while accounting for the unit's efficiency.

3. Importance of Proper AC Sizing

Details: Correct sizing ensures energy efficiency, proper cooling, and prevents short-cycling of the AC unit.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the room area in square meters and the EER rating (default 3.5). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is EER?
A: Energy Efficiency Ratio is the cooling capacity (BTU/hr) divided by power input (W) at standard test conditions.

Q2: What's a typical EER value?
A: Standard units range 8-12, while high-efficiency units can be 12+. The calculator uses the ratio, so divide EER by 3.41 for this input.

Q3: Why 44.6 W/m²?
A: This represents a typical cooling load of about 140 BTU/hr per m² for moderately sized rooms.

Q4: Should I add a safety factor?
A: For rooms with high heat loads (south-facing, lots of windows), consider adding 10-20% to the result.

Q5: How does this relate to BTU ratings?
A: Multiply kW result by 3412 to get BTU/hr requirement for comparing with AC unit specifications.