Last updated on August 14th, 2022 at 01:25 pm
24,000 BTU air conditioners are very popular due to their ability to cool rooms quickly and their effectiveness on open floor plans.
Unfortunately, this takes a toll on the unit’s power consumption compared to smaller energy-efficient units.
Knowing the amperage your BTU Air conditioner works with will enable you to calculate the amount of electricity it draws and perhaps save you cost on your electricity bill.
Therefore, let’s find out how many amps a 24,000 BTU air conditioner uses.
The amperage rating of 24,000 BTU air conditioners falls between the range of 8.4 amps to 12.7 amps. They use 220 volts capacity to deliver between 1,848 and 2,823 watts of current. Smaller and more efficient air conditioners require an average of 318 watts per hour.
How Much Power Does a 24,000 BTU Air Conditioner Use?
Due to their sizes, 24,000 BTU air conditioners draw up to 2,500 to 2823 watts when operating at maximum cooling or heating capacity.
24,000 BTU air conditioners are designed to turn off at intervals once the air conditioning unit reaches its set temperature.
Therefore, reducing power consumption and saving energy. Even though air conditioning units cycle their compressors on and off as needed, they still require much power to function.
The power consumption of 24,000 BTU air conditioners is determined by a few factors, including the unit’s runtime and compressor speed.
In air conditioning units with non-inverter or single-speed units, the compressor speed remains the same as the unit shuts off when the desired temperature is reached and turns back on after a set time interval.
The air conditioning unit’s runtime determines power consumption in hours multiplied by wattage.
Power consumption for inverter air conditioners is much lower in real-time. The reason is that increasing the air conditioner’s thermostat temperature decreases compressor speed.
Using an energy use meter, you can also find out the average power consumption for your air conditioning unit.
Air Conditioner Amperage Chart
The amperage needed to run your air conditioner is what directly affects the load the air conditioning unit will put on your electricity bill.
To get a clearer view, let’s take a look at an amperage table showing in detail the air conditioner’s capacity, amperage, and air conditioner type:
| Air conditioner capacity | Amperage | AC Type |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 BTU air conditioner | 3.62-5.43 | Window Air Conditioner |
| 6,000 BTU air conditioner | 4.35-6.52 | Window Air Conditioner |
| 8,000 BTU air conditioner | 5.80-8.70 | Window/Portable Air Conditioner |
| 10,000 BTU air conditioner | 7.25-10.87 | Window/Portable Air Conditioner |
| 12,000 BTU air conditioner | 8.70-13.04 | Window Air Conditioner, Portable Air Conditioner, Mini Split Air conditioner. |
| 15,000 BTU air conditioner | 10.87-16.30 | Window Air Conditioner, Portable Air Conditioner |
| 18,000 BTU air conditioner | 13.04-19.57 | Window Air Conditioner, Portable Air Conditioner, Mini Split AC |
| 24,000 BTU air conditioner | 13.64-25 | Window Air Conditioner, Portable Air Conditioner, Mini Split AC. |
The table above shows that Window and Portable air conditioner systems can consume as much as 3.52 amps to almost 20 amps.
To calculate the number of amps your air conditioner needs, you must first know the energy capacity. You can measure an air conditioner’s energy capacity in BTU, which stands for British Thermal Units.
First, convert BTU to electrical power (watts) and then from watts to electrical current (amps).
Taking a small 5000 BTU air conditioning unit with an EER of 10 and a potential difference of 115V, you would calculate the amps as 5000 BTU/(10 × 115V) which equally gives 4.35 amps.
How Many Amps Does a 24,000 BTU Inverter Air Conditioner Use?
A 24,000 BTU inverter air conditioner generally consumes between 6 to 7 amps of current. Inverter air conditioners generally consume less power and amperage than standard air conditioners.
This action is due to the inverter air conditioner’s ability to adjust the compressor speed rate, thereby controlling the flow rate of refrigerated air into the room.
The amount of amperage an inverter air conditioner needs depends on the cooling capacity of the air conditioning unit measured in tons.
A 1-ton capacity air conditioner is the same as a 12,000 BTU air conditioner. Therefore, a 24,000 BTU inverter air conditioner has a 2-ton cooling capacity.
Below is a table that shows the cooling capacity per ton, the BTU equivalent, and the amperage needed for each air conditioning system:
| Cooling capacity (ton) | BTU equivalent | Amperage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ton | 12,000 BTU | Three amps |
| 1.5 Tons | 18,000 BTU | 4.5 amps |
| 2 Tons | 24,000 BTU | Seven amps |
The figures of the amperage above vary according to the set air conditioner temperature.
Perhaps the room temperature is 104 degrees Fahrenheit when you start the air conditioner, and the air conditioning unit’s set temperature is 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
The air conditioner would have to work on full power until you achieve the desired temperature, which in this case, is 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Only after attaining this desired temperature will the air conditioner start maintaining room temperature by lowering compressor speed, thereby consuming less power.
This process is how the inverter air conditioner’s power-saving mode works.
The inverter air conditioner’s unique ability to maintain temperatures makes it a much more comfortable choice when compared to non-inverter model air conditioners.
Inverter air conditioners eliminate temperature fluctuations enabling body and room temperatures to be safely maintained.
How Much Electricity Does a 24,000 BTU Air Conditioner Use Per Hour?
Since electricity is measured in watts, the amount of power is also measured in watts/hr or kW/hr. The quantity of electricity needed by an air conditioner depends on the BTU rating of that air conditioner.
The higher the BTU rating, the more power the air conditioner requires.
A 24,000 BTU air conditioner uses up to 1,800 to 2,800 watts, while a 36,000 BTU air conditioner can use as much as 2,600 to 4,500 watts.
Below is a table that shows the BTU rating and power usage equivalent for 5,000 to 36,000 BTU air conditioners.
| BTU Rating | Power consumption |
|---|---|
| 5,000 BTU | 400-600 watts |
| 6,000 BTU | 500-750 watts |
| 8,000 BTU (1 ton) | 650-1000 watts |
| 12,000 BTU (1.5 tons) | 1000-1400 watts |
| 18,000 BTU (1.5 tons) | 1500-2200 watts |
| 24,000 BTU (2 tons) | 1,800-2800 watts |
| 36,000 BTU (3 tons) | 2,600-4500 watts |
With more groundbreaking innovations in air conditioning and refrigerating technology, newer air conditioners are notably more energy-efficient and draw less power at the same capacity.
This figure is usually indicated by the SEER or EER rating.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the amount of amperage a 24,000 BTU air conditioner makes use of is determined by the BTU rating, which affects the cooling ton capacity of the air conditioner.
The amperage of the 24,000 BTU air conditioner falls between 8.4 to 12.7 amps. It uses this amperage to deliver currents of up to 1848 to 2823 watts.