Another question..
Non-invertor - stop the compressor when desired temp is reached
Invertor - compressor reduces the speed to maintain the temp when desired temp is reached
That is the main reason that invertor system is more energy saving and longer lasting right? Becos it does not need to on and off the compressor which shorten its life and also saves more energy.
Lets say what if I am setting up the system 3 with my living room attached to one compressor and 2 bedrooms sharing one. Since there are 2 rooms sharing the compressor which splits it power to half half, it will have a lesser chance to come to a stop. Does it also means that it will save more energy too?
Thanks!
There's a nice link that explains the difference between Invertor and Non-Invertor here(
http://singapore-aircon-inverter.blogspot.com/) which i pick up in this thread. Do read it.
Invertor is just the circuitry used so that the compressor can run at different speeds.
For non-invertor types, the compressor either runs at 100% or 0%. More so for multi-split air-cons. In your example, you have a system 3 compressor designed to cool 3 split units. But say you turn on 2 of them every nite, the compressor would still runs at 100% (meant for 3) each time it starts. So although I agree if that if you use 2 rooms instead of 1, there'll be lesser chance of start-stop. But (IMO), it'll not completely remove the start-stop cycle.
I like to think it as driving a manual car, for Non-Inverter types, it is only stop or 5th gear. While for Inverter types... you have 1st gear, 2nd gear... you get the picture lah... so which car uses more fuel? Well... actually it also depends on the car model, and engine capacity. But if all things kept constant, then obviously the one with more gears is more efficient. It is also considerably more expensive as well.
If you check the local energy labelling <http://els.nea.gov.sg/mels/aircon.asp>, you'll realized that for invertor types, there's a part-load COP while for non-inverter types there isn't.
Of course... invertor types now also comes with R410A refrigerant that usually comes together with other technological improvements and so is more energy efficient (so they claim). So the real energy saving may not just come from the inverter circuitry.
As for maintenance, I believe they're the same... except R410A is twice as expensive as R22, and it's working pressure is higher (meaning more leakage?).
And perhaps due to the extra invertor circuitry, it may be more prone to failure (?)
If you're concerned about the energy cost, then check the energy labelling website.
A point to note though.... an invertor air-con with COP of >3.34 is 4 ticks while a non-invertor air-con of >3.34 is only 3 ticks. In fact, NEA doesn't give 4 ticks to non-invertor types. That's weird huh?