There are plenty of different air conditioners available on the market today. If you are looking for a device that is able to quickly and quietly cool the room and that won’t make your electricity bills skyrocket, then a dual inverter AC might be the right choice for you.
A dual inverter air conditioner has a twin rotary compressor that is furnished with two compression chambers. Because of that, such air conditioners have improved compression torques and rotational balancing which results in higher efficiency, lower vibration throughout the RPM range, and lower noise.
What are the main differences between a dual inverter and an inverter AC? Will a dual inverter air conditioner help you save electricity? And does such a device have any disadvantages?
Let’s find out!
Dual Inverter vs Inverter AC – Similarities
Both dual inverter and regular inverter air conditioners have inverter compressors which, in their turn, are rotary compressors. Before these elements were invented, ACs had reciprocating compressors that produced lots of vibration and noise and consumed a ton of energy.
Image source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9wKMLFgr70
An inverter compressor is better than a simple rotary compressor because it provides silent operation and is more energy-efficient. Dual inverter compressors are even more advanced and efficient.
So, the main thing that dual inverter and inverter air conditioners have in common are inverter compressors equipped with a rotor that can change its speed according to the load. But dual inverter ACs have two of these rotors and this is what is subject to the following differences.
Dual Inverter vs Inverter AC – Differences
| Inverter AC | Dual Inverter AC | |
| Compressors | An inverter AC is equipped with a single-rotor compressor. It is more energy-efficient than a non-inverter compressor. | A dual inverter AC has two rotors. The load is divided into both of them which results in faster cooling and higher energy efficiency. |
| Cooling performance | An inverter compressor uses the BLDC motors. They are able to vary the compressor’s speed in accordance with demand. In other words, such compressors don’t always run at maximum speed and offer better temperature control than non-inverter options. | Dual inverter compressors have even more advanced BLDC motors. Due to variable tonnage and speed of cooling, such ACs all-in-all offer better cooling. |
| Energy consumption | A single rotatory compressor is much more energy-efficient than a reciprocating compressor but is less efficient than twin compressors. | Dual inverters feature twin compressors. Those have a lower frequency of rotation, a wide operating range, and, consequently, lower power needs. |
| Lifespan | The average lifespan of an inverter air conditioner is around 15-20 years. | Dual inverter ACs typically have a greater lifespan as the load on the two compressors is smaller. |
| Vibration and noise level | One compressor needs high-speed rotation, in order to operate. Such a system generates a lot of vibration and, as a result, noise (especially, when the AC is working at its full capacity). | Twin-rotary compressors turn with a 180-degree phase difference. This means that the whole system is more stable, even when operating at full capacity. So, dual inverter ACs generate less vibration and noise. |
| Price | In the absolute majority of cases, inverter ACs are cheaper than dual inverter air conditioners. | Dual inverter ACs are usually more expensive but bear in mind that their lifespan is greater too. |
Dual Inverter vs Triple Inverter AC
Now, if a dual inverter has two rotors, then a triple inverter air conditioner has to have a compressor with three, right? Well, not quite.
Dual inverter compressors have 4-pole motors. Those are great, but, unfortunately, are not able to bring the production of torque fluctuation to a minimum.
Image source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cZmFT95PKQ
Triple inverter compressors have an 8-pole motor that helps reduce the torque fluctuation and minimize the vibration even more. In the end, you get a super silent AC.
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Fun fact: Samsung was the brand that first started using a triple inverter back in 2019.
A triple inverter AC is more energy-efficient, has an increased lifespan and provides faster cooling.
The only downside of such an air conditioner is that it is extremely pricey at the moment (maintenance costs are high as well). Moreover, not a lot of brands manufacture such devices, so you won’t have a wide range of options to choose from.
Does Dual Inverter AC Really Save Electricity?
When any air con starts operating, it needs a spike of power. The devices will continue working at full capacity until they are able to reach the desired room temperature.
In a nutshell, the faster it happens, the more electricity the AC will be able to save.
Dual inverter air conditioners have a better cooling performance than other ACs. Once the room had cooled down, the device will continue working but at a different speed which helps save a lot of electricity.
A dual inverter AC will not turn off like an ordinary air conditioner which means that it isn’t going to need that spike of power that we have mentioned earlier in order to start working again.
If you want to save on your energy bills make sure to:
- Buy a dual inverter AC in accordance with the size of the room.
- Run the air con for at least 8 hours, if you want to see a significant difference. Otherwise, the energy spikes needed to get the device going would ‘eat’ all of the electricity that you have saved.
Also Read: Is it worth buying a portable Air Conditioner?
What Is the Disadvantage of Dual Inverter AC?
The main disadvantage of a dual inverter air conditioner is that it is more expensive than an ordinary AC. You would have to pay quite a sum for this advanced technology.
By the way, the installation fee will be higher, as well as the price of different parts that might need to be replaced in the future.
Other than that, a dual inverter air conditioner doesn’t have any cons worth mentioning.
What Are the Pros of Dual Inverter AC
- Energy-efficiency
The controlled compressor of a dual inverter air conditioner is able to run at various speeds. It doesn’t need to constantly run at full power, which makes it a more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly option.
Moreover, such air cons need less time to cool the room to the desired temperature. So, the devices are running at full power for shorter periods than inverter ACs.
- Quietness
Twin-rotary compressors form a system that is more stable. This fact helps eliminate unnecessary vibration and any noise.
Bear in mind that regular inverter ACs are still quite noisy, in comparison to their ‘twin’ brothers.
- Greater lifespan
The two compressors ‘share’ the workload. Of course, the parts that don’t need to work to their full capacity all the time will have a greater lifespan.
- Can become a good investment
A dual inverter AC can actually become an amazing investment. Even though the initial price can be a bit high, in the end, you might even be able to save some money.
Dual inverter air cons have a great lifespan and, in comparison to ordinary ACs, result in lower electricity bills.
How Much Electricity Does Dual Inverter AC Consume?
The energy consumption of an air conditioner depends on the star rating, the tonnage, and the size of the room that you have installed the air con in.
The LG 1.5 Ton 5-star Dual Inverter Split AC, for example, will consume around 835.5 watts per hour.
Tip: as a rule of thumb, buy an AC in accordance with the size of the room, instead of going for a cheaper option. Typically, bigger air cons will get the room to the right temperature faster and this will help save on your electricity bills.
Do We Need Voltage Stabilizer for Dual Inverter AC?
You are going to need a voltage stabilizer, only if the voltage at your house fluctuates beyond the range that is mentioned in the Terms ; Conditions that come together with the dual inverter air conditioner.
If the voltage is within the range, you wouldn’t need a stabilizer.
Hint: you can check the voltage by using an amperemeter (those can be found online).
LG’s air conditioners, for example, have built-in stabilizers and might require a stand-alone stabilizer only in case the voltage fluctuates beyond the range of 145-290 V. A lot of stabilizers that are sold online have an operating range within these limits.
To Sum Up
What is dual inverter AC? It is an air con that has a compressor with two rotors. Such an improvement in the air conditioning technology helped make the device much more silent and energy-efficient.
Moreover, dual inverter air conditioners have a longer lifespan and bring the room to the desired temperature faster than non-inverter and regular inverter ACs.
The only downside of a dual inverter air con is that it can be quite pricey. However, the great news is that, throughout the years of utilizing the device, you will be able to save on electricity bills.
As a result, a pricey dual inverter AC can become a great investment.
By the way, you can also consider going for a triple inverter air conditioner – the industry’s latest addition.