From: presence@MUNGEpanix.com   
      
   Michael Terrell  wrote:   
   > On Sunday, August 9, 2020 at 6:03:30 PM UTC-4, default wrote:   
   >> I wired a 24VAC transformer to my Air Conditioner to lower the   
   >> incoming line voltage to 220 from ~250 VAC.   
   >>   
   >> The old AC was pulling 2100+ watts worst-case and went to 1700, with   
   >> the added transformer.   
   >>   
   >> Other observations:   
   >> It uses ~1500 in the mornings when the differential between inside and   
   >> out is close (all readings with the compressor running).   
   >>   
   >> During the day when the power was up at 1700, I turned the circulation   
   >> fan up to "high," and the power dropped to 1550.   
   >>   
   >> That may be more efficient all-around, but I'll have to watch it for a   
   >> bit longer to see.  My gut says it is more efficient to just keep the   
   >> fan on "high,"  but it would be child's play to rewire the circulation   
   >> fan so it runs fast when the compressor switches on.  That way the   
   >> filters will stay cleaner longer and also contribute to higher   
   >> efficiency, while still circulating the air enough to monitor the air   
   >> temperature.   
   >>   
   >> The AC is an old window unit that was broken when I got it - I found   
   >> the control board inside with water damage, so gutted the logic out   
   >> leaving the power supply and relays, then bought a Chinese "universal"   
   >> AC control board to provide the thermostat, fan control, remote, and   
   >> compressor delay.   
   >   
   > Turning off the fan lowers efficiency. It is needed to keep the air   
   > circulating around the room, and to warm the condenser back to room   
   > temperature rather than let outside heat leak in to do that job.   
      
   The condenser is in the outside on the AC unit and the fan cools it. My   
   guess for the increased power draw with the fan in a low setting is the   
   compressor working way harder due to increased pressures as the unit as   
   it's not able to rejected heat properly. Are the coils clean? The surface   
   of the fins can be be caked in dirt with the outside looking clean. If you   
   can program all sorts of stuff on that univeral controller you'd still   
   want the fan to be off shortly after the compressor stops, otherwise   
   you're just blowing moisture from the evaporator coil back into your   
   living space. That is if humidity is an issue where you live.   
      
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