From: presence@MUNGEpanix.com   
      
   default  wrote:   
   > On Mon, 10 Aug 2020 08:30:52 +0000 (UTC), Cydrome Leader   
   >  wrote:   
   >   
   >>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.   
   >   
   > Good point.    The same fan that cools the condenser circulates the   
   > air, so shutting it off entirely will allow the air to stratify and   
   > the thermostat may not be showing the actual air temp in the room.   
   >   
   > Ideally, I should have two separate fans.  That may be too much of a   
   > modification to make to this old AC.  It would be a fun enough   
   > project, but the thing is big, very heavy, and hard to work with.   
      
   Can you setup some sort of High speed with compressor on and low speed   
   with it off? I prefer old window units with real switches that don't need   
   a remote. I should test the 25 year old one soon too. New window units   
   have terrible fan bearings, clearly designed to die on you.   
      
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