The "Horsepower" Rating, Power and Refrigeration Capacity of Air Conditioners

2025-03-14

"Horsepower" of Air Conditioners
The "horsepower" of an air conditioner is a unit of power, which represents the output power of its compressor motor. The identification of the air conditioner model is marked as 100 times the nominal refrigeration capacity of the air conditioner.

The

Usually, the nominal refrigeration capacity of one horsepower is 2200W - 2300W. And 2500W - 2800W is considered as a large one horsepower, and 3200W - 3300W is 1.5 horsepower.

In electrical engineering, 1 horsepower refers to 735W;
In the air conditioner industry, the original meaning of a 1-horsepower air conditioner is an air conditioner that produces cooling capacity with an electrical power of 735W.
The ideal energy efficiency ratio of an air conditioner is generally around 3.0 - 3.6, that is, the ratio of the refrigeration capacity to the input power. Therefore, the refrigeration capacity of a 1-horsepower air conditioner is approximately 2500W. However, in the air conditioner industry, air conditioners with a refrigeration capacity of 2300 to 2700W can all be called 1-horsepower air conditioners. Those with a refrigeration capacity of 2000 to 2300W are called a small one horsepower; those with a refrigeration capacity of 2700 to 2900W are called a large one horsepower.
In the current air conditioner industry, due to the reason of cost reduction, the power consumption of a 1-horsepower air conditioner is far greater than 735W. The power consumption of a poor-quality air conditioner has reached 950W, and the power consumption of the best one is also around 750W, which completely deviates from the original meaning.
Power Units
1.1 British horsepower (HP) (horsepower) = 0.746KW (kilowatt) = 746W
2.2 Metric horsepower (HP) (horsepower) = 0.735KW (kilowatt) = 735W
3.1 Kilowatt-hour = 1 unit of electricity
The electrical power, refrigeration capacity or heating capacity originally refers to the input power, including the compressor, fan motor and the electrical control part. Due to the differences in the specific systems and electrical control designs of different brands, the output refrigeration capacities are different. Therefore, the refrigeration capacity is calculated based on the output power.
Generally speaking, the refrigeration capacity of 1 horsepower is approximately 2000 kcal. When converted into the international unit, it should be multiplied by 1.162. So the refrigeration capacity of 1 horsepower should be 2000 kcal × 1.162 = 2324 (W), where W (watt) represents the refrigeration capacity. The power consumption of the air conditioner can be found on the nameplate. Usually, an input power of 1000 watts means that this air conditioner consumes 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity per hour. If the input power is 1400 watts, it consumes 1.4 kilowatt-hours of electricity per hour.
To know the power consumption of continuous operation for 24 hours, first look at the input power (the power consumption of the air conditioner).
(The data of the input or output electrical power of the air conditioner has been engraved on the nameplate of the air conditioner casing in the unit of "watt". On the nameplate, there is the product model. The first digit is the product code, K represents the room air conditioner; the second digit is the structure code, C represents the window-type air conditioner, F represents the split-type air conditioner; the third digit is the function code, R represents the dual-mode (cooling and heating), and a blank means single-mode (only cooling); the fourth digit represents the refrigeration and heating capacity.)
The horsepower rating of an air conditioner originally refers to the input power, including the compressor, fan motor and the electrical control part. Due to the differences in the specific systems and electrical control designs of different brands, the output refrigeration capacities are different. Therefore, the refrigeration capacity is calculated based on the output power.
Generally speaking, the refrigeration capacity of 1 horsepower is approximately 2000 kcal. When converted into the international unit, it should be multiplied by 1.162. So the refrigeration capacity of 1 horsepower should be 2000 kcal × 1.162 = 2324 (W), and the refrigeration capacity of 1.5 horsepower should be 2000 kcal × 1.5 × 1.162 = 3486 (W). By analogy, according to this situation, the horsepower rating and the refrigeration capacity of the air conditioner can be roughly determined. Generally, 2200W - 2600W can all be called 1 horsepower, 4500 (W) - 5100 (W) can be called 2 horsepower, and 3200W - 3600W can be called 1.5 horsepower. After the refrigeration capacity is determined, the refrigeration capacity can be estimated according to the actual situation of the family, and a suitable air conditioner can be selected.
Household appliances consume a large part of the refrigeration capacity. Each W (watt) of power of appliances such as TVs, lights, and refrigerators consumes 1 (W) of refrigeration capacity. The direction of the doors and windows also consumes a certain amount of refrigeration capacity. The east-facing window consumes 150W/m², the west-facing window consumes 280W/m², the south-facing window consumes 180W/m², and the north-facing window consumes 100W/m². If it is the roof or exposed to the west sun, an appropriate increase in the refrigeration capacity can be considered. When choosing an air conditioner, you can estimate the size of the refrigeration capacity you need according to the above introduction, so as to select a satisfactory air conditioner.
When purchasing an air conditioner, salespeople usually mention the horsepower rating of the air conditioner. The horsepower rating refers to the power consumption of the appliance. 1 horsepower = 1 horsepower (mechanical) = 735W, and horsepower does not refer to the refrigeration capacity. Usually, when we say how many horsepower an air conditioner is, we estimate the refrigeration capacity of the air conditioner based on its power consumption. Generally speaking, it is customary to use 1 horsepower equal to a refrigeration capacity of 2500W (that is, the 25 model), and 1.5 horsepower is approximately equal to a refrigeration capacity of 3500W (that is, the 35 model). The 26 model is approximately 1.1 horsepower, the 27 model is 1.2 horsepower, the 28 model is approximately 1.3 horsepower, the 32 model is 1.4 horsepower; the 33 model is approximately 1.5 horsepower, and the 36 model is a large 1.5 horsepower.
When going to the mall to buy an air conditioner, the salesperson will ask how many horsepower of the air conditioner you want. The horsepower rating of the air conditioner originally refers to the input power, including the compressor, fan motor and the electrical control part. Due to the differences in the specific systems and electrical control designs of different brands, the output refrigeration capacities are different. Therefore, the refrigeration capacity is calculated based on the output power. Generally speaking, the refrigeration capacity of 1 horsepower is approximately 2000 kcal. When converted into the international unit, it should be multiplied by 1.162. So the refrigeration capacity of 1 horsepower is 2000×1.162 = 2324W. Here, W (watt) represents the refrigeration capacity, and the refrigeration capacity of 1.5 horsepower should be 2000×1.5×1.162 = 3486W. By analogy, the horsepower rating and the refrigeration capacity of the air conditioner can be roughly determined. Generally, 2200 - 2600W can all be called 1 horsepower, 4500 - 5100W is 2 horsepower, and 3200 - 3600W is 1.5 horsepower. The horsepower rating of the air conditioner mentioned when purchasing an air conditioner refers to the power consumption of the appliance. 1 horsepower = 1 horsepower (mechanical) = 735W, and horsepower does not refer to the refrigeration capacity. Usually, when we say how many horsepower an air conditioner is, we estimate the refrigeration capacity of the air conditioner based on its power consumption. Generally speaking, it is customary to use 1 horsepower equal to a refrigeration capacity of 2500W (that is, the 25 model), and 1.5 horsepower is approximately equal to a refrigeration capacity of 3500W (that is, the 35 model). The horsepower rating of other models can be estimated according to the refrigeration capacity.
1HP (horsepower) is 0.735KW, which is a power unit (generally referring to the input power) rather than a refrigeration capacity unit. Many people can't figure out the relationship between the electrical power and the refrigeration capacity. The electrical power of a 1-horsepower air conditioner is 735.499W, and the refrigeration capacity of a 1-horsepower air conditioner is approximately 2326W.
For air conditioners with the same electrical power, the refrigeration capacities produced by different manufacturers are not necessarily the same. The air conditioner with a larger refrigeration capacity is the most power-saving. It is difficult to determine the thermal power of an air conditioner by measuring the electrical power, because it is possible that the electrical power of 3 horsepower can only produce the refrigeration capacity of 2 horsepower.
So now air conditioners are all measured by refrigeration capacity. The unit of horsepower was introduced into China from Japan, and it is rarely used in Japan now and should be phased out. In fact, the most widely used units now are USRT (U.S. Refrigeration Ton, 1USRT = 3.517KW) and KW, which directly refer to the refrigeration capacity and make people understand the meaning at a glance.