Highest BTU AC for 110 Volts: The highest BTU AC for 110 Volts input is the LG LW1516ER window unit. It is rated at 15,000 BTU. Typically 110 Volt units max out at 12000 BTUs, but the LG LW1516ER is considerably higher than that.
But what exactly is BTU?…
It stands for British thermal unit and is the internationally applied unit for measurement of energy. By definition, it is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
But wait, how does that apply to air conditioning? Aren’t ACs supposed to cool your room? You are exactly right. But while measuring the energy of ACs in BTU, it is the quantity of heat, or power, that a unit can take out of your room per hour.
Per hour is added to this to measure the amount of energy in unit time. We’ll explain how that works shortly. That is why you want to get the highest BTU ac for 110 volts of 220 volts etc.
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Are Higher BTUs Better?
The next thing you might be thinking is, are higher BTUs better for you? Well, if we talk in terms of raw power, then yes. The higher the BTU value of an AC, the quicker it can remove energy from a particular space.
In other words, it means the early cooling of your room. But that is not the only thing to consider. After all, we do have to pay for the energy we use, and higher BTUs, very obviously, use more power.
So, the highest BTU AC is not the only thing at which you should be aiming.
How Many BTUs do You Need?
Now that we have figured out how BTUs work, how many BTUs do you need for your room? Generally, the ideal ratio for proper cooling in the room is 20 BTUs per square feet of space.
But, you don’t need to be so meticulously calculating about it. As the BTUs get higher, you can exercise a certain amount of flexibility according to your need.
As an example, for a 300 square feet room, you would require 300 x 20 = 6000 BTUs. It is best not to go too lower the ideal limit. Anything below 5000 BTUs for a 300 square feet room may prove inadequate
That depends upon your region’s climate. Similarly, anything above 7500-8000 BTUs would be an unnecessary waste of energy and your money.
110 Volts or 220 Volts, Which is better?
Both the voltages have their pros and cons. While using 110 volts transmission lines are generally safer for the community, they come with a few drawbacks.
As the voltages get lower, appliances need more amperes to work. As a consequence, the wires for transmission of 110 Volts are much thicker and use much more copper.
Overall, the transmission of 220 volts is much cheaper than 110 Volts. But, 220 Volts transmission lines are much more dangerous.
What is Cheaper, 110V or 220V?
The next question anyone would ask is what is cheaper as a consumer? The answer may be a little bit complicated so bear with us.
The billing companies do not charge you for the number of volts that are being transmitted. They charge you for the amount of energy that you consume. The unit of electricity is kWh.
Let’s take it from the top; any appliance requires a certain amount of energy to work. That does not change whether you are using 110V or 220V. There are three terms you need to understand
Voltage: It is the potential difference being applied across the transmission wire. E.g. 220 volts, 110 volts etc.
Amperage: It is the amount of current flowing through any wire or appliance. Think of it as the number of electrons that are crossing a cable at a single time.
Wattage: When you multiply the total volts with the number of electrons passing through the wire, you get the total energy that is calculated in watts. In other words, wattage = Amperes x volts.
Now, the electric companies charge you for the watts that you use in a given amount of time. The unit Kilowatt-hour means the number of Kilowatts (1000s of watts) used in 60 minutes.
By definition, as your appliance is going to use the same amount of watts, if the volts are low, the amperes drawn would be significant to keep the equation balanced. That is the reason 110 Volts wires are thicker, as they need to transmit more amperes.
So, what does that mean for you as a consumer? It means that whatever the power supply you want to use, it will cost you more or less the same when it comes to you in your utility bill.
Highest BTU AC for 110 Volts
Let’s talk about the specs of our LG LW1516ER. As already mentioned, this is the highest cooling in terms of BTUs that you can achieve with a 110 volts unit.
The unit weighs around 112 pounds and is 26″ x 17 11/16″ x 28 1/8″ (W x H x D). It is not exactly a light unit but is not heavy for its rating. The company considers this suitable for a room of 800 square feet.
Also, it is much easier to install than split systems. But, the power consumption is more. The unit is rated to bring the humidity of your room down 3.3 points in an hour.
In detailed specs,
The unit has an indoor noise of a minor 59 decibels and the outdoor noise is 65 decibels. Sixty decibels is the sound at which humans regularly talk, so you don’t have to worry about it being loud. The unit also boasts a four-way air deflection system.
Also, it has an energy-saving function that conserves energy when your room is at the designated temperature.
Highest BTU AC for 110 Volts (Split)
Window units are usually heavy power consumers. Most users prefer lighter and more power-efficient split AC. But, how is split AC different from a regular AC?
A split AC has a separate compressor (outdoor unit) and an indoor unit. The basic principle of cooling is the same. The difference in mechanism exists because of the physical configuration.
The highest BTU AC (split) available in 110 volts is 12000 BTUs. 12000 BTUs equal 1 Ton and this configuration is offered by many companies. It is up to you to decide which one you want to buy.
Different regions may have different bestsellers. However, a typical split unit fitting these parameters would have the following specs.
Highest BTU AC for 110 Volts (Split) specs
The inner unit (Evaporator) is much lighter in weight than the average AC. It should weigh around eighty pounds. The outer unit however could weigh almost doubly as much. The split configuration is more modern and sleek looking.
Split can be mounted anywhere on your wall as long as you connect the requisite pipes and wires to the outer unit. That means more flexibility in installation.
The 12000 BTU unit is considered good for a 700 square feet room which is not bad as the 15000 AC covers 800 square feet. When it comes to noise, the split AC is much quieter than the regular unit. It will be a relatively silent 41 Decibels, which means quieter nights in summers.
But, the installation requires more effort and you will probably need a professional. As they are mounted high on walls and the tools required are usually not available at a regular household.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you want the highest BTU in a 110 volts unit, you need a regular AC. 15000 BTUs will cool your room up in a jiffy. But, it comes with an additional load of high power consumption. The Split may not be providing you with maximum horsepower, but, it moderates.
You get a reasonable power rating along with moderate power bills. In the end, the choice depends upon the requirement of the user.