Does a fan that can be plugged into an outlet use as much energy as an AC?

Question

im just wondering

casue i think the fan is just as cool as the AC

Answer 1

1 fan = 1 AC fan

2 fans = 1 AC fan and 1 AC compressor

3+ fans = more than an AC unit.

I find that

setting the AC at 78F in the day time,

74F at night

and closing the doors to any unoccupied rooms

, makes a comfortable home with surprisingly low energy cost.

Answer 2

Nope, fan uses alot less. In a fan you only need enough power to apply to the electric motor to spin the fan.

In an AC unit you not only have a fan, but you have the whole cooling process to supply power to...namely the condensors, pressure regulation, etc.

Answer 3

As long as the compressor doesn't turn on, they will both use equal amount of energy.

However an AC unit uses a compressor to compress the freon gas by forcing it through a small tube, which empties into a large tube, this takes a lot of energy.

However your most efficient fan, is the ceiling fan, and uses much less energy than a free standing fan, and is more effective both for cooling and heating.

Answer 4

fans use a fraction of the energy of AC.

An air conditioner basically works by compressing a refrigerant gas, which heats the gas up.  The fluid is circulated to the outside of the unit, then allowed to decompress as it flows to the inside - cooling it down a lot.  Air is pushed past the decompression parts with a fan.  

Compressors use a lot of energy, and there's a fan in the AC to boot.

Answer 5

You would have to check the amp draw on each while running but remember a fan just moves air around and a a/c unit cools the air, in most cases if your using a box fan,vs a A/C  window unit. the A/C will use more but feel better.