What is an Inverter HVAC System?

In this video, Joshua Griffin share what exactly is an inverter HVAC system, and why more homeowners today are considering having one installed in their home than ever before. Being the future of the HVAC industry, Joshua talks about the origins of the technology and why he considers Daikin the best at producing HVAC equipment to his customers. Lastly, Joshua discusses the misconception homeowners may have when comparing HVAC systems and how it can be confusing when comparing inverter, VRF, VRV, and variables heating and air conditioning technologies.

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Griffin Air and Joshua Griffin have partnered with Daikin on multiple projects. FTC requires disclosure of these relationships due to the compensation received.

----------Chapters------------
0:00 Intro: What is an inverter HVAC System?
0:53 Single-stage, multi-stage, inverter systems
1:12 Communicating vs Noncommunicating
1:27 Comparing HVAC ratings
1:54 Saving energy
2:11 Variable speed may not mean inverter
3:03 Contractors fighting change
3:24 The future of HVAC in America
4:31 Different types of Inverters and Daikin
5:43 Rebates and Incentives
6:00 Outro

#hvac #efficiency #inverter

[GeorgePullyjr]

I have being doing hvac for 23 years and just built a home and have been in it three months I have to say working with all the systems on the market the system I went with was the Goodman side discharge full communicating inverter I live in Alabama and it’s very hot here in the summer I have to say the inverter is well worth it my system stays on 73 and it can be 99 and feel like 108 and this system never really gets to 100 percent capacity if it does it for a short time but every time I have been outside going things the outdoor fan is running at about 50 percent and I really like how quite it is you have to be right on top of it to hear it running and I also like how it ramps up and down so I’m like Josh here this is where heating and cooling is going it’s already taken place and in five years this is what we well be dealing with and using

[RJeezy]

100% accurate... Had no idea what the difference between inverter and variable speed... Had five different companies come out and none of them would suggest going with an inverter system, saying they were just overpriced/ overhyped equipment.

[anthonyspadafora]

An inverter heat pump takes incoming a/c current and runs it through a bridge rectifier to create a very smooth DC current, that DC current is then put through a simulated 3 phase AC inverter which is can be started without start windings and its speed can easily be controlled. This is why a 2 stator generator that produces dirty AC can be used on an inverter, it is going to be rectified anyway.That is the compressor, the condenser fan is controlled differently. Some are DC being powered off the rectifier, some are just multi speed AC and others are simulated 3 phase just like the compressor. Hence All inverters are variable speed but not all variable speeds are an inverter. There are units, particularly the ones that run off of solar power that are DC and actually use a DC compressor. Inverters today are very good, surpassing 95% efficiency but even that 5% is too steep a loss for solar powered units. I think the biggest hurdle for manufacturers to go to all inverter units is the simple fact they spent the last 35 years tooling up for scroll compressors. This took quite a while as they were still selling piston style compressors in 2010 and maybe later. They are not having any success at varying the speed of scrolls which makes them unsuitable for inverter drive motors. Now rotary compressors are being used, the rotary is not new, they have been using them in refrigerators for decades but for some reason not in AC systems. So now they will have to retool to build rotary compressors. Hopefully with the new CNC machinery available today it doesnt take 35 years to do this. Even the best vapor injection units found on the Mitsubishi are rotary.

[sweetiepienumber]

I did a little reading and just bought a dual inverter window ac (I know, window ac) even though we have a new roof top unit; Arizona. Will install in a day or two. It's over 110 degrees. Thank you for the explanation.

[michaelcinaz]

The issues to overcome with more complicated/higher seer/more efficient systems: The cost has to make sense- upfront cost and maintenance cost. Two years ago a friend bought a 3 ton Lennox split system with a XC16 2 stage cool 16 seer A/C and a SL280V 2 stage heat variable speed gas furnace for $8000. Great deal, but if she bought the XC 25 (22 seer) A/C, then it would’ve been $14, 000. Maintenance cost are way higher on the highest seer rated A/C because of needing to replace the computer circuit boards and other expensive parts after a period of time.
Technicians need proper training to install/set up/program the systems. They didn’t even program her gas furnace to put out the right amount of airflow. Left it on factory settings. There are 12 speeds for cooling and 12 speeds for heating. Need to have Wi-Fi in the house for communicating systems, not everybody has it.

[bobboscarato]

Hello Joshua; great explanation; I'm considering replacing my existing system with a 3 ton HP about 16 SEER.- 2 years ago I purchased a Panasonic Microwave oven and supposedly has inverter technology. It has no compressor, so I figured they used the word as a "silly buyer magnet". Buyer beware!

[dankelley]

When they become more widely accepted would be the time to look at these. Who cares what other countries are doing? Normally lagging in every measure. More sophisticated systems are more expensive & a lot more costly to repair, normally never getting enough saving to justify the cost!

[Garth]

I've always wondered why our USA AC electric doesn't get "inverted" to DC at the point of entry for residential. DC current is a constant sine wave and more efficient with motors in general.
I also say the same with the Cable and Satellite industry, why not put the "box" at the point of entry of residences and then let the tuners that come with the TV's or other devices use their own electronics to display the many channels. I can think of many reasons that is reasonable but one is saving the power each TV box must use because each TV location has to have the decryption of the signals and for that, a lot of these boxes are using 100 watts each.

I do like the idea of DC operated HVAC as the efficiency is much better however, where is the natural gas condenser these days? Those seem to be even more efficient in cost to run.

Also, we need to look at the cost of maintenance for these inverter systems....A $200 AC 220v blower motor is about $1, 200 for inverter type. Compressors are more expensive too and then there are all of the "electronics" with inverter systems that will fail along the way and they are all proprietary and expensive vs. "universal" parts inexpensive.

[AnalogueKid]

I think the problem right now is most manufacturers see inverters as a reason to charge way more than the standard system even though it might only cost 5-10% more to make. To its credit, Daikin Fit isn’t too pricey, but all the big American brands treat inverters as a Lamborghini

[Starry_Night_Sky]

I guess this applies to those window units that are inverter AC's too.

[williamcotham]

Hi Josh, love your channel! You mentioned how inverter systems can meet requirements for Federal tax credits, etc. Just wondering your thoughts on why the Daikin FIT fails to meet the EER2 requirement for the 2023 tax credits. I'm still planning on purchasing a system because its so much less expensive than other inverter systems, but it would have been nice to get that fed tax credit! At least it does qualify for a rebate with my local utility.

[papapickett]

What is your opinion on the Bosch BOVA15 inverter coupled with the single stage air handler? I cant make sense of why they would pair an inverter with a single stage motor.

[deniserobb]

I had a quick question: I'm getting bids on a 4 ton system and received bids for Bosch and Trane, I'm told they are both variables (with inverters). Does anyone have an opinion on which one might be better? SEER2 17 for Trane and SEER 2 16 for Bosch. Consumer Reports doesn't mention Bosch at all?? Thank you.

[stevenporter]

Which inverter system would you put in a new build in Charlotte NC? My builder's HVAC has recommended the Bosch inverter system 20 seer or for $3k more the Rheem RP20 inverter system? I asked for the inverter variable speed instead of a 2 stage heat pump system that he originally quoted.

[JoeBuck-ucbl]

So “Inverter” must have a more broad definition of electronically intelligent voltage regulation, regardless of whether we’re talking about DC or AC input?? Because what had me so confused is that I saw an inverter compressor that had AC as input, and the variable output was DC. I was so confused because I was always told that “Inverters turn DC to AC, and rectifiers turn AC to DC.”

So, I’m guessing that perhaps it’s just SO common for inverters to convert DC to AC that many people incorrectly go around saying that the specific job of an inverter is to change DC to AC, yet that’s not accurate (it’s just the only application that these people have seen, so that’s why they think this)?? I’m guessing then that a more accurate description of an inverter is any type of intelligent voltage conversion/regulation whatsoever (regardless of AC/DC input or output)?

Especially if a person is mostly familiar with solar power, it really does seem like the ‘Inverter’ is absolutely the conversion of DC to AC (and you will be specific told by many people that that IS what an inverter does). We may have one of those cases here where a technical term is confused between different fields/contexts.

[MrDevil]

are these inverter system window units or they are for whole house

[MrJoseautosusa]

For me less electronics the better I'll go for the mechanical system period...you will save money on electric...but spend 10 times more for repairs and maintenance.

[sheldonoppenheim]

Are there any inverter systems that would work with a Nest based system? The communicating thermostats are outrageous. As I have zoned system, that twice the outrage.

[yeeebayeeba]

I used to like you, but i like my 6.7l coal rolling 8 mpg truck better. I will also try to keep the most energy consuming a/c system available. The day i sacrafice being comfortable over "climate change" nonsense will be the day im 6 feet under.