Electrical Engineering XYZ MCQs
Air conditioners are rated in:
- kW
- Tons
- kWh
- Amps
Correct answer: 2. Tons
Explanation: Air conditioners are typically rated in tons. This rating is a measure of the cooling capacity of the air conditioner. One ton of cooling is equal to the amount of heat needed to melt one ton (2000 pounds) of ice in a 24-hour period, which is equivalent to 12,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour. This rating system is commonly used in the United States and some other countries.
The other options provided are not typically used for rating air conditioners:
- kW (kilowatts) is a unit of power, which indicates the rate at which energy is consumed or generated. While air conditioners do consume electricity and are rated in terms of power (in kW), the typical rating is in tons rather than kW.
- kWh (kilowatt-hours) is a unit of energy, representing the amount of energy consumed over time. It’s used for measuring electricity consumption, but it’s not a direct rating for air conditioners.
- Amps (amperes) is a unit of electric current. While air conditioners do draw current when they operate, amperes are not used as a primary rating for air conditioners. The current drawn depends on the voltage and the power consumption of the unit, but it’s not a direct measure of the cooling capacity.