Non-inverter aircon

A non-inverter air conditioner uses a compressor that runs at one fixed speed. When the unit is switched on, the compressor works at full output until the room reaches the temperature you set. It then shuts off, and the compressor starts again once the room warms up past the setpoint. This on-and-off pattern is called cycling, and it is the defining trait of the design.

The cycling matters because it affects how steady the room feels. Each restart draws a surge of current, and the air temperature tends to swing a little above and below the setpoint rather than holding flat. Many older HDB flats and condominium units in Yishun were fitted with this type of unit, so you will still find plenty of them on service calls, especially where the outdoor unit is an older model.

Non-inverter units are generally simpler in construction, which is one reason they remain in use and are still stocked by some suppliers. They lack the variable-speed drive found in inverter systems, so they cannot ramp their output up or down to match the load. Technicians servicing these units usually focus on refrigerant charge, the capacitor, the contactor, and the condenser coil, since those components govern whether the compressor cycles correctly.

If you are comparing this design with the alternative, the main thing to know is that a non-inverter unit has a single fixed output. For help locating technicians who install or service either type, see aircon installation providers in this directory.

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