Assessing the Impact of Increased Air Conditioner Load on Power Quality in Australia

Measurements of performance of existing technology air conditioner systems with regards to their impact on power quality in LV distribution systems are presented. Three types of split-phase air conditioners are studied including direct on line starting, soft starter and inverter fed units. Results of testing and subsequent calculations illustrate that the direct on line and soft starter units do not meet compliance requirements of the relevant standard, and as penetration of air conditioners increases, voltage fluctuations may become a significant problem in some LV distribution systems in Australia.