Difference Between Automatic Air Conditioning Vs. Manual

Automatic

• An automatic air conditioner allows you to set a desired temperature. These units work in conjunction with a built-in thermostat, which detects and monitors the current temperature and signals the air conditioner system to keep pumping out cool air until the desired temperature setting is reached. For example, if the thermostat is set to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the air conditioner will stay on until the thermostat registers that the room has reached this temperature. At that point, the thermostat will direct the air conditioner fans and motor to shut off. Once the room temperature exceeds 70 degrees, the unit will automatically turn back on.

Manual

• Manual air conditioners have knobs and dials that allow the user to determine the amount of airflow that the unit will generate. The settings are typically low, medium and high. Instead of coming on automatically, the air conditioner must be turned on by the user, who then selects the amount of airflow desired. When the room has reached the optimum cooling level, the operator turns off the air conditioner and has to turn it back on again when the room gets too warm.

Similarities

• Manual and automatic air conditioners are used to cool homes, businesses and vehicles. Manual and automatic systems are primarily used to cool one room or zone in a home or building, or for a small space, such as a vehicle. These units do not require a “whole home” HVAC duct work system to operate. Only central air conditioning systems require duct work. Manual-style units used in homes include window air conditioners, portable air conditioners, ductless mini-split systems and packaged terminal air conditioners (PTAC) units -- typically seen inside hotel rooms and commercial buildings. Both types of systems use a refrigerant, such as Freon, to disperse cool air into rooms and vehicles.

Differences

• A manual system requires the human touch. You have to turn it on, turn it off and select the airflow speed (low, medium or high) for the fans and motor while it is running. An automatic system will come on and turn off by itself when the thermostat detects that the room needs cool air. However, there is also an on demand option with an automatic system that bypasses the thermostat and turns the unit on or off at any time. Automatic systems are more akin to a central air conditioning system than a manual system because they utilize a thermostat. You can also select a model with a programmable thermostat and set the system to cool at different temperatures and set cooling variables for different times, such as daytime, nighttime and weekends.