Air Conditioner

Abstract

An objective is to realize an air conditioner in which the amount of consumed electric power can be integrated without using an exclusive electric-power-amount counter, and a control line for measuring the amount of the electric power can be shortened. Commercial electric power is supplied to an outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit of the air conditioner through a Watt-hour meter 3, for measuring the amount of electric power supplied to the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit, having a transmitter for transmitting pulse signals, and through an electric power line 4. The Watt-hour meter 3 and the outdoor unit 1 are communicatively connected to each other through a control line 5. The outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit are communicatively connected to a centralized controller through a transmission line 7. Especially, the outdoor unit 1 includes a Watt-hour meter connection circuit 10 for receiving a signal related to the amount of the electric power from the Watt-hour meter 3, and a controller 11 for integrating the amount of electric power based on the received signal related to the amount of the electric power.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to air conditioners in which the amount of consumed electric power is configured to be integrated in the side of an outdoor unit, based on signals transmitted from a Watt-hour meter.BACKGROUND ART[0002]In a conventional air conditioner, when the amount of consumed electric power is measured, as disclosed in the following Patent Document 1, signals transmitted from Watt-hour meters installed between indoor / outdoor units and commercial electric power source have been taken into exclusive amount counters and counted; thus, the amount of the electric power has been configured to be integrated.[0003][Patent Document 1][0004]Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 234,792 / 2000 (on pages 4-6, FIG. 1)DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION[0005]However, in the method of measuring the amount of the electric power consumed by the air conditioner disclosed in the above document, the exclusive electric-power-amount counters, which are relatively expensive, a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Moreover, a second objective is to obtain an air conditioner in which a control line needed for measuring the amount of electric power can be shortened.

[0014]According to the air conditioner of the present invention, the outdoor unit takes the signals related to the amounts of the electric power, consumed in the outdoor and indoor units, outputted from the Watt-hour meter also placed take the room, and integrates the amount of the electric power; therefore, it is effective that the amount of the consumed electric power can be measured without using any exclusive electric-power-amount counter for integrating the amount of electric power. Therefore, a large amount of expense for the electric-power-amount counter is unnecessary to be invested, and a space for mounting the electric-power-amount counter is also unnecessary to be secured. Moreover, because the outdoor unit and the Watt-hour meter can be placed close to each other, the amount of the electric power can be integrated at the proximity of the Watt-hour meter; therefore, it is also effective that the control line for integrating the amount of electric power can be shortened.

Problems solved by technology

However, in the method of measuring the amount of the electric power consumed by the air conditioner disclosed in the above document, the exclusive electric-power-amount counters, which are relatively expensive, and take a relatively large area to be mounted, are needed to be used.

Correspondingly, because the electric-power-amount counter is mounted on a controller panel, etc. placed inside a room, a problem has occurred in which electrical lines wired from the electric-power-amount counters to the outdoor unit and the Watt-hour meter are lengthened.

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