How many AA batteries does it take to run central air conditioning for 8 hours?
About 9,300 AA batteriesA 3.5 kW central AC for 8 hours uses 28 kWh, and one AA holds about 3 Wh.
It takes about 9,300 AA batteries.
How we worked it out
A 3.5 kW central AC for 8 hours uses 28 kWh, and one AA holds about 3 Wh. Alkaline AA batteries, about 3 Wh each, and no energy lost on the way. Real life adds a little friction and waste, so treat the number as a solid ballpark rather than a lab result. The constants behind every experiment are on the science page.
Watch it happen
This was one of the five experiments in It Took #43. In the game you guess first, then the experiment plays out with your number: too few and it fails, too many and it overshoots.
Play It Took #43Play today’s experiments
More aa batteries questions
- How many AA batteries does it take to run a fan all night? About 310.
- How many AA batteries does it take to take an 8-minute electric shower? About 330.
- How many AA batteries does it take to run a fridge for a day? About 400.
- How many AA batteries does it take to tumble-dry one load of laundry? About 1,000.
- How many AA batteries does it take to charge a phone every day for a year? About 1,600.
- How many AA batteries does it take to fill a Tesla Powerwall home battery? About 4,500.
- How many AA batteries does it take to drive an electric car 100 km? About 5,000.
- How many AA batteries does it take to power an average US home for a day? About 9,700.