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hvac:solar_ac [2023/08/28 05:27] princess_fluffypants Rearranging sections a bit |
hvac:solar_ac [2023/08/28 05:41] princess_fluffypants [I am rich, foolheardy, or both, and still want to run A/C off of solar] |
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Especially because (rather paradoxically) running A/C off of solar requires that you park your van in the sun; which means the inside of the van will get //MUCH// hotter than it would if you simply parked in the shade. This puts you in a weird catch-22 where you can't run the A/C without parking in the sun, but parking in the sun means you have to run the A/C much harder than your solar can sometimes keep up with. | Especially because (rather paradoxically) running A/C off of solar requires that you park your van in the sun; which means the inside of the van will get //MUCH// hotter than it would if you simply parked in the shade. This puts you in a weird catch-22 where you can't run the A/C without parking in the sun, but parking in the sun means you have to run the A/C much harder than your solar can sometimes keep up with. | ||
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===== Running A/C off of shore power ===== | ===== Running A/C off of shore power ===== | ||
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See [[https:// | See [[https:// | ||
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===== But I saw someone on TikTok doing it! ===== | ===== But I saw someone on TikTok doing it! ===== | ||
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- Rich people with extremely expensive vans that they paid professionals to build | - Rich people with extremely expensive vans that they paid professionals to build | ||
- | - " | + | - " |
- Completely faked and just being shared around to generate views | - Completely faked and just being shared around to generate views | ||
- All of the above. | - All of the above. | ||
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There is a reason that most people [[camping: | There is a reason that most people [[camping: | ||
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===== I am rich, foolheardy, or both, and still want to run A/C off of solar ===== | ===== I am rich, foolheardy, or both, and still want to run A/C off of solar ===== | ||
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* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
- | ==== AC vs DC ==== | + | ===== AC vs DC ===== |
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+ | The biggest decision to make is how you're going to power the A/C system. | ||
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+ | ==== 120v AC (Alternating Current) systems ==== | ||
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+ | These units are vastly more common, and much cheaper. These are usually roof-mounted units, smaller ones can be had for as little as $500 and are very common in the rest of the R/V world. So if you have a a big enough inverter anyway it can be cheaper to go that route. It also gives you the option of easily powering the unit off of [[electrical: | ||
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+ | See [[https:// | ||
- | **120v AC** (Alternating Current) systems are vastly more common, and much cheaper. These are usually roof-mounted units, smaller ones can be had for as little as $500 and are very common in the rest of the R/V world. So if you have a a big enough inverter anyway it can be cheaper to go that route. It also gives you the option of easily powering the unit off of [[electrical: | + | ==== 12v/24v/48v DC ==== |
- | **12v/ | + | Units that can operate directly on DC current off of your house batteries |
- | All-in-one roof units offer a much simpler installation and are usually around $2,000; Dometic has their [[https:// | + | **All-in-one roof units** offer a much simpler installation and are usually around $2,500; Dometic has their [[https:// |
- | Split units separate the evaporator/ | + | **Split units** separate the evaporator/ |
Beginning in about 2023, cheap Chinese 12v mini-split systems have started to come down to almost acceptable prices ($1k in the USA, or as little as $500 if you can wait the 1-2 months for shipping from China). Reports on them have been mixed; similar to the Chinese knock-off [[hvac: | Beginning in about 2023, cheap Chinese 12v mini-split systems have started to come down to almost acceptable prices ($1k in the USA, or as little as $500 if you can wait the 1-2 months for shipping from China). Reports on them have been mixed; similar to the Chinese knock-off [[hvac: |