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hvac:solar_ac [2023/08/28 05:38] princess_fluffypants [I am rich, foolheardy, or both, and still want to run A/C off of solar] |
hvac:solar_ac [2024/02/05 12:05] princess_fluffypants Simplfying and condensing some things |
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====== Running A/C off solar ====== | ====== Running A/C off solar ====== | ||
- | **TL;DR - It is technically possible, but very expensive and complex. Be prepared to spend at //least// $10, | + | **TL;DR - It is technically possible, but very expensive and complex. Be prepared to spend at // |
- | More expensive than the A/C system itself is everything you'll need to power it. A/C takes a //huge// amount of electricity; | + | More expensive than the A/C system itself is everything you'll need to power it. A/C takes a //huge// amount of electricity; |
If you are reading this you probably haven' | If you are reading this you probably haven' | ||
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This is very practical, and it's how RVs have been doing it for many years. The A/C systems run natively on 120v AC(Alternating Current) and are getting power from a [[electrical: | This is very practical, and it's how RVs have been doing it for many years. The A/C systems run natively on 120v AC(Alternating Current) and are getting power from a [[electrical: | ||
+ | |||
+ | 120v AC units are vastly more common, and much cheaper than the 12v or 24v DC units. These are usually roof-mounted, | ||
See [[https:// | See [[https:// | ||
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- | ===== AC vs DC ===== | + | ==== 12v/24v/48v DC Units ==== |
- | + | ||
- | ==== 120v AC (Alternating Current) systems ==== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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: | + | |
- | + | ||
- | See [[https:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ==== 12v/24v/48v DC ==== | + | |
- | Units that can operate directly on DC current off of your house batteries give some efficiency gains as you don't need to run them through an inverter, but they are very expensive. | + | AC Units that can operate directly on DC current off of your house batteries give some efficiency gains as you don't need to run them through an inverter, but they are very expensive. |
- | **All-in-one roof units** offer a much simpler installation and are usually around $2,500; 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 less 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: |