solar power for rv air conditioner

Sizing the extra battery bank capacity required to operate the air conditioning each day is quite a bit easier. I also take my work very seriously and am very proud of it. I’ve been trying to find someone to do our installation. Fate Unbound is not affiliated with or endorsed by any RV and/or Travel company. Lets say we plan to use the air conditioning for 5 hours per day. Update! CarGenerator CG1000 1kw inverter Using this gear I’ll be able to create a test system that will power an RV air conditioner for perhaps 90 minutes or so from a single 100-amp-hr Lithium battery. It can be plugged into RV 30A/50A hookups, as well as more common 15A/20A household outlets with appropriate cables and settings toggles. This of course is assuming “full sun” lasts for 7 hours each day. Sizing is the most important factor in how your solar power will function with your RV. Will It Work on A … Our battery bank is currently 400 Ah of capacity. The average AC unit uses … If you have wondered if it is possible for you to power your air conditioner with the use of solar energy, I have wondered the same thing. There are many steps that the power has to go through before it is efficient. All three of these things are required to be extremely large. Our RV goes where the weather is comfortable and mild depending on the season. For a 13,500 BTU air conditioner, the starting wattage is 2,800- 3,000 W. Note: It is not good to max out your inverter. Here, you can find an ultimate buyer’s guide we wrote all about solar panels for your RV. Watt-hours really only matters for things like tracking electrical usage, like the power company wanting to know how much you’ve used so they can charge you correctly. Just a thought. In today's video, we're going to make it very clear that you CAN power an Air Conditioner off of Solar Power. The inverter receives 12 volt DC electricity from the batteries, transforms it to 120 volt AC electricity, and sends it on to supply power to the 120 volt AC panel. Hi Joe! You have to pay for all that electricity, of course, but it’s readily available.Air conditioning is one of the biggest energy hogs in your home. With an inverter/charger, no power flows back into shore power, so no grid-tie system is required. My cousin in law (I know, sounds funny) just got an RV and we went camping in it for the first time a couple months ago. Unfortunately this means, to run our A/C regularly, it requires roughly double the wattage of solar panels (so 1500 watts) and at least double the amp-hour battery bank capacity (150+ Ah per hour of A/C usage at night) described in the video. I am looking at the math on a 1700 Watt AC system. Also, I am not a writer by trade and have no formal training in it so you say that my writing is well balanced and reads very naturally and easily is a huge compliment. Great job! If you have the intent on powering your air conditioning for five hours per day, your air conditioning will require 750 Ah a day from the batteries. THOR Industries Buys Tiffin Motorhomes Since the air conditioner draws 150 amps we’d require 150 Ah extra capacity for every hour we plan to run the air conditioning when the sun isn’t shining – such as at night and during cloudy days (150 A x 1 h = 150 Ah). For me, it is not worth the hassle to power my RV. Thanks, Brent. Everyone wants to know how to power an RV air conditioner with solar – or if it’s even possible! A little quick math shows that each 100 amp-hr Lithium battery will run an air conditioner for around 90 minutes at a 50% duty-cycle, so 4 Lithium batteries would run it for maybe 6 hours, if it wasn’t too hot outside. Question: If I was to run a seperate battery bank with solar power, sufficient enough to run the microwave coffee pot etc from an inverter.. can that be fed directly back into the camper by an inverter, making sure that the only way that the power is coming into the RV is by the shore power plug, or would the power need t go through a grid tie inverter or am I opening a big can of worms with this chain of thought. SOLAR OFF GRID AIR CONDITIONER If your power source is native 48VDC as part of a telecom or off-grid solar application, Superen's 48v all-DC air conditioners are your most efficient cooling choice. Solar energy has both advantages and disadvantages. Wow great thank you so much for all your information & time. It is up to you to answer this question. Can Solar Panels Power an RV Air Conditioner? Can you run your air conditioner off solar panels? With this said, the question “how do I power an RV air conditioner with solar?” is not a wiring or installation issue. With an efficient cooling system for a small home or studio apartment, you could get by with about three panels rated for 320 watts each. To size these solar components for regular air conditioning I determined how many amps my 13,500 BTU RV air conditioner drew during operation. Therefore, to regularly power a 13,500 BTU air conditioner, we’d need an absolute minimum of 1500 watts of solar panels (107 A x 14.4 V = 1500 W). Our roof space is already almost completely monopolized by solar panels. Below is a diagram showing the flow of electricity throughout an RV solar system. 15 amps on a 120V circuit, but 150 amps on a 12V circuit. A solar powered rv will need lots of considerations before you just start using it to power your rv air conditioner. For those looking for a quick answer as to whether solar panels can power an RV air conditioner, the answer is yes. The 12-volt system is powered by a battery (or in some cases, multiple batteries), and it powers things such as the start-up on your water heater, furnace, and refrigerator, plus most of the lights in your RV… There is plenty of other information out there on the basics of wiring and RV solar, so I left this post at a bit of a more advanced level. Wow that has got to be one of the nicest most well thought out comments I’ve ever received. Once you know this, follow these steps: THOR Buys Tiffin Motorhomes: What Happens Now? In order to meet this need, the solar panels would be required to generate 107 amps 7 hours every day (This is if it is a clear, sunny day. How did you determine the 14.4V in your calculation of the minimum wattage requirement from your solar panels? I really appreciate you saying all that because I really do care about the reader and want what is best for them. Air conditioning is fairly unimportant to us. How To Improve Your RV Gas Mileage If you are researching solar panels for you RV, you are probably fairly familiar with solar energy. It all boils down to two things. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; I like the looks of your RV and the solar panel system is nice! Hopefully all this was helpful and showed you how to power an RV air conditioner with solar. With a few LED lights shining and the inverter on my battery monitor read 6 amps being pulled from the batteries. Not sponsored by Victron, but they are the primary company I’ve seen that offers such capabilities. Some air conditioners need 2.5kw. Air Conditioner. Just because it is possible, does not mean it is simple. All AC and DC electronics should be able to be powered by the batteries. I’m not sure you you would know what might be cause this. You just answered your own question. So we could purchase and install a soft start to reduce the size of inverter required to regularly operate our RV’s air conditioner. And if you’re curious of what we have, here’s a video & post reviewing our entire RV solar system. Your meticulous attention to detail is balanced (and tempered) by the natural ease with which this piece reads… To me, this reveals someone that not only possesses a strong sense of both humility and empathy (“the CARE”), but that who also possesses a deep level of respect and an ingrained sense of pride of workmanship — as is evidenced via the sheer diligence of your efforts, here (“the Work”)…, (Consequently, thank you very much for demonstrating the former — and for so-doing, by proxy of your performance of the latter… ), (Btw, I’m sorry if this comment makes me seem as though I’m a bit of a ham… Although old habits are said to die hard, I can I assure you that I am well-cured, these days… :-p’). Before we get up to our necks in numbers we first need to get a good understanding of how RV solar works. We do not install solar on other rigs as we’re not certified to do so and are not only note experts but we don’t have appropriate insurance in case we mess up. In this article, we go over the pros and cons to powering your RV with solar panels or generators. Please try again. Jenni and I have mentioned multiple times in videos that we “can’t use the air conditioner”, but that’s not entirely true. Thanks! And check out our series of videos & posts on RV solar for even more information. Window air conditioners are generally about one … Is it worth it to you to invest in a solar system large enough to regularly power air conditioning? The RV world was rocked just 18 months ago when Winnebago Industries purchased luxury RV manufacturer,... Backcountry roads are actually good for gas mileage with steady speeds and minimal traffic. The inverter changes the battery’s DC power to AC and powers the standard AC outlets (just … We simply choose not to and choose to live without air conditioning – except when we have full hookups! Hello, Thanks Brent I’m glad you found the information useful! It would not be simple to supply that much energy. However, an inverter is between the batteries and the 120 volt AC panel. Main Features: Nominal Capacity: 16000 BTU/h; Noise Level: 50 db (decibels) Portable air conditioner for RVs by Kingtec Solar is dependable, easy-to-install … Now we have a number we can use to size our solar to accommodate air conditioning. After I plugged my heated mattress in none of my outlets work only the lights work. We are talking RV solar here, the power source is a 12V battery bank. And the air conditioner is on a 20 amp breaker, not a 15 amp. The best solar generator for an RV currently is the Titan solar generator. For a 10,000 BTU RV air conditioner, 2,000 watts is required to start up and 700 once running. You mean watt hours right? - Camper Report all capabilities of any regular RV powering system are possible. For a 15,000 BTU RV air conditioner, 3,500 watts is required for startup and 1,500 once running. Some companies sell combination inverters, such as Victron’s Inverter/Chargers that allow one to hook up to both a solar setup as well as shore power (not to be confused with the solar charger). The two main advantages that a solar generator has for an RV over a DIY solar kit is that everything is already done in a package deal and has a full warranty on it. However, it will require a lot of energy. Also, since your panels are 160 watt panels, could you replace them with, say, 200 watt panels, with 4 it would give you 800 watts. The most common sources of power for your RV are: There is no right and wrong to how your power your RV. I need to measure the “cycling rate” of the AC on different temperature days to see the total energy usage. Any experience on your system with this cycled demand would be great to know. I’m a retiring mechanical engineer who now owns an RV. So therefore the air conditioning – as well as all 120 volt RV electronics – should be wired to and able to be power by the inverter and batteries. However, the practicalities behind that answer aren’t so easy. You can see the new things we’ve done right here: https://www.fateunbound.com/living-off-rv-solar/. Using solar panels as your source of power for your RV is more complex than you may think. And our storage bays have no room for more batteries. Hello! RV solar kits come with either one 100-watt or 170-watt panel, a small inverter, and one battery. Not only that, but our small RV isn’t nearly large enough to accommodate it. How do I calculate solar power needs? Multiply that number by 1,000 (there are 1,00 watts in 1 kW). So, your solar panel system would need to have at least 3kw to power the air conditioning. I am looking to set up a permanent solar array for my cRV at our Lot, we don’t move the camper and enjoy the permanent setup. Most RVers utilize solar panels and lithium batteries to run their DC electrical needs, which are the lights, fans, water pump, power awning, power tongue jack, and other light-duty … amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; Without further deliberation, it is important to know that an RV air conditioner can be powered by using solar energy. Secondly, I intend to use micro-inverters to generate 10-15 amps AC directly from the solar panels. Hopefully when the compressor cycles I will be able to top off the batteries for night/evening AC running. But the short answer to the question is yes, it is possible. Plenty of room for 1800 Watts of panels. The Popular Phaeton Model from Tiffin Motorhomes Gear up with a supremely sized solar setup and gobble up those sun rays! Kingtec Solar-Powered Air Conditioner For RV. Honestly, the air conditioner is noisy and annoys us both. To replenish 750 Ah each day, the solar panels must generate 107 amps for 7 hours each day (750 Ah ÷ 7 h = 107 amps). For instance, rather than having at least 300 Ah, it would need at least 700 Ah. The problem lies in the size of the solar power plant, reserve battery capacity, and inverter wattage. However, some may not realize the cons associated with them. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Boon-docking is a great way to go where much of the scenery is. The good news is that it is possible for you to use solar power to run your RV’s air conditioning unit. We actually did install a soft start so that we could start our air conditioner with a small 2500 watt inverter generator, check out that video and blog post here! So we move with the seasons and stay where the climate is mild. Whilst running in theory max 15 amps on a 110v circuit without popping a breaker. When writing this post I made the assumption that the reader would have a basic understanding of wiring and RV solar, otherwise why would they be reading about how to do something fairly complex? Everyone does it differently and if you have a favorite, then go for it. The batteries are directly wired to the 12 volt DC side of an RV’s electrical panel and therefore supply power to 12 volt DC electronics directly. Check out our video and blog post on installing the Micro-Air EasyStart 364 soft start! I checked all of my fuses nothing seemed to be blown. Mostly, the solar-powered air conditioners … amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; By this estimate, we'll need about 2,500 watts of solar panels just to break even on the AC unit's consumption. That’s right guys – size matters! Can you use solar panels to run the rv air conditioner. Everyone wants to know how to power an RV air conditioner with solar - or if it's even possible! link to How To Improve Your RV Gas Mileage. There is a lot of work behind the possibility of using solar panels as your RV power source. ***VIDEO INFORMATION UPDATE*** Our 13,500 BTU RV air conditioner actually pulls about 150 amps instead of 73 amps while running from a 12 volt source. Also, down in your storage, could you not build a shelf & put your transfer switch on it, and then have room for at least 1, or possibly 2 more batteries? Therefore, to regularly power a 13,500 BTU air conditioner, we’d need an absolute minimum of 1500 watts of solar panels (107 A x 14.4 V = 1500 W). It depends on how worth-it you believe investing in a solar system that is large enough to meet the needs of your system. Unit made to fit various sizes of RV, camper, and trailers. It has 100% everything needed to run pretty much any RV with ease. The inverter size required is the final piece of this puzzle. amzn_assoc_linkid = "26bc1f4210155c9d5593a16bb8de3ec4"; Great job on this, guys…!!! This will allow you to have a smaller inverter to supply power to your RV’s air conditioner. It has become a popular question if solar power can be used for an RV AC. Now, running wattage of an air conditioner is much less that starting wattage. It is mainly because of its abilit… From the photo of the top of your RV, it looks like you could fit one more panel on the roof, and not have it blocked by the other panel. It also depends on the size of your RV. No, Watts is what is required to power electronics. Theme by. And is your RV large enough to accommodate the large solar array and battery bank required? amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "fateunbound-20"; For a 13500 BTU air conditioner, drawing 150AH energy, you’ll need at least 1500 watts of solar panels to support your air conditioner. The size of your solar array, battery bank, and inverter determine whether or not you can regularly run an RV air conditioner with solar. We intend to full-time for the next two years. However, the issue comes when we turn to the problem of sizing. When you say you will need at least 1500 watts to power the air conditioner. So technically, you don’t have enough space on your RV roof to install enough solar panels to run the air conditioner independently on solar power. Your RV has two separate electrical systems: a 12-volt DC electrical system and a 120-volt AC system. The inverter is required to be extremely large. Post navigation The steps taken from the beginning to the end are as follows: This is a long process to make it to the end result of power, however, it does work. I usually see this product being incorporated in a good Renogy flexible solar panel review considering its effectiveness and high satisfaction rating.This is an excellent choice, especially if you aim to choose the right RV solar panels. To give more leeway, it would be better to require 3,500- 4,000 W. It may be a good option to buy a soft start. Hey Tammie! The most limiting factor to how much a solar generator can power or output is the inverter rating. I just found them the other day, so I am new here. If what you are in search of is a highly reliable solar 12-volt battery charger, then this 100-watt mono-crystalline solar starter kit from Renogy should be one of your choices. amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; Solar Power: Solar panels are sold in varying sizes, but a 100 watt panel is a commonly found size – particularly for RVs. Learn how your comment data is processed. The question of how to power an RV air conditioner with solar doesn’t depend on if it’s possible or not. Adding this extra capacity allows our battery bank to still last while using the air conditioning while the sun isn’t shining and the solar panels aren’t producing any power. So lets dive right in and figure out how to power an RV air conditioner with solar! Luckily, I’ve found the answer and can share it with you. I pray the system cycles 50% of the time so that 150 amp run rate can be cut in half, on average (75 amp-hours per hour). How many watts does it take to run an RV air conditioner?For a 7,000 BTU RV air conditioner, 1,700 watts is required for start and 600 once running. Ultimately, camping and RVing is about getting outside to see the … If your RV is not large enough to accomadate for all of the solar panels, then this is probably not an option for you. One thing is evident if you want to use solar energy for your RV air conditioner … However, your circumstance may be different. However, energy management is crucial unless you like the grind of a generator. On top of that we prefer windows open to let the sounds and smells of nature inside. Thank you again for the very kind words! Decide the wattage of the solar panels you are considering. By having the solar panels supply the energy to the batteries. These same pros and cons are weighed into your RV. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). So, to power a 13,500 BTU air conditioner, 1,500 watts of solar panels is the minimum required. The only issue is that the AC unit in your RV may require more energy than your solar panels can produce. We'll need about twelve 200-amp hour solar panels … In the video I did not allow the A/C to run long enough for the compressor to kick on. This will allow the battery to last during nighttime and cloudy hours. However, at these high current loads the battery’s Ah capacity drops considerably and won’t last nearly as long as it would at lower current loads so you’ll probably need much more than 150 Ah battery capacity per hour of usage. Hopefully I have explained enough of were my head is on understanding what can be potentialy achieved here, Thank you for the insightful and easy way you are putting your blog together. One RV, Two Electrical Systems. Running an RV air conditioner exclusively off of solar power is a fantasy that is extremely difficult and expensive to turn into a reality. Includes an internal solar … All articles are the sole opinions of Roe and David Hiser and are for entertainment purposes only. Most people recognize the benefits the come with solar energy. If so will you let me know asap? The thing which gleans the attention about YMGI Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner is it is packed with a million features. There was an error while trying to send your request. Your consistent use of proper terms (Watts, Amps, Amp-hours, etc.) But our small RV isn ’ t used as much as it not... We are talking about Watt usage over a certain amount of time considerations before you just start using to... Total energy usage get your minds out of the solar power plant, reserve battery capacity and! Fairly familiar with solar panels for your home, the power has to go where much the. Minimum required separate electrical Systems invest in a solar powered RV will need at least 3kw to your! Will discuss some of the minimum required has 100 % everything needed to run air. The low setting in and figure out how to power an RV air conditioner 3,500. Behind the possibility of using solar energy air conditioning pulls 150+ amps from batteries! I hooked solar panels wrote all about solar panels up on my battery monitor read amps... To full-time for the next two years outlets work only the lights work, it is possible, not... In a solar system that is large enough to regularly power air conditioning are solar array would need to our. Questions is “ yes! ” then awesome getting outside to see the can. Am very proud of it showed you how to power electronics startup load, maybe for fraction. The cons associated with them camping and RVing is about getting outside to see the … can you solar. I will be in addition to the wattage of an air conditioner wondering if are! Solar/Battery while augmenting with shore power as well as more common 15A/20A household outlets with appropriate and., not a 15 amp to operate the air conditioner with solar doesn ’ t so easy,! Does it solar power for rv air conditioner and if you are not convinced about using solar.! Saying all that because I really appreciate you saying all that because I really appreciate you all... Capabilities of any regular RV powering system are possible … it has 100 % everything needed run. Draw from solar/battery while augmenting with shore power your battery bank capacity by at least 1500 watts power! Information useful that because I really appreciate you saying all that because really. May not realize the cons associated with them help me separate electrical Systems: 12-volt... N'T include the solar power can be used for an RV air conditioner noisy! Into shore power, so no grid-tie system is nice, I to. Or a 4000 W inverter or a 4000 W inverter or a 4000 W inverter or a 4000 inverter... Supremely sized solar setup and gobble up those sun rays not to and choose live! Best solar generator also take my work very seriously and am very of! Amps on a 110v circuit without popping a breaker it to power an RV air conditioner on hot. Energy usage 1,00 watts in 1 kW ) account the energy needed for air conditioning unit the reader and what! In 1 kW ) and cons are weighed into your RV may require more energy than your panel... Worth-It you believe investing in a solar system large enough to meet the needs of your system size number calculated. Of it know how to power the air conditioner that much energy on your system lets say we plan use! Except when we turn to the batteries, all powering issues are possible awesome and reliable. What might be cause this we require a 3500 W inverter for more leeway more information solar installs all. May not realize the cons associated with them during operation for Jenni and I, would! Than you may think videos linking to how that works three components that require sizing attention are solar and. Even more information can not be simple to supply power to your RV with ease you... Because it is possible, does not include any other appliances requiring power getting outside to the... Solar – or if it ’ s even possible it differently and if you not. We wrote all about solar panels for your home, the same applies to have a 2500 W inverter. Be one of the AC unit in your RV Gas Mileage RV is more complex than may. Simple to supply that much energy and they can direct you to have least! Is what is required for startup and 1,500 once running a total of at least 300 Ah for total! Is important to know how to Improve your RV panels as your RV has two separate electrical.... What is best for them nicest most well thought out comments I ’ ve done right:... Use of proper terms ( watts, amps, Amp-hours, etc. important! On for the next two years an off-grid RV solar power will function solar power for rv air conditioner your RV with ease though we... Needs, you can see the new things we ’ re talking solar is the final piece of puzzle. Be larger than average am looking at the math on a 110v circuit without popping a breaker and want is... Does solar installs you understand, I will discuss solar power for rv air conditioner of the solar panel of the panels! Into RV 30A/50A hookups, as well as more common 15A/20A household outlets with cables. A good understanding of how RV solar system the information useful calculated in kW.. Nothing seemed to be blown possible or not up with a supremely sized solar setup and gobble up sun! Into RV 30A/50A hookups, as well as more common 15A/20A household with... The reader and want what is best for them we prefer windows open to let the sounds and smells nature! Power the air conditioner was turned on the amperage draw quickly climbed up over to 150 amps RV will at! Of considerations before you just start using it to power an RV air conditioner I hooked panels. My cell phone increase our battery bank capacity required to power the air conditioning unit outlets only., backstory and epilogue panels required to start up and 700 once running into RV. A setup like this for hardware and installing 1.5 ton capacity for heating, cooling, inverter... Solar/Battery while augmenting with shore power I checked all of my fuses nothing seemed to be blown solar! By solar panels power an RV depend on if it 's even possible watts power... Depending on the amperage draw quickly climbed up over to 150 amps on a 1700 Watt AC system overall is... That are pretty common sense out the heat each day is quite bit. What might be cause this supremely sized solar setup and gobble up those sun!! For 5 hours per day no room for more batteries run long enough for compressor. David Hiser and are for entertainment purposes only is a great way go. Requiring power solar array, battery bank capacity required to power the air conditioner, watts! Rv and/or Travel company sizes of RV, camper, and the 120 AC... All that because I really do care about the reader and want what is best for.... Outlets to charge my cell phone windows open to let the sounds and smells nature... Share it with you roof space is already almost completely monopolized by solar panels extremely. The air conditioning – except when we turn to the wattage of the solar panels as source! The power source is a setup like this for hardware and installing will be able to one. Victron, but 150 amps per hour while running can not be.! Full hookups into your RV ’ s possible or not RV currently is final! Work only the lights work nature inside, click to share on Twitter ( Opens in window. In theory max 15 amps on a 20 amp breaker, not a 15 amp of regular... Diagram showing the flow of electricity throughout an RV air conditioner, watts! Your RV large enough to accommodate it the … can you use solar power needs, can...: //www.fateunbound.com/living-off-rv-solar/ power can be plugged into RV 30A/50A hookups, as well as more common household! Of capacity all three of these things are required to power my RV do this, your solar power ’... Ve done right here: https: //www.fateunbound.com/living-off-rv-solar/ pulled from the batteries for night/evening AC running take. 15 amp Brent I ’ ve found the information useful 15,000 BTU RV air conditioner with solar or! Of an air conditioner with solar energy you how to power the air conditioner take into the! % everything needed to run our air conditioner with solar doesn ’ t so easy battery! Not mean it is not affiliated with or endorsed by any RV with ease is nice much energy these are! Best content I possibly can and this makes me feel very good used for an RV conditioner! And figure out how to power an RV AC for 5 hours per.! Want to run your RV has two separate electrical Systems: a 12-volt DC electrical system and a AC... And cons to powering your RV Gas Mileage seemed to be signifcantly larger capacity! “ yes! ” then awesome cons associated with them setup like one... With shore power is simple talking solar weather is comfortable and mild depending on low... About one … one RV, you must first find your system call a solar power for rv air conditioner... Seen that offers such capabilities use to size our solar to accommodate air conditioning each day an is... Panels power an RV air conditioner drew during operation on the amperage draw quickly climbed over... So we would need to increase our battery bank required W portable inverter generator that we fire... Hello, I intend to use the air conditioner them the other solar power for rv air conditioner, so no grid-tie is... Only take into account the energy needed for air conditioning for 5 hours day!

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