To Run split ac 1.5 ton on solar

[yasser]

Hello All

I Want to run my existing split AC 1.5 ton on solar. My main idea is to design this system in battery less environment as i need ac only in office hours i.e. from 9 to 5 and over here sun comes out at 5 am and sunsets at 7 pm so we have sufficient time. We going to use inverter from where we give electricity direct to ac and with ac i can use device which helps in reducing its torque. Is it possible...

[Sunking]

Hello All

I Want to run my existing split AC 1.5 ton on solar. My main idea is to design this system in battery less environment as i need ac only in office hours i.e. from 9 to 5 and over here sun comes out at 5 am and sunsets at 7 pm so we have sufficient time. We going to use inverter from where we give electricity direct to ac and with ac i can use device which helps in reducing its torque. Is it possible...

Not going to happen without batteries or grid connection. If you are already grid connected which it sounds like you are, then you should not be taking anything off-grid as it will cost many times more.

[yasser]

Thank you for reply back. Going to cost me more in shape of solar panels or what?

And minimum how many batteries i have to use to run ac only day time no backup required. When sun goes down or amount of energy solar panels producing goes down from the specific need of ac, ac gets turns off...

[inetdog]

Thank you for reply back. Going to cost me more in shape of solar panels or what?

And minimum how many batteries i have to use to run ac only day time no backup required. When sun goes down or amount of energy solar panels producing goes down from the specific need of ac, ac gets turns off...

The problem is this: The A/C will draw a fixed amount of power when running (unless you have an inverter type with multiple compressor speeds) and will take a far higher amount of power for a short time whenever the compressor starts up. And you can expect the compressor to cycle on and off a minimum of several times per hour during operation unless it is too small to do the job properly.

So you would need enough panel power to provide the starting current even on a less than ideal day and before the sun is close to overhead, OR
you will need enough batteries to power the A/C for at least an hour or two to cover changes in sunlight as the sun rises and when clouds come along.

You will not need as large a battery bank to just run the A/C when the sun is high as you would to be able to keep it running on a day without sun, but the battery costs will still be high and you will need an inverter which can supply not only the running current but the starting current of the A/C.

And given the cost of batteries along with separate inverter and battery charge controller. and the need to replace the batteries every few years, you will do a lot better to connect your panels to a grid tie inverter and make use of your mains power for things like starting up the A/C and supplementing the panel power when the PV is not at its peak.

If the mains power is unreliable, then the equation changes somewhat, since a grid tie inverter will shut down if the power fails. For those cases, battery based systems (or a generator) are unavoidable. Also note that a grid tie inverter should NOT be expected to work with a generator.

[SunEagle]

The biggest misconception for people concerning solar energy is that they believe the panels will produce enough energy whenever the sun is out. This is far from the truth.

It is not just sunlight but the right amount of sunlight striking the solar panel at a specific angle above the earth's horizon that will produce electricity. During the summer the sun is higher in the sky and therefore there are more producing hours. During the winter the sun is lower in the sky so there are less producing sunlight hours. The best location for the most producing hours is at the Equator. The farther away from the Equator there will be less producing hours. Where ever you are the amount of producing sunlight will never be from sun up to sun down.

On top of that any slight change of sunlight being blocked by clouds or shadows will cause the panels to stop or reduce their output. This will cause your electrical loads to stop working.

That is why a constant voltage supply from a battery bank is needed to run your equipment because those sunlight interruptions even if it is for a short time will affect your equipment's ability to run properly.

Finally the bigger your electrical load is the bigger your solar panel wattage and battery system needs to be. The battery system will be your largest single cost because they will only last for a few years and then need to be replaced.

I hope I have helped you understand a little better.