Is It Possible to Run an Air Conditioner and 12v Fridge Solely on Solar and Battery Power
Question:
Can I run a 12v fridge and air conditioning with solar/battery power? I have a 1977 Argosy, do the newer AC units use less power?
asked by: John
Expert Reply:
Running your A/C solely off of solar and battery power is not recommended. Due to the amount of power drawn by the A/C, it is near impossible to run with just solar and battery power and the new A/C's are no exception to this. At minimum we recommend a battery bank with at least 700 amp hours. You'll need a solar panel kit like the Go Power Solar AE-6 All Electric System with 2 MPPT Solar Controllers # 342-75011 or larger to recharge your batteries. You'll also need an inverter like the Go Power Industrial Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger # 34275013. Even with this large of a set-up (if you have the roof space for all of the panels) the system would still most likely fall short of keeping up with the A/C. You would also be looking at $15k-$20k in initial cost.
A more effective option would be to use a smaller solar set-up like the Go Power Solar Extreme Charging System # 34282185 (includes Inverter Charger) with a battery bank between 250-300 amp hours to run the fridge and other items like lights. You can then use a generator like the 4,500-Watt Portable RV Generator # 333-0005 to run the A/C.
Products Referenced in This Question
4,500-Watt Portable RV Generator - 3,600 Running Watts - Propane or Gas - Electric Start
- Generators
- No Inverter
- Gas
- Gas and Propane
- Propane
- 3600 Running Watts
- Wheels
- 4500 Starting Watts
- 120 Volt Output
- CARB Approved
- Electric Start
- etrailer
more information >
Go Power Industrial Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger - 3,000 Watts - 100 Amps - 12V
- RV Inverters
- Pure Sine Wave Inverter
- Industrial Duty - Large Loads
- 12V
- 3000 Watts
- Inverter/Charger/Transfer Switch Functions
- Power Center
- Go Power
more information >
Go Power Solar Extreme Charging System - 600 Watt Solar Panels - 3,000 Watt Inverter Charger
- RV Solar Panels
- Roof Mounted Solar Kit w Inverter
- Rigid Panels
- 600 Watts
- 10.1 Amps or More
- AGM
- Flooded Lead Acid
- Gel
- Lithium - liFePO4
- 59-1/8L x 26-5/16W Inch
- 3 Panels
- Go Power
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Go Power Solar AE-6 All Electric System with 2 MPPT Solar Controllers - 1,200 Watt Solar Panels
- RV Solar Panels
- Roof Mounted Solar Kit
- Rigid Panels
- 1140 Watts
- 10.1 Amps or More
- AGM
- Flooded Lead Acid
- Gel
- Lithium - liFePO4
- 5-7/8L x 3-7/8W Inch
- 6 Panels
- Go Power
more information >
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