Off Grid Solar Powered RV Air Conditioning - Is it Possible?
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- Опубликовано: 22 авг 2024
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We had a simple question: Is it possible to power an Air Conditioner off solar when living off the grid? With our RV we decided to do a temporary wiring swap and test run our AC to see if running an air conditioner off our solar, battery and inverter is realistic or not.
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I also am a senior RV tech who retired 5 years ago. And I thought I may as well release some information to help you. A/C does in fact draw a lot of power and to cool your unit with what you have will drain it down over time. But there is also an alternative that will use much less of the precious power while out off the grid. A dehumidifier uses much less power and instead of recycling the hot moist air and cooling it as an A/C does. A dehumidifier removes the moisture from the air inside and drains it off to the outside or into a drip pan withing the unit. Thus cooling the unit my removing the hot water droplets held in the air trapped inside your RV. It cools the RV using about 1/3rd the power. It does take a bit more time to cool the unit down but it could continue to work using just you solar array alone while also charging the battery bank too. Food for thought, enjoyed you video.
Yes, but they are in the desert where humidity is not a problem. I would think adding some humidity would be preferable and would suggest a small "swamp cooler" which can run off a small 12v fan and add some humidity to the RV.
Henry Avery The AC in our master bedroom has a dehumidifier in it. Thats normally what I have it set on. Love it.
All air conditioners remove humidity, that is why on newer cars you will hear the compressor kick on when your the defroster on.
You could use a mini split ac plumbed in with a all dc ac.
Also, swamp coolers work great in a desert.
Of course running a generator with diesel or propane would be cheaper in the short term .
@@BOBBERtheKID OR YOU CAN FART. SEE WHEN PEOPLE FART OTHER PEOPLE CLEAR THE ROOM. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FART AND THE HUMIDITY WILL CLEAR THE RV HA HA HA HA
It is 100% possible to run your Air Conditioner off of your Solar system. The question is do you have the right size Solar System to support your needs. Making sure you have energy efficient equipment is also vital. Installing a soft start kit on Air Conditioners is never a bad idea. Many new models of HVAC equipment will have soft start installed from the factory. You can also make a soft start kit if you have the technical prowess. All of the material to create a soft start kit are available and inexpensive. Great Experiment thanks for the post.
Late breaking news.. That "soft start microprocessor control" gizmo that you briefly mentioned by MicroAir of Pensylvania is the most AMAZING device ever invented. AI little pricey , but man, does it live up to it's claims. My AC unit starts and runs and cycles on my Honda 2000 which it never did before and the Honda barely even comes out of eco mode. It is a must have device for anyone wnating to minimize their inverter, or generator size etc.Thanks for mentioning it.
+Robert Garbe AWESOME!!!! That is so cool. We're looking at one for our boat AC so we can run it off our battery bank too.
You can get a hard start capacitor on Amazon for $20. Same thing without the fancy computer board.
It’s not the same thing, at all. The cheap hard start capacitor with help with the surge. The Microair actually allows me to run my 13.5K AC on a Honda Eu2000i, and I could never make that happen on the hardstart.
There are cheaper soft starts, handy for microwaves and anything with large inrush currents.
@@UTBanjo I just put in a MicroAir. Just amazing! Same experience you had. I have a 100 foot extension cord to just keep batteries fresh. Just for giggles plugged in to extension cord and fired up the A/C. Wow it worked fine! Pricey but well worth it.
This is the most cheerful video I've ever seen on RUclips. I'm so used to seeing people get hurt or some kind of disaster happening.
They're obviously quite wealthy--look at that rig! Money can't buy happiness, but it certainly can rent it...
Thanks for including us in this great experiment. It was fun to be a small part of it. And for those asking exactly what we did to re-wire the electrical panel.... if we told you, we'd have to kill you. We love you Nikki & Jason, but that includes you, too. :-P
+chris ce Yeah... those Wynns just left us out there to die. ;-)
In an upcoming video, we'll be sharing the details of why we were camped about 500 feet away, rather then right nearby.... because we got our oversize RV stuck in the sand where they were! So we had to hoof it back home.
Thanks for looking out for us, Chris.
+RVgeeks kind of wish there was a bit more of that classic rv geeks voice narrating to really seal the deal. nice colab!
Sorry. The Wynns couldn't afford my voiceover fee. ;-)
+Dragonetta - You mean using a winch with a land anchor for self-extraction?
+RVgeeks So much for freedom of information.
Thanks for making it super informative and bothering all the experts for us.
I know Old "Land Locked" video but one of the reasons I follow you guys is the "experiments" and equipment test reviews you guys perform. This one regarding AC and solar certainly deserves more hits based upon the plethora of RUclips vids/questions on the subject. Fair winds!
Thanks for "doing the test" I have always wondered if on an optimum "Solar Day"! ... it can be done! You guys are awesome! Thanks to the RVGeeks for their input too!
The "holy grail" of RV boon-docking is a DC A/C compressor. Well, it is on the horizon ! Automotive component manufactures are now making DC A/C compressors for battery and hybrid vehicles.
The real win is when they have a variable speed compressor for RV A/C systems. These are the current "state of the art" in mini-split heat pump/A/C units. They have their own built in inverter.
No need to brag.
At Caravan Salon 2016 in Dusseldorf there was a Roadtrek vehicle which had AC running off the battery. It had 400A of lithium batteries on board. It also had an electric hot plate. This seems to me to be a revolution in RV technology.
I am glad yours works - but there is no shortage of sun in California. Lithium batteries can go down to almost zero unlike traditional lead acid batteries.
Alan Heath They can but it's bad to run them below 10%
You two have the best channel relating to RV living. Thanks for well edited and high quality content, really enjoy watching them.
The "soft start" or "Easy Start" is a big hit with the Airstream crowd. They find they can reliably run a Dometic 13,500 BTU AC with a Honda eu2000is generator.
It's a electronic device that goes in the AC shroud, and takes that giant spike in current and smoothes it out over a longer time.
Thanks! I was wondering what it was and where to get one!
yes.. it works GREAT
We've got loads more detail on this little test on our site here: www.gonewiththewynns.com/off-grid-solar-rv-air-conditioning
I hope this helps debunk a few of those naysayers out there, it sure did open our eyes to the possibility :)
You guys are the coolest
+Gone with the Wynns Math could have saved you the effort. It's not as fun and exciting, but it's always right! ;)
It's cool to see that with a good setup, one can run the AC for a few hours just to keep the temperature acceptable!
Keep up the fun videos!
+Gone with the Wynns Great job guys, and RV Geeks. You guys are the best!
+simonlynchsae yes on paper 800watts of solar on top running a 386 watt portable Ac unit sounds like it could work for most older RV setups this is my plan but still expensive to set up
+Gone with the Wynns Yes, it's good to see that the advances in technology are bringing this into the realm of possibility. A few years ago, this was just not possible - now it's looking promising. And not just for motorhome setups, either. Imagine how awesome it will be for the people living in desert/tropical environments to be able to run a/c off of solar. :-D
You guys are AWESOME............ I have never spent an hour in an RV, but I am fascinated by them and the people who live in them. Recently I discovered The RVgeeks, and love them. Just the other day I discovered you guys, and now I find out that you know The RVgeeks. OMG, I have reached a state of Nirvana.
Your sense of adventure and enthusiasm is a joy to behold. Thank you for these vicarious thrills.
+Vincent Maturo Nikki & Jason are the greatest, and we're honored to call them friends.
+Vincent Maturo lol ahh Nirvana! i love it
Vincent Maturo love RV Geeks! Wish I had them on speed dial!
After watching this I can't help but think you are gonna be totally prepared for Burning Man this year!!! I hope to finally meet you after following you for a couple years now!
Really do appreciate all you are doing and sharing with us, seriously... Your experiences and willingness to share your found knowledge with the rest of us full timers is "priceless" !!! So Thank YOU Both!
3 years later, I'm seeing this. I know from Burning Man that loads of people have a pre-load limiting gadget connected, and that reduces the start up surges.
They glazed over that their inverter is rated for 40 amps max, and they were pulling 70 amps and some change..good way to let the smoke out of your inverter, soft start in place or not
Lithium batteries are awesome! Great video, Nice RV & solar setup. I'm getting lots of AC from solar. Using my AC as a dump load.
I've been wondering about this topic for the longest time. It's fascinating to see someone running AC off of their solar setup.
Great to see you and the RV Geeks working together.
Interesting, didnt realize they made a "soft start" module for small air conditioners like that. We use several soft start drives on our motors at work (the technical term is variable frequency drive, or VFD). They work great, saves alot of money in electricity and keeps the wear and tear down on the motor itself.
Soft starter and VFD's are two completely different items that do different things.
Ive never seen 2 people laugh after every sentence.
Mark Dove hah huh hah
Mark Dove Its like the parents from that freakazoid cartoon smiling 24/7. They must be od'ing on anti depression medication.
That happens among some people, sometimes it gets annoying but it's better to be like them, they live healthier and don't let troubles disheart them which usually sickens people. Maybe you saw them as freaks given their indie pop style which seem to be common among gays but these guys seem a decent couple.
I don't see them as freaks, I see them as 2 people dressed by a stylist and performing for the camera.
Mark Dove yea I see that now
You guys seems super happy and satisfied with life and with each other i hope everyone could live like that!!! thumbs up you guys
This gives me such off grid hope since I don't think I am roughing it material. Lol. Love your channel it is so informative and helpful and funny!
The million dollar question in the back of every RV'er's mind LOL. This is very interesting, you guys are awesome!
I don't know about RV efficiency, but there are new variable speed compressors with inverter motors that achieve SEER ratings of 33, about double what standard high efficiency units of this type achieve. The units run at top speed initially and as the thermostat set point is approached the unit slows down until it is running at a speed where the output matches the heat entering the space it is cooling as well as heat generated from bodies, activities, etc. You might want to check some of these units out. Of course the problem will be mounting the outside units. Some of them run directly on 48V D/C so no inverter is needed between solar panels wired to achieve 48V and the units. They can be zoned as well so you keep the main space you occupy cool during the day and then at night switch to cooling your sleeping quarters and bathroom. Great experiment though. Wonder how long it will take for your inverter to have a melt down due to the very high current draw when it is changing 24 or 48V DC into 120V AC. Good luck. Always find your videos informative and enjoyable.
I use Min-split cool/heat units on my home. A 24,000 BTU Sanyo can hog a lot of power when starting, but because of the 'inverter' technology which controls the fan and compressor motor speeds (outside unit), I can start up slowly keeping the 230vac amps under 10 amps. (under 2.3 KW) easily.
Today it wasn't too hot, so the max start up power was under 700 watts.
After the house was cooled down (about an hour), the power dropped to under 500 watts. (I have TED monitors) So the cooling is running along at 470w and then drops down to 10w when the house is a tad over-cooled..
Works almost the same when heating. The main cause of higher power use is real cold weather.. It can average around 1 KW per hour.. Up to 20 kWh per day.. (I'm installing a new unit that works down to -20 degrees F)..
This kind of system is one of the better ways for people living off-grid, when they have a lot of PV panels.. :)
Yes, the technology on these is great today, and it's advancing (without great purchase price increases) by leaps and bounds. I have a number of friends who have put mini-splits into RVs with mixed results. It appears that they're not built to withstand RV stresses without mods at the present. But if you mount the components on rubber mounts, be sure wiring has flex room but is mounted securely, ditto for the coolant ("Freon") lines, be sure of your air flows for compressor and condenser modules, etc., the newer models seem to be lasting well.
There are also options being developed. There are systems with one compressor unit running two or more evaporator/air handlers, etc. (although I think I'd prefer the redundancy of two separate systems). Have a look at the websites for technical details.
My opinion is that these units are a bit of an experiment for RVs now but soon, they'll be a powerful option.
Using them on RVs would require some anti- vibration mods. It would be better to have them designed from the baseplate up for RVs..
Richard Lee not sure I completely agree in that regard, design for vibration and road issues sure, but rv specific, not thrilled with that, the reason, cost, just because it's "rv" you can add 100% to your asking price, not because it's 2 times better, but because only rich people buy ac made to run on batteries
it's the same thing for semi ac, apus capable of running ac for 8-10 hours runs between 6 and 15k (used/new) and more often it's a small deisel generator and a splice into the existing ac/coolant lines, there are SOME battery powered units, but those are in the 10k range as well, I've looked at fabricobbling my own together, and I CAN do it with off the shelf parts for about 3-6k, evert once in a while you'll see a guy who stuck a home ac unit in and set up a small generator on the frame to run it for less than 1000$
bottom line, I don't trust rv and truck mfgs to cone up with a better product because I'll end up paying through the nose
A 13,500 btu RV rooftop AC can be bought for $600. A 3500 watt generator to power it can be bought under $300, I managed to buy a dual-fuel one for $179 last summer.
Have you looked into the AC models that perform dehumidifying as well as cooling? I've read that you can run the unit in dehumidifying mode at a much reduced current draw and it makes a big difference on hot and humid days. It probably wouldn't make much of a difference in the arid desert though.
I use to do this my 1972 Winnebago, except I had 8 golf cart batteries, a 3k non pure vector inverter and a hard start cap on a 13.5k btu carrier air conditioner.
what about just a truck camper with about 5500-6500btu AC? I'm planing a round country trip, and will use the seasons to my advantage temperature wise, but will still need AC/heat at times of course. I'm hoping 1000w will be enough for this, with propane and engine charging(diesel) to supplement. its a tiny camper, and my budget for the solar alone will be around 2,000$.
So, if you doubled your solar panels you could run the AC with "no battery" drain during peak solar. Cool! Literally.
Hehe I see what you did there. Because "cool" could mean a lower air temperature, which is what the A/C is helping create.
Thanks guys. Im planning on full time rving while freelancing around the U.S. and this information is huge for me
I absolutely LOVE that they travel with they fur baby. That cat 🐈 is beautiful!
If RV manufacturers would get into this century, they'd demand an inverter based A/C (not power inverter, but an inverter based motor controller). Your compressor draws loads of power due to the fact it is powered the same way they've been powered for 5 decades. Inverter setups will actually modulate the amount of power sent to the compressor so it doesn't start so harshly. They are also wildly more efficient than the old tech you have right now. 32 SEER vs 15 SEER. Best part is they aren't bang/bang on/off to regulate temperature. Instead, they adjust the speed of the compressor to select various BTU outputs so the A/C runs constantly (but at a lower power). Contrary to what you'd think, A/C units last longest when they stay on and aren't abused with on/off cycles. This also gives you drier air and a very consistent temperature.
Also, soft start kits will solve the problem at the expense of the life of the compressor. They're a hack method I've used to accomplish the same thing with running a fridge off an underrated inverter. It works but you have to understand it is damaging to the windings of the compressor.
Fully agree . Currently running inverter Ac units on our pv solar powered house. You can even ( manually) modulate the power draw with the temperature setting to balance the power draw with with what the pv solar system is harvesting.... and you get a very soft start thrown in
So theoretically you could double your solar and run it right off of the solar. :P lol
Wookie Senshi bigger inverter also. 3k isn't much to work with.
By the way the best thing about DC Inverter Air conditioners and refrigerators is they pull no more that 6-7 amps at startup. Even when running at full capacity!
My front AC unit was losing it's cool, so I built a half size Mastercool out of sheets of aluminum. The front end is a Lasko 4500 turbine blower, The mastercool 8" pad was hand sawed down to fit the 18" high X 20" wide custom case. I placed a Fantastic Vent (Fantastic Fan without the Fan) in the roof opening, and tied them together with a handmade aluminum elbow. It runs along at under 200 watts on the inverter including the pump and if it chills outside at night, I can close down the vent. I live in the desert, so the moisture stays manageable. Only downside is the 3/4 gallon/hour of water it uses because you never have enough water when dry camping.
Awesome experiment! That's the first I've heard about the soft start. Thanks for the great info. I love how the RVGeeks just show up in the desert and walk off into oblivion :)
+RVwithTito Don't worry Brian. After they sent us packing, they had the compassion to call search and rescue. ;-)
You guys are great! Love the delivery and the laughter. Kept me a captive attentive audience no problem. Now I’m off to binge watch all your other content. Keep up the great work!
I've been researching this for years. the best way I've discovered is to increase the insulation value of your rv. then get a dc powered air conditioner,preferably a split (are made for portable buildings and trucks). get a lithium battery array and some solar panels. you lost some power when converting dc to ac, so a dc powered air conditioner would help minimize that, and they run at much lower amps. Kimberly karavan in Australia uses a low powered gas generator to handle the starting load amps, then it turns off. temperature inside the vessel can be reduced by up to 40% by adding a "tropical roof". this would allow you to run the ac at night. overlanding vehicles have been doing this for years, it is very important that you that keep the heat outside the caravan with high r value insulation, and double pane European style windows. having a insulated door between the cockpit and cabin is also very important. I had my rv custom made from the chassis up, it would be easier that retro fiting.
I will add that I'm a fan of gone with the wynn's, and I follow your work as much as I can. thanks for the great info.
I run my AC all day long. 1500 watts of panels, 700 Ah of lead acid battery, 3000/7000 surge watt inverter, 850 watt 9000 BTU mini-split AC (I removed the highly inefficient roof top AC units), and 2 ceiling fans. With the dark window tint and good air circulation, it runs like a champ. System has been working for 4 years. I also have temporary loads including the 900 watt microwave and 1500 watt hair dryer.
You can get DC only HVAC units. In fact Practical Pepper here on RUclips has some great videos of mini-split units that run completely on solar.
Don't advertise your own channel
As much as I like your videos. I will say these videos on certain things are not for everyone... more so for rich people who want to go off the grid in style without losing the luxury. Especially this Solar setup is outrageously priced... normal off gridders who want a simple system this would not be the way to go... you can literally get the same setup for half the cost of what this system is priced at... that is including batteries... not lithium batteries... but still... I do enjoy the videos though... you people are bloody adorable..
+Double D it can be done for much less with off brand equipment, we choose quality and warranty over budget because if something goes wrong we want to be covered.
I agree with you for certain people. People who just don't or can't do things for them selves... But I disagree about quality.. you can also buy quality for much cheaper... I understand wanting to be covered. but nothing is more secure then covering your self by doing it your self... From what I gather from watching you both I believe you are both smart enough to figure these things out with out anyone else... and to be out at sea you can't just ring up a professional and have them skip on over and fix your issues... In these types of situations you both or anyone needs and should learn these things because things do happen. Solar is much different then line electricity... i also realize you both are doing these things to make money as advertising the items you show and use... and that is helping your income to do the things you guys are doing... I also have no doubt you two are a little more well off then alot of people... not that any of that is a bad thing... keep up the good work... I enjoy your videos...
Double D I'm a normal off gridder and my set up is bigger than theirs. 960 watts is tiny
@@gonewiththewynns I hate to say this but warranty is not always covered for anything in life. good luck
@@DoubleD72 And that was hardly patronizing at all! smfh
As a new RV owner of a older model Dodge that needs updating (it's a 1977 Sportsman Mobile Traveler), I'm glad I saw this as I am considering an installation of a solar unit so that my fiancee and I can travel and record our reality show, RV Pinay In The USA. Yes, the RV, christened "Jasmine," needs modifying and I am thinking just to be able to have a fan-based unit instead of a full-on air conditioner might work in my case. I'm still mulling over options.
Good test. Truth is just like with a microwave, it's the start up 'jolt' that most solar/battery systems can't handle. Once the unit is actually running, the drain on the system is much less. Both Dometic and Coleman are working on those soft start systems from what I've researched. Blue Skies.
Who wouldn't want to have the RV Geeks on speed dial?
+Billodnh Oh they do! LOL
+RVgeeks I love the Wynn's. You guys just earned a new sub. Will learn a lot from you. Planning on a year long excursion living full time in an RV traveling all over the U.S., Canada and Alaska. Hope to learn a lot from you guys.
Sounds fantastic, Robert! Have a blast!
Billodnh yeah.. she even gave the guy a hug..She needs some discipline
I would love to see these two get in an argument
You're deranged.
I know this is an old video, but I love you guys, you are a cool, happy couple and have a cute cat!!! You have so much fun!
You guys are so awesome! Love what you do and how you share your knowledge along the way. You've inspired us to go full time!!
Can you run AC on a $135000 RV. If no get a refund. Lol
Tactical Advance soo..i worked in HVAC industry for awhile and my 2 cents worth is this...RLA. THAT'S STARTING POWER. IF you want less initial draw on your load you need a "soft draw" or as I know it called a "hard draw". Regardless of your set up the point I want to make is YOU NEED A CAPACITOR TO HELP on your a.c. start up. It's a relatively CHEAP wire in. If you have a "hard start" CAPACITOR wired in properly you will not only help save your ac compressor but you will also help save compressor power consumption durring start up. Will this help in the long run of running a.c. longer? YES and NO. It will take less initial amps to start your on and off again a.c. unit. No in the sense that as it continuously runs after start up. Soo...is a hard start cap sys worth it..? I would say yes. Less stress on batteries on start up and less stress on the compressor motor on start up.
Cost for parts? Less than $100. Install? Double or triple..
Also..installation is relatively easy. All done at the compressor on the roof..
A hard start capacitor is an easy install. Just youtube that shit.
Google User thanks for your 2 cents. I will spend it when I start restoring my 1962 airstream.
Depending on the size of the unit they have single two wire hard starts one being called SPP6 look it up it’s worth it .
Blaaahhaa! Exactly.
Installing a $10.00 Supco Solid State relay and hard start capacitor can reduce the start up current by up to 50%.
Yea I heard them say soft start, but the correct term is a hard start capacitor correct? Because with out it its hard to start. Correct me if I'm wrong.
+Daniel Southcomb would one of those capacitors from a car stereo store work?
+Sean Ash I have no experience with that type of capacitor
sorry I just posted the same. I always add them to my air conditioners makes life easier on your generator you can get them on eBay and Amazon and no they're not the same as car stereo coils LOL. they come rated for horsepower a 1 to 5 horsepower should be fine
Soft start, by definition is a ramping up of the ac side to the motor, this limits the start up current - essentially, the motor winding is near zero resistance until the X of L has a chance to build, so soft start limits that inrush current. The capacitor would work better on the DC (battery) side and act as a very temporary storage for "saved up" electrons. This would allow for high current draw on a temporary basis without taxing the batteries as much. This is all very cool stuff, but out of my price range for now. :)
we have an LG Inverter V with "Active Energy Control" feature. The amazing thing about it is you don't have to fiddle with the temperature setting which take the guesswork out of the wattage it uses since you CAN select the cooling capacity or SPEED/POWER CONSUMPTION of the compressor.
It has a soft-start feature which pulls power from the socket starting at 15W, then gradually increases to 320, 675, 800, then 950 at full compressor speed.
Now that was an interesting experiment and great information to know for those of us that think we have to have air conditioning when the temperature hits the 85 to 90 degree mark. Thanks for having the guts to even try this off of the batteries.
It's only using ~1KW of power, which is less than my microwave oven. You can't produce 3KW of solar out there?
That would need about 12 255W solar panels I used to install :P
@mike h Do you not run an air conditioner at the same time as a toaster or microwave? You want to put charge in the batteries at the same time, too.
@mike h They cant charge their batteries, they're being drained. They want to have battery power for night.
@mike h One out in the desert in a poorly insulated RV? It might be an 80-90% duty cycle. You do realize you don't produce the full rated power at all times the sun is out, just a few hours of they day right?
Educational as always, thanks guys - we don't have solar, but it's good to know A/C is possible with the right gear. Hey Jason, around 8:30 it occurred to me you look rather like David Bowie! Has anyone ever told you that? (when he was younger of course ;) Safe travels you two!
+RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett I like it, David Bowie. Never heard it before but I can see the resemblance. :)
@@gonewiththewynns how many batteries and how much is the price tag. I am getting a camper that has no vehicle attached. I am from Philadelphia Pennsylvania we don't have sun like you guys do but I need your help
" oh! im not wearing shoes... O.O" Hilarious.
Great in depth information Wynns. A little over my head, I guess i'm heading over the the article to read more and get my head wrapped around this. Great job!!
Simple - get a small window AC unit as a backup when running from batteries and Solar . With 700 Amp hours of lithium ion you get atleast 9 hours of AC and by the time your panels gonna charge your batteries .
She is so cute though, i wish i was that happy
Informative but financially challenging.
not if you buy batteries directly from china. which is where the cells are coming from anyway. less than half the price
Thank you for sharing your experiment. Can't believe it worked.
Out in the dry desert I think I'd opt for an energy efficient swamp cooling solution, but it's good to see that you can boon dock in more humid climates in comfort with the right kind of set up!
Another option, with the magnum inverters the hybrid M model you could hook a small 2000 honda generator up to help extend the run time. A/c's are a beast to start. My factory air will start off my honda 3000 but the bedroom a/c will throw the fault.
I need a soft start for it
Then there are the rest of use who live on a fixed income or reality.
Rving is not a poor mans game. Get yourself some food stamps and a Hud housing voucher and leave the RV road trips to those who can afford it.
"Reality"
nah, you make it that way. It doesn't have to be that way.
@@rockyalvarez520, we full time RV and it is less expensive for us than living in a sticks and bricks house. We save money and our kids travel everywhere.
Carl, they installed just about the most expensive system possible. We have a similar system to them and it cost me a fraction of the price they paid by using different components and installing the system myself.
960w in pannels?
thats close enough to run a small 5k-6K BTU on low, but i would like it
Never pull more then 75% out of the barriers, if u do that will really lower the life span of the barriers.
***** sorry, i know house solar setups/batteries, and i said, "Pull more then 75%", = 25% left.
mal.
mal. 7
they were getting about 40 amps out of their panels when doing this test. I have a 5k btu window ac that pulls 450 on high with the compressor running. they would just barely be touching their bank for a few amps with that AC unit.
Zraupp10 they aren't very intelligent if you've noticed.. the smart thing to do with just run it off the generator.. if they really want to be smart they should learn how to run generators off of wood gas ;)
Thank You that's what I thought, I'm going to be doing this kind of living soon and I'm gathering all the info I can!
You're so badass Laura j phillips
Very good experiment. Enjoyable video. Congrats.
You can.....with a million rig
How much solar for a tv and a ps4 lol
+TYZA108 HD a few hundred watts should do :)
Gone with the Wynns you doing a 100k special?
Gone with the Wynns n
TYZA108 HD. 2or3 12v batterys ran in series/400w pure sine wave power inverter/ 12v 20 amp lighter socket/400w solar panels/40 amp solar charge controller and you are playing all day...make sure you use proper fuses and you know what you're doing
Gone with the Wynns it takes more than a few hundred Watts lol
I did a camper van convertion and got a DC AC and run it off the batteries. Fully Offgrid
DC AC or AC/DC??? Hehe but seriously take care now.
FINALLY!!! Asking the big questions! I love how you guys went about this. It's also great how you stressed the money and time invested in your rig to remind people that yes it is possible, but it might not be worth the cost involved to everyone. People ask us about AC all the time and I'm like "dude we live in a 25 yr old van, so no"
+Shelby and Simon HA! Seriously, it's crazy how many people assume the AC will just work and when we tell them "no" they are disappointed.
and then use that as an excuse to say they just couldn't do it. Like seriously? Air conditioning? that's your limit?
Nice video but those fake smiles and laughing is annoying
Lovely wife u got there mate...
"Oh..I'm not wearing shoes..." Classic! excellent production you two.
Soft start is basically a large, rapid discharge capacitor that releases enough amperage (push of electricity) to start the compressor motor turning. It's kind of like how it takes a lot of gas to get a car going but once it's cruising along it takes less gas to keep it moving. It might take 30 amps to start your ac compressor but only around 10 to keep it going once it's started.
gorgeous eyes!
Wow!! I didn't realize that those AC units only drew about 16 amps running continuously. Damping the initial surge isn't a big deal. What a great option? Thanks for putting your equipment to the test!
At 4:25 Jason said 80 amps vdc. That appears to be continuous since his meter was not able to measure the surge. It seems that all additional equipment was powered off prior to the test. Hope this helps.
+Allen Baker Hi Allen. I'm confused, because I too saw the 80 amps on their meter. How can a 3000 watt inverter power 80 amps? Dividing 3,000 watts by 120 volts gives 25 amps or thereabouts. Am I looking at this wrong. Any help would be great because I'm looking at getting the same inverter. I can't see how it didn't blow.
+John s I think it's measuring amperage off the DC side. 80 amps at 14 volts = 1120 watts
+Michael Scalisi Thanks. Makes sense. I looked at the Coleman's amp draw, which his AC. That draw x 120 is about the watts you're coming up with.
absolutely great test info here-but for most people with a not so expensive system like you are fortunate enough to have been blessed with prob. won't work at least like your test . the soft start is where we all need to start really! for most of us just buying the most efficient 5000 btu window unit like i just researched and bought that runs and draws 386 watts according to my kill a watt meter is the answer if your serious about needing true Ac -but a sweet battery bank and 800 watts of solar and a quality 2k + inverter also. im also researching soft start set up as this is crucial if you want the compressor to start and not have a massive power draw and fault and inverter shutting down and just strain on the inverter.great info though and thanks guys for taking the time and doing these tests.
I have a 5000 watt continuous inverter that also trips the overload durring large draws like refrigerator compressors and other things. Large storage batteries especially lead acids or agms have high resistance to large draws so a way I combated that was putting large car stereo capacitors on the system. 1 farad (not micro farads) for for every 1000 watts of energy peak draw. As soon as I did this the problem went away. Those are on a 12volt system but they do have 24 and 36 volt units depending on the solar panel system voltage.
Great ! What you both did the future of the industry is amazing and as always are presenting new ideas for the RV buyer to demand thru new innovations which cannot happen quickly without your input , thank you again and enjoy your journey !
engineer775 went over the pros and cons of a soft start on his vlog. In essence the soft start takes the strain or electrical jump in watt usuage by building up the power slowly rather then all at once like most compressors or electric motors usually require. This puts much less stress on the inverter and battery bank to prevent damage and preserve usuage life.
i think your best bet is to contact an electronic stuff expert and ask him to instal some "ultra capacitors" that are conected along with the lithium batteries, so when the ac starts up and drain up that high peak of amps, the capacitor kicks in and supplie those starting amps and let the lithium batteries continlue suppling the amps needed for the "work load". The high peak amps drain is reached everytime the ac compressor kicks in, thats actually the main feature on the "inverter AC units", those ac units do not reach those high peaks of amps drain because the compresor does not kick in from 0 to 100% load, in goes up gradualy. i dont know if you could get the idea from my explanation because of my poor english. also other option (if it is available) is to get a Inverter AC unit for your RV.
Wow let me start off by saying you guys are very entertaining and inspiring. This is the one things that I have been questioning/researching, but not in a RV but more in a work shop/man cave/guest house in the back yard of my house. I concluded to start the AC or any device that draws alot of power at startup, you will need a capacitor system of sort ( I am wondering is the "soft start system"would consist of 1 or 2 farad cap or several caps???) to not draw to much amp/watts from your electrical system at start up. At any rate I appreciate you guys video.
I am installing hard start capacitors on home heat pumps and AC units that we are installing off grid solar generation to. Because we are now able to run 240 volts from our inverters, and using high capacity flooded golf cart batteries, large homes can now be off grid.
If one really wanted to get this to work, one modification that would really help that start surge would be something called a Variable Frequency Drive for the Compressor motor. A VFD can be programmed to run the motor MUCH more efficiently and even more importantly, it can "Soft Start" that motor eliminating that in-rush spike. Thanks for the work, Safe travels. Glen
I, too, wanted to be able to run my a.c. off grid. There used to be a place called Parliament RV in Florida (now defunct) that built Prevost busses that could run completely off grid. I worked with their electrical engineer to design a system that could work on my RV (custom designed & built slide on camper that sits on a flat bed truck - slightly more than 100 sq. ft.) We installed a large Lithium FePO4 battery bank (1040ah) & a Kingtec 12 V a.c. unit that only draws 46 amps. After running all night the batteries are still putting out 13.3V. I can run the a.c. all night & a good part of the day & still have enough power to run the microwave or conduction cook top. With 400 watts of solar (soon to be upgraded to 600 Watts) the batteries get completely recharged on a partly cloudy day. Kingtec also makes 24 & 48 V units. They are expensive - $3500, but worth while if you do not want to be tied to RV campgrounds, or, alternatively, sweat all night.
Sorry this post is 2 years late. Hopefully, better late than never. Hope someone finds this helpful.
FYI: Motor (Compressor) starting current would typically be 3.5 to 5.25 times the running current for a part of a second. A goal of the soft start would do something like 1.5 times the running current for a second or two. The Compressor and condensor fan go together. The evaporator is the cooling coil fan in the duct work.
The unknown is how much the batteries were depleted over time. Since you would want the AC past the peak solar time and possibly well into the evening, the batteries tomorrow would not be at 100%.
The bottom line is that for extended success, you would need to produce on average very nearly the power being depleted, on a daily cycle. Your thoughts about the lithium batteries is deceptive because it's a power in vs power out issue, the capacity of the batteries only delays the inevitable if you are using more than is produced. Don't forget that it the higher battery capacity means that it takes longer to charge them up as well.
Note also that you said the solar panels were 960 watts. Thus 960 watts /12 volts = 80 Amps to the system. That was the requirement, so nothing should have come from that battery storage. Since 30 A was being drawn, that is a measure of the efficiency of the solar. In your case with your 80 Amp load, only about 50 was solar and the other 30 was battery, thus 62.5% efficiency. As peak sun passes, that would fall off significantly leaving you with a deficit in battery charge for tomorrow. It's possible that it could be made up in the morning if the sky is clear and the panels angled toward the sun.
If you boondock a lot in warm climates, look into one of those portable AC units. They only draw about 8-10 amps and will run fine off a medium size inverter.
The compressor locked rotar amps will pull about 80A at 110 VAC to start for your sized unit. That is why you have both start and run capacitors in your AC. Start cap is to help the inertia of the motor start and the run cap is to help keep the motor in phase. Inductors lag and caps lead thus the reason you need a cap to keep the system in phase which delivers your best power. More than likely the soft start unit has a lot of start caps to get the motor up to speed and allow the run cap to take over.
The air-conditioner compressor uses quite a bit more amps when it is starting up so it's entirely possible to have a battery system (or generator) that can run the air-conditioner in normal mode, but it can't handle the start-up current. In your situation, you need to also take into account that you will not be having any solar charging occurring at night, so your battery pack will be providing the full power for the air-conditioner at night and probably a good portion of it in the early mornings and late afternoon / evening. That means that you will need a larger battery pack and maybe have to provide for a generator charging your battery pack on occasion. A small 2000W generator that could automatically start when the battery level got to a certain point and shutdown when it is completely charged would probably give you the capability to run your A-C even without relying on solar availability.
Thank you very much in returning my questions: Still a not acceptable:, with the noise. A improved system is required and a 24/7 constant use, like the fridge. Recon considerable improvements could be made on a Rv due the large shaded area. Cheers
Off Grid Solar Powered RV Air Conditioning, thank you for sharing this video..
Good video. The main problem is super-inefficient rooftop air conditioners. $1000 mini split system and you could run for 3 days on that battery bank.
Good test. It looks like for the answer to actually be yes you will need to more than double your solar panels. Then you have a system that 'will run off solar'. And that would be 'cool'.
WOW ! What a GREAT testament to your system. That was simply amazing ! I only have half the solar & 2/3 rds the inverter on my 5er. So I won't be doing it anytime soon . But to see it done was so cool. Keep the good stuff coming.
Great video for the less technically gifted. I truly appreciate that a few RVers know about solar technology and are pushing the limits. Let's agree that a cost benefit ratio would not be convincing. However the technology exists to solve this demanding solar application.
The answer is no because you can't pay someone to do it. It's a DIY project. It is 100% possible, I did it, but it's a full custom job that requires beefing up the RV insulation value. First you block out and insulate every single window and skylight , add enough polyiso to get your whole unit up to about R30 (4in), cover EVERY inch of your roof in panels (1800w min), then install a 6000btu 33 seer mini split per 150 sq ft, topped off with at least 14.4kwh of sla storage (8kwh lithium). That is what I did for my 23 ft motorhome. Details in my channel
We run a 5000 BTU window A/C off of 750w of solar and 675 Ah of Lifeline AGM batteries. Generally the batteries only absorb the surge as the solar puts out 10 amp more than the A/C uses while running. Flat mounted the solar can run the A/C from 10 am to 3 pm with no loss to the batteries. Before and after requires a bit of tracking.
Thank you for the practical test, so much better than all of my random information gathering. In ten more years batteries will be insanely superior to everything now, including your lithium's and my lifeline's. Cheers you two.
you can go to an AC supply store and pick up what is called a hard-start kit for AC's and add them into the AC unit (different name then soft start, but same thing really, just a variation on the name). I have some I'm going to put on my fifth wheel that I just purchased. They add in an extra start capacitor into the start windings of the compressor, reducing the LRA (locked rotor amps) by giving it an extra nudge of torque to get the rotor spinning. I use one on my house AC. They can even prolong service life of the AC.
I've been running Air Conditioner mostly solar for 4 years. I have 1200w solar panels and 25 Tesla automotive batteries modules for 6,000 amp hours. 2 x 3000w, and 1x1500w inverters. When the battery pack drops to 20% it starts the coach engine with it's 9.5kw 420v DC firetruck generator. Takes the batteries to over 89% in about 1.5 hours then can run everything for a day or two. But when total solar I just use the small 1100 BTU AC that only cools the insulated loft bed area that is 80x54x40inch tall. This AC draws less than 10 amps.
I would want mine hooked up to my solar. Its a must. Putting wear on my batteries is not an issue. You can't always be near a plug in.
You guys are great. I understand this was about AC on strictly solar and batteries. Not sure this was mentioned already, you have a hybrid inverter. A small 2000 watt champion inverter generator supplying say 5 amps should allow all day AC with solar supplement and keep the batteries charged.
Well right, but the test (and the question that always gets asked) is whether you can run it on solar alone. Glad you mentioned nice quiet inverter generators though!