Setup to run small air conditioner?

like jsb said power hungry. in Wisconsin we call it a swamp cooler. you can make one and use that, instead of that air conditioner.

Hello Donrull,
Like JSB mentioned AC units need a lot of wattage to run so it is very difficult to do with solar. It also depends on the draw that AC unit would have. I would recommend Contacting our Technical staff at 800-330-8678 and they can help you size a system to see if we could find an amount of panels that would work for your application!
-A.L.

donrull, get the numbers off your AC unit that you wish to run with solar and do some math to give you an idea why it will be difficult, you are looking for the DC amperage rating. The amount of power you can use, or take out of the batteries, is essentially only as much as the amount you can put into the batteries. Naturally, the most important part of any solar setup is the amount of charging going on, and you want that to be greater than the amount of electricity you use. Technically, Watts = Volts x Amps. DC circuits run at 12 volts. An AC appliance (your Air Conditioner)will use the same number of watts whether running on a DC or AC. On a DC circuit (using an inverter of course) that AC appliance will use 10 times as many amps as it will on an AC circuit, 120/12 = 10. Now you have to throw in the fact that inverters are not 100% efficient, they only are about 85% efficient. So while figuring out your panel and battery needs, you must also figure out how big the inverter will need to be. Your request is not impossible, but may be impractical as your trailer weight max may not allow the additional battery weight alone. I'm not being negative, just trying to show you the down side of such a large system. Don't foget you also want it to run your air, probably most of a heated day.

Every day they are coming out with new technologies that are working toward that very use of power. Perhpas by using the new ion batteries ($$$$) and enough panels (even they are starting to get smaller and more powerful) you can actually make it work. As was mentioned, call the Renogy guys, they will be able to set you up accordingly, and then it's all up to you. Just remember, when it comes to solar, get everything you can afford.

Better HVAC might be a while yet,and I say that only because I have an in on that business and the mentality there is "if it works don't - with it" but the rest, indeed they already are. It's amazing what they have done just in two years and the things coming out next will also be head turners. Like computers, once you set yourself up with a excellent computer, out comes the new advanced better one Just in panels it's been awesome. These panels we are using now, where twice as big and much less wattage, not long ago. I fit six panels where I had four two years ago, with more wattage. Speaking of inverters, I had a 3,000 watt inverter 5 years ago that is 4 times bigger than my 2800 now.

Two of our clients are now advocates for this technology, and we refer other dealership owners to give them a call and talk to them. Dealer owners listen to other owners.

Auto dealerships were (or still are) a very wasteful industry.

So "slothworld", that was an interesting read, but wow the cost! It's viable, but my generator will work just fine until it gets a lot more R&D. I didn't work out the cost difference, but the gen and the diesel cost will work for me, but, that being said, if I had some money buring a hole in my pocket - I'd do it.