Equipment Needed To Run An RV Air Conditioner Unit Off Of Solar Power
Updated 01/04/2022 | Published 01/03/2022
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Question:
Im looking to run a 13.5K roof top A/C off my 4 lithium batteries while traveling in my motorhome. Is that possible with your Go Power Inverter combos and what size would I need? Thank you.
asked by: John R
Expert Reply:
Running an AC unit solely off of battery power is going to require a large battery bank. You'll need to know the amp draw of your AC unit per hour to know how big of a battery bank you'll need and also how big of a solar power system is needed to replenish the energy used from the batteries.
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 3 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 you linked to.
In total you'd be looking at 13K to 16K in initial costs so while it is doable it isn't recommended due to the extreme cost. Instead we recommend just using a generator to power the AC unit. A generator like the etrailer 4,500 Watt Generator # 333-0005 would be sufficient in powering your AC unit at a fraction of the cost.
I've attached a video below that breaks down the parts needed to run your AC off of solar as well as a breakdown of the costs to give you more insight. I've also included some of our help articles on solar that offer a wealth of knowledge.
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