What is the make and model of that Charge Controller. Im looking for a inexpensive 12 volt 30amp with LCD read out. And how has it held up. You did a really neat job btw. Did you ever find a cheap Sine Wave inverter? If not get a discared UPS unit. Hook that up to your battery. Google it, many are using these instead of Sine Wave inverter and they work GREAT.
When couldn't run my 500w air conditioner in the cooling mode for more than 30mins. I setup consisted of a 80w solar panel and 4-12v car batteries. I knew then I needed deep cycle batteries, but I was working on the cheap!
@nxn718 low voltage DC is subject to voltage drop. And with heavy loads alot gets converted to heat. a small wire would become a heating element and melt down
my system can run a small window ac unit to but it drains it too quick. instead i use it to power a bunch of 12v cfl lights and my televion. the light are only 5 watts each so they don't use nothing compared to the inverter. but it allows me to run my tv virtually all afternoon and most of the night. start by using your system to power small things and work your way up. and you will deffinatly notice a difference in your electric bill.
don't blame it on the Wal-Mart air conditioner. what you need is a full sine-wave inverter to handle the motor in the air-conditioner. know what you're doing before passing blame on something.
what you need dude is more batteries to hold the need of power from the a/c, this is more watts for a unit that big, may be 6- 12 v. batteries, or like 10- 6 v. batteries. to be able to run it 20 minutes or so, and to charge all those batteries you are going to need more solar panels, this is more like a hobby, to use it for small things or light up a room for a few hours, remember more batteries more power, and got to set it up on a right way or will burnt something.
I have 120 watts of solar panels, hooked it up to a 900 watt inverter and tried to power up my 10,000 btu unit and it would start but couldn't kick in...
Know I have 300 watts in panels and waiting on an inverter to power the window unit up
@wildhunter666 He has a 1000 watt inverter, with those batteries the system could run your laptop for a maybe 5-6 hours, lights all night, but the panel would take a few days to recharge the batteries. So his little system is excellent as a back up system for power outages. BTW, i got the same inverter for years now running my laptop and modem off solar.
Ooh I like that set up.. I must say its a big project your working on costing probably just over $1.1K .. maybe less depending on unknowingly neighbour help. ;) - I try to get everything running in DC those inverters take up power to invert.. the tester your using .. I wouldnt mind.. but I`d want one 5x smaller any ideas?
I created a solar powered air conditioner unit last year out of 2 99$ solar panals and a 12v battery. This is how i did it, i was searching for a way when I came across an idea. I got a very small compact ac unit out of an old ford an put the two air out puts in the window and the rest is a box i made. It ran constantly, and at night (it gets cool at night) at low for 6 hours. If you have any Questions pleas message me.
Skippy is right i have the same xantrex xppower 1000 ms. most compressors require pure sine wave to run. However if you find the right equipment it may run it. I have a set up that can run a small ac unit off of one battery from the same inverter you have. Try using a GE window unit approx 5000btu. i have run mine for full days on the xpower1000 ms with no problem. the difference is that i constantly charge my battery with 8 KC130TM panels that i get 1250w of powerat midday.
I actually studied your setup before making mine. It was a big help. you were right the mod sine wave was making the a/c sound very bad. So I've ditched it and started researching 12V dc a/c units used in small yachts. the inverter will only run small temporary loads.
Cool set up, check out mine also. A couple of tips: run your roof wires in a pipe like some conduit or PVC or the UV from the sun will eat your wires up pretty fast. Also, if your inverter is a midified sine, it will have a problem running the compressor on the A/C, so don't blame the A/C unit! Very cool system, you can expand it very easily.
should try using 12v stuff or less
bosshogindog 8 months ago
Thanks for the laugh..
tom95076 1 year ago
Nice setup, its simple and easy to maintain. Great job and thanks for sharing
awomansworld123 1 year ago
What is the make and model of that Charge Controller. Im looking for a inexpensive 12 volt 30amp with LCD read out. And how has it held up. You did a really neat job btw. Did you ever find a cheap Sine Wave inverter? If not get a discared UPS unit. Hook that up to your battery. Google it, many are using these instead of Sine Wave inverter and they work GREAT.
ThePauperPrepper 1 year ago
can u give the name of your charger controller?
thanks!
kricotas 1 year ago
Nice setup.
I tried the same thing last year.
When couldn't run my 500w air conditioner in the cooling mode for more than 30mins. I setup consisted of a 80w solar panel and 4-12v car batteries. I knew then I needed deep cycle batteries, but I was working on the cheap!
Good luck with project !
Snapshotok2000 1 year ago
Can anyone recommend a good inverter to run like say an A/C?
tpodi 1 year ago
what made you use 2 gauge wiring ?
nxn718 1 year ago
@nxn718 low voltage DC is subject to voltage drop. And with heavy loads alot gets converted to heat. a small wire would become a heating element and melt down
stonersam724 1 year ago
u need more power to run that ac brother ---but i do agree with your walmart comment
hermancando 1 year ago
You'd better hope that your neighbor doesn't borrow your solar setup in an emergency. ;D
nomoreremakes 1 year ago
Hey, I see you have a few comments but I just want to agree with some and disagree on others.
Yes, you need a full sine-wave inverter and YES it needs to be rated at a wattage your a/c uses.
BUT!, to run the ac off solar...constantly...you need panels that give the same or more wattage as your a/c uses.
hippyraverocker 2 years ago
I think that air conditioner draws more than 1000 watts especially at start up.
takforalt 2 years ago
Nice, Powering an AC unit is such a cool thing to do with solar power.
Like slapping Mother Nature in the face :)
ArtyFart 2 years ago
my system can run a small window ac unit to but it drains it too quick. instead i use it to power a bunch of 12v cfl lights and my televion. the light are only 5 watts each so they don't use nothing compared to the inverter. but it allows me to run my tv virtually all afternoon and most of the night. start by using your system to power small things and work your way up. and you will deffinatly notice a difference in your electric bill.
hooterman2828 2 years ago
you have the wrong inverter.
packagewarren 2 years ago
don't blame it on the Wal-Mart air conditioner. what you need is a full sine-wave inverter to handle the motor in the air-conditioner. know what you're doing before passing blame on something.
packagewarren 2 years ago
what you need dude is more batteries to hold the need of power from the a/c, this is more watts for a unit that big, may be 6- 12 v. batteries, or like 10- 6 v. batteries. to be able to run it 20 minutes or so, and to charge all those batteries you are going to need more solar panels, this is more like a hobby, to use it for small things or light up a room for a few hours, remember more batteries more power, and got to set it up on a right way or will burnt something.
redduck101 2 years ago
I have 120 watts of solar panels, hooked it up to a 900 watt inverter and tried to power up my 10,000 btu unit and it would start but couldn't kick in...
Know I have 300 watts in panels and waiting on an inverter to power the window unit up
7501234 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
You should check out my system. Just click on my name. Your system is very nice and simple. I like that. Hello from sunny FL.
mrbuki77 2 years ago
Whats the model for that charge controller?
cdesigns222 2 years ago
"couple few pieces of shingle that my neighbor let me borrow... unknowingly"
LOL, Nice!
ArashiNage 2 years ago 4
hahaha, less than 30W for 1000USD, after inverter you would have 25W, it is even not enough for my laptop, it needs 203W
wildhunter666 2 years ago
@wildhunter666 He has a 1000 watt inverter, with those batteries the system could run your laptop for a maybe 5-6 hours, lights all night, but the panel would take a few days to recharge the batteries. So his little system is excellent as a back up system for power outages. BTW, i got the same inverter for years now running my laptop and modem off solar.
Lanny615 1 year ago
@Lanny615 is it only running the laptop and modem?.. pretty cool im looking at setting up that now.
mraperish 1 year ago
BATTERIES EMIT HYDROGEN! make sure your shit is ventilated dude.
EVILTRIPS666 2 years ago
its venting with the dryer since the video was made. although it went unventalated for a while i will admit. no explotions yet.
stonersam724 2 years ago
Nice setup but waay too small to run an a/c unit. I use mine to run a laptop and modem and small lights.
Lanny615 2 years ago
you need a pure sine wave inverter the signal will then be the same as the grid
. HOWEVER pure sine wave inverters are costly 1000 watts maybe 300 dollars or more
theoneagain 3 years ago
on top of that the wave from the inverter has to be matched up with the grid otherwise they could cancel each other out.
Igotnogod 2 years ago
Ooh I like that set up.. I must say its a big project your working on costing probably just over $1.1K .. maybe less depending on unknowingly neighbour help. ;) - I try to get everything running in DC those inverters take up power to invert.. the tester your using .. I wouldnt mind.. but I`d want one 5x smaller any ideas?
ancientsolar 3 years ago
Hey stoner is that Charge controller shown in the video any good?
I seen that model for $129.99 CDN at canadiantire and was thinking of getting it. thanks.
12643 3 years ago
I created a solar powered air conditioner unit last year out of 2 99$ solar panals and a 12v battery. This is how i did it, i was searching for a way when I came across an idea. I got a very small compact ac unit out of an old ford an put the two air out puts in the window and the rest is a box i made. It ran constantly, and at night (it gets cool at night) at low for 6 hours. If you have any Questions pleas message me.
solartape 3 years ago
hey stoner,
Skippy is right i have the same xantrex xppower 1000 ms. most compressors require pure sine wave to run. However if you find the right equipment it may run it. I have a set up that can run a small ac unit off of one battery from the same inverter you have. Try using a GE window unit approx 5000btu. i have run mine for full days on the xpower1000 ms with no problem. the difference is that i constantly charge my battery with 8 KC130TM panels that i get 1250w of powerat midday.
dapdannic 3 years ago
I actually studied your setup before making mine. It was a big help. you were right the mod sine wave was making the a/c sound very bad. So I've ditched it and started researching 12V dc a/c units used in small yachts. the inverter will only run small temporary loads.
stonersam724 3 years ago
Cool set up, check out mine also. A couple of tips: run your roof wires in a pipe like some conduit or PVC or the UV from the sun will eat your wires up pretty fast. Also, if your inverter is a midified sine, it will have a problem running the compressor on the A/C, so don't blame the A/C unit! Very cool system, you can expand it very easily.
skippy3840 3 years ago 3