Can you use small solar panals to power a small Air Conditioning unit?

Question

I'm currently living near death valley, and though the swamp cooler works, i'd like the option of air conditioning. The cost is prohibitive though, and I had an idea. Can I use one of those solar panel systems for charging and using your laptop to run a small window unit.

I lack expertise in electrical matters, and want advice about how to go about it. The economy is currently hurting me, so i'm looking for cost effective ways of dealing with the heat.

One thing we have tons of, is sun. However, i'm renting, so permanent placement is out of the question. What numbers do I need to crunch in my calculations, and what advice do you have to offer.

Thank you,

Bill

Answer 1

No way, they just don't provide the power you'd need (you'll be looking at tens of square metres of cell surface to run even a small air-con).

If you have a grid connection that would be the cheapest, otherwise you'll need a lot of expense (or a generator, but the cheap ones are noisy and don't last long).

Answer 2

No.

Answer 3

It would take a large panel of solar cells to run even a small air conditioning unit.

A small air conditioning unit will reguire approximately 1,500 watts per hour.

A panel of solar cells that will provide that much electricity will cost you at least $20,000 installed on your roof.

Unfortunately solar cells produce electricity only when the sun shines. Death Valley is quite hot even at night. You still need that air conditioner. Your solar cells will not provide you with electricity at night.

The interest cost of the $20,000 loan that you would need to buy and install the solar panels is quite a bit more than the cost of the same amount of electricity from the Utility.

The solar panels will not save you any money. They will cost you even more money than buying the electricity from the utility.

Fortunately where you are in Death Valley is very dry so Swamp coolers work very well.

Many years ago I lived in Bakersfield California which also gets very hot. I had a swamp cooler that worked as well as any air conditioner.

A swamp cooler is a device that runs water over a fiber mat that looks something like the filter in your furnace.

A fan blows air over and through the fiber mat, evaporating some water.

The evaporation of the water cools the air.

When you have dry air it is easy to evaporate a lot of water. that will give you some very cool air at a much lower energy cost than the air conditioner.

Answer 4

Yes, but it is quite expensive. First, you will need a complete 24 hour/day solar system with 8-12 panels, Charge Controller, Central Control Panel/ Inverter, Large Battery Bank (about 12 Golf Cart Size). You can then install a Gas Air Conditioner (Ammonia Cycle) which uses Propane, but not much electric power. The system will probably cost about $45,000.

I have a home in Mexico near where many people have no grid power and they use this type of system. They all also have a back up diesel generator that cost about $9000. It is very expensive. Most everyone I know are trying to get the electric grid into their area.

Answer 5

Why not open two windows at night when temps drop overnight? Place a window fan in one window to blow air in (where you are sleeping) and one to blow out on a window in a room where you don't mind it a little warm. Leave all doors between these rooms open... Set an alarm to get up early to remove the fans and close the windows just as the sun rise begins.  This is like running two light bulbs only... so would you need a solar panel?  Probably not.  Just don't oversleep or you'll cook... he he he!

Your charging system for your laptop has only minimal voltage and AC or even a heat pump needs substantial AMPs to power...

Answer 6

Ya know, I live in Ca. too, and there used to be a difference in the cost of rent, and housing, between say Newport beach, and Fontana, but  not now. So unless your work is out there, it would be cheaper t move. There's a reason for the name. When the first settlers arrived, they noticed that the heat worked their A/C's to death, hence the name,"Killer of A/C's" which was later shortened to todays "DEATH VALLEY", HAAAAHAAAAA HAAAAAA  (I threw the "ha ha ha's in there for effect, ya know?)

Because the initial cost of the array, and inverter, and storage cells, if you want power at night, would be quite high, even though the state has some kind of incentive, it'll still cost you a bunch, but after a few years it will have paid for itself, and all the power from then on is free.(and, I don't mean "internet free").

Answer 7

probly not it may be 2 weak i just copied that from the other guy above me lol

Answer 8

you would need multiple solar collectors of that size to generate enough power to run the air conditioner.

To figure out how many take the wattage requirements of your air conditioner, and divide by the wattage output by the solar collectors.

Answer 9

This unit from Sears is supposed to use only $48 a year in electricity, of course where you live and how much your utility rate is, determines what your actual bill will run.

but it is still less than the cost of solar panels that are large enough to power it.

how ever you might want to make sure you are getting the most out of your evaporative cooler, make sure you have the best pads in it, much like the first answerer stated, the fiber synthetic pads are much better that the straw ones.

also you need a good recirculation pump, so you are reusing the same water, this way the water to the pads are actually cooler than fresh water.