Off Grid Solar Powered RV Air Conditioning – Is it Possible?

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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© Gone With the Wynns 2015

[RVgeeks]

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

[DCRACY]

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.

[hvacsoldier]

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.

[robertgarbe]

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.

[henrythinks]

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.

[bluejeans]

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 YouTube vids/questions on the subject. Fair winds!

[LibertyLeslie]

Thanks for making it super informative and bothering all the experts for us.

[sumbirb]

Thanks guys. Im planning on full time rving while freelancing around the U.S. and this information is huge for me

[HolySwordsman]

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$.

[ksimif]

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!

[gonewiththewynns]

I hope this helps debunk a few of those naysayers out there, it sure did open our eyes to the possibility :)

[smacdiesel]

You two have the best channel relating to RV living. Thanks for well edited and high quality content, really enjoy watching them.

[TheOffgridkid]

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.

[Usman.Sanaullah]

You guys seems super happy and satisfied with life and with each other i hope everyone could live like that!!! thumbs up you guys

[alexstepanski]

This is the most cheerful video I've ever seen on YouTube. I'm so used to seeing people get hurt or some kind of disaster happening.

[edjensen]

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!

[theoldwizard]

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.

[johncnorris]

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.

[dominique___]

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.

[ZenTrickz]

I've been wondering about this topic for the longest time. It's fascinating to see someone running AC off of their solar setup.