Run 2 A/C units on OFF-GRID solar ONLY (it's easy!)

We're here to bust a myth or common misconception. I'm confident in saying it's a myth or common misconception because air conditioning in off-grid RVs, vans, and buses is still a very uncommon thing for people to have or to use frequently.

In this video I am breaking down into very simple and easy components identifying what we use to power our bus, making it possible to run 2 mini split air conditioners simultaneously while still charging our batteries, exclusively from solar energy.

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*Chapters*
0:00 A/C on off-grid solar is possible!
1:04 Running 2 Mini-splits at the same time on Solar!
2:40 Off-Grid Solar System Details
3:09 I installed fewer solar panels than what I purchased.
3:36 What is our off-grid solar battery?
4:20 What do/can we power with our off-grid solar system?
4:55 What other components do we use?
5:38 How was our off-grid solar system installed?
6:04 Designing our off-grid solar system.
7:57 Why go through all of this planning?
8:43 You can help!

[mariajoseandchase]

Before an influx of silly comments, emails, and messages come in, I'll address a few things we've received already received questions or statements regarding:

- We do not intend to ever run both units overnight. We simply do not have the battery capacity to do that. Our bedrooms are in the back for that reason.
- As mentioned in the video, we CAN run both simultaneously with our system *during the daytime with minimal cloud coverage* and still regularly have ~20amps flowing to our batteries.
- Our ACs average less than 600W / 12 amps while running. Our solar system regularly charges our batteries at 45 amps in sunny conditions.
- We have been running our system like this during the day in weather between 85ºF - 95ºF for almost 2 months and have yet to go energy depleted.
- We've been told this is impossible, and that our system is programmed incorrectly, but we're doing it with no issues and have yet to be given the "correct" parameters to prove to us why this is impossible (but possible because we're doing it and energy positive with our system synchronizing at 100% charged and overwhelming majority of days.)
- This video is not fabricated, nor would we care to fabricate it. We're simply sharing our results and the components we've used to achieve these results. We've always been honest and upfront about our builds, expenses, travels, and outcomes and we don't intend to stop that for one video.
- We have not moved into the bus yet, so I can only give mathematical estimates on how long we could power 1 unit, not both because we do not ever plan to do that, overnight.

Here is the math for that:

*Battery capacity*: 7.68 kWh (7680 Wh)
*Inverter*: Victron MultiPlus-II 48V 3000W (94% efficiency)
*AC Unit*: Della 110V 12, 000 BTU 22 SEER2 (545.45W average consumption, adjusted to 580.27W with inverter losses)
*Combined Fridges*: 600W

*Estimated Duty Cycles over 1 hour*:
*AC Duty Cycle*: 30% (effective consumption: 174.08Wh)
*Fridge Duty Cycle*: 40% (effective consumption: 240Wh)
*Combined Effective Power Consumption*: 414.08Wh

*Performance*:
*Overnight (12 hours) Energy Consumption*: 4968.96 Wh
*Remaining Battery Capacity After 12 Hours*: 2711.04 Wh
Estimated 12 hours overnight, leaving the battery with around 35% capacity remaining.

*Assumption of 50% duty cycle*:
*AC*: Effective consumption: 290.14Wh
*Combined Fridges*: Effective consumption: 319.15Wh
*Combined Effective Power Consumption*: 609.29Wh

*Performance*:
*Overnight (12 hours) Energy Consumption*: 609.29W x 12 hours = 7311.48 Wh
*Remaining Battery Capacity After 12 Hours*: 7680 Wh - 7311.48 Wh = 368.52 Wh
Estimated 12 hours overnight, leaving the battery with around 5% capacity remaining.

By adding an additional 7.68kWh battery in parallel, which we plan on eventually doing, it changes our effectively doubles our run times.

I'll edit this to add more as needed.

[joeythenomad]

Running two ACs just on solar power in that set-up is sick!

[tbloembergen]

Dude I’m not even planning on ever doing a bus conversion like this but I LOVE this video being so specific on all the gear. It’s niche but it’s amazing cause usually it’s so hard to find this content. Keep doing what you are doing and congrats with the new member of the family.

[MobileDwellings]

love the electrical box! well done amiguis

[SuperSushidog]

Great job. We built a similar system on our motorhome. We're old, retired FTers who discovered we love to boondock. We boondocked for 10 months last year and have been living off grid all this year so far too. We designed and built our system ourselves, on a tight budget. It took us 5 years to gather the resources and finally complete the project, doing all the work ourselves.

We started by building a 620-watt liftable solar array on the side of our motorhome. Our side array makes a nice bedroom window awning too, practically lifting itself with a couple gas struts, and it's easy to clean, standing safely on the ground. Next, we built a 12v, 560ah LiFePo-4 battery using 8, 280ah prismatic cells and a Heltec 330amp BMS with a 5a active balancer. These cells fit perfectly under the steps of our MH where our old pair of golf cart batteries used to reside. We insulated the battery compartment, cut a small hole in our step risers and installed a tiny computer CPU fan to keep this space at close to room temperature, so we don't have to worry about the BMS shutting down charging due to low temperature - or their life reduced from getting too hot. Our 12v system uses an 80A Progressive Dynamics LFP converter/charger, a 1, 000w Renogy inverter, a 50a Epever MPPT charge controller and a Lnex battery monitor.

By mounting the solar array on the side of our coach, we left the roof free to rack 8, 550w Sungold Power solar panels down the length of our 35ft Class A, 15" off our roof, above our AC, vents, etc. We built the rack out of 2" 6061-T6 structural aluminum angle. The front 2 panels slope down at a shallow 9.5-degrees to meet the roof, producing a smooth laminar airflow over the array, making the RV more stable with less wind drag while driving too. It shades our entire roof, allowing plenty of cooling air underneath, increasing solar output and reducing the heat load on the air conditioners. Our overall height is still just under 12 ft. Our 4, 400w array can run both our A/Cs, household appliances (we have 1 residential fridge) and charge our batteries from solar at the same time.

We mounted a Sungold Power all-in-one 48V, 5, 000W Inverter/100A charge controller/battery charger, breakers and a Lnex battery monitor on the wall in our bedroom, saving us space as well as money compared to a system built with individual components. This all-in-one unit has the same 99% charging and 95% inverter efficiency as the high end Victron unit, though it cost us only $764. We chose this particular unit because it supports up to 500 volts of solar power which was needed to accommodate our 400voc solar array. Our 48v battery uses 16, 320ah prismatic cells and a 200amp Heltec BMS to keep it safe. Together with our 560ah 12v bank, we have a total of 23.5 kwh of batteries onboard - kept charged by 5, 020 watts of solar. This is the equivalent storage capacity of 18, 100ah 12v batteries.


We removed the rooftop A/C we had in the bedroom and replaced it with an EG4 28.5 seer-2, 12k btu mini-split heat pump on the upper rear of our motorhome. It's super quiet and cools as well as our 14.5k btu soft start equipped Furrion we installed up front using about 1/3 the power. This second phase provides 24/7 off-grid air conditioning and heat from the heat pump. We have a total off-grid electrical self-sufficiency without the need to run our generator, for a total budget of around $11, 500, including the high-efficiency heat pump.

[AZSUN]

Great breakdown there Chase! Dude is loaded with great info. Thanks for being willing to share what you know and how it's all worked out for you.

[mikeabc]

Your ceiling and wall finish sure came out nice!

[vindab]

The hubby and I just bought the same bus 2 weeks ago and are following you closely! When will you be posting again? We're ready for more please!

[shawnnakaminski]

First I can’t wait to see how the bus turns out. I am still obsessed with the van which u know, and your other bus was amazing. This time around you’re taking care of that mid-night power outage that would happen in the other bus. 👍🏻 Ok ok enough of that. Where’s the handsome baby boy? How’s Isla enjoying being a big sister?

[nealeburgess]

I have a similar size solar system on my apartment in the sunny south of Spain. 6 panels with similar ratings to yours. Mine includes a second 48v Life PO4 battery (again similar to yours, except 2 of them). My charge controller and inverter are all built into one unit. 5 k inverter. Here in Europe we run 230v mains. Currently I have one split A/C unit of 9, 000 Btus in my bedroom. During the summer I run it all night (about 10 hours). Just to see what is possible I left it running all night and all day and all the following night. It worked fine, no problems. My intention is to get another A/C unit for daytime only use in the living room.
One technical difference from yours is that my panels are all in series. So sometimes I have as much as 270 volts DC showing on a sunny day. That was the way the supplier designed it. I am completely off grid, summer and winter. I also run hot water, a washing machine and dishwasher etc most of the year, except in November and December, when I have to be careful with usage. In the winter I use a gas water heater, and kettle that goes on the gas hob. My lighting is 230 v LED units. (No 12 v installed).
From my experience I have no doubt that what you have said is really possible. So you doubters, believe what Chase has said.

[marcingp]

Good job! Thanks for showing that to people. Bigger roof can always do more. I have 2.6KW (7x380W) on roof, same amount of battery capacity, also 48V, and single mini split AC of 3KW cooling ability, but consuming only 1KW electriciy on maximum power. Instead of Victron I used Sofar 5KW all in one solar inverter. I have no idea what to do with excess of energy :D

[decastring]

Would love to see a technical write-up on your electrical system (solar panels, charge controller, inverter, storage, distribution, etc.). Thanks!

[TheMarine]

I wonder if you could add some sort of an electrical assist to the bus, so if there was additional power you could save fuel, or possibly charge the battery when going down hills

[SomethingToday]

I just installed a mini spilt in my rv last week. I wake up with 60% of charge still in my 14.3 kwh battery. My rv stays at 70 all day and night. So quiet too.
Before id wake up to 20% battery left running one rv ac all night.

[debbielewis]

Hi, Chase. So glad the ACs are working out so well. Especially with the temperatures we've been experiencing in TN. It's not just hot, it's humid !! Kudos to you for doing such a great job!!

I'm sure you've mentioned this, but I cannot recall...how long and wide is your bus? It looks huge!

Hope all is well with the family. So exciting knowing of the new addition to your family and seeing the progress on the bus.
🙂❤🙂❤🙂❤🙂❤

[Jose_CitizenoftheWorld]

Great info, how is the mini splits being powered? Plug in or hardwired? Is there a way to get specific directions?
Thank you

[noodles.dumplings.kimchi]

Now that I think about it. If living vehicle starts selling their atmospheric water generator you guys would be mostly off grid.

[nabeelkhalid]

How much does ac consumes amps when running continuesly

[noodles.dumplings.kimchi]

OMG. The fridge😩🤌🏼 it’s everything. I wish this could fit in a van. As always I knew you 2 would hit your electrical system out of the park.

[maggiebrattoli]

Hi Chase,
I wanted to buy that temperature gun but you don’t have it in your Amazon list. 😢