Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
What's the power output of the roof's worth of panels? What's the power draw of the unit? What do you do when solar output isn't happening (you know, it can still be hot at night)?
Home Solar Battery/Solar Inverter like a Tesla Powerwall or LG Chem Battery. Combine that with a grid tie and you have a belt, suspenders, and drawstring.
The flaws of a solar powered AC system have been exposed.
But since you must have a conventionally powered AC system, perhaps there is a better use for all the heat removed than simply blowing it into the air.
Like, using the heat removed from the house to make hot water... https://www.hotspotenergy.com/reside...water-heaters/
If your climate is dry enough, a swamp cooler will work with just solar. We were entirely off the grid in Utah and had just 1k of solar array. We stored power in big golf cart batteries.
We were cool enough....the swamp cooler can be very effective.
So basically, my hunch is correct. The size needed would basically be huge (i.e. too big to just be right next to the units).
For the record, I wasn't actually considering doing it, it just seemed like an idea that made sense, so I was wondering why it wasn't done.
I have also considered the same idea for electric or hybrid cars. I've often wondered why they didn't have solar panels integrated into the roof. I know they wouldn't draw enough power to fully charge the car, but I would think they could at least lengthen the time it could run between charges, especially if it sits in a parking lot all day, like during the work day. It was a though I had as soon as electric cars started to become popular. Turns out car manufacturers have started doing this, but it seems like it took them a long time.
I have absolutely no real knowledge how all of these things work. It just seems to me that solar power is woefully under utilized.
If your climate is dry enough, a swamp cooler will work with just solar. We were entirely off the grid in Utah and had just 1k of solar array. We stored power in big golf cart batteries.
We were cool enough....the swamp cooler can be very effective.
That won't work in Eastern Texas, or Florida, or New York for that matter. We had a lovely 74 degree dew point with 90 degree temp today.
Instead of a dedicated solar system for the AC, run the whole house on it. We've got a roof top photovoltaic system that's tied to the electric grid. We give the power company more than we use over a year's time. So basically everything we have is solar powered.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
