Why hasn't anyone invented a cheap solar-powered a/c system? (sales, credit)

[Voebe]

At least, I haven't heard of one. The summer APS bills are so infuriating. I imagine someone could make a killing with some easy-to-install home a/c unit. God know we have enough sun to power it.

[esiebert7625]

They have, it's called a swamp cooler ;-) Might not be solar powered by it doesn't need to be as its cheap to run, just add water.

[HX_Guy]

Originally Posted by Voebe

At least, I haven't heard of one. The summer APS bills are so infuriating. I imagine someone could make a killing with some easy-to-install home a/c unit. God know we have enough sun to power it.

So what happens at night? Or on a cloudy day? Maybe some sort of hybrid system? Would probably be too expensive and not worth it, might as well go full solar on your house.

And the sun we have here isn't actually all that great for solar because of the heat. Solar likes light from the sun, but not the heat. Ideally you want a cold sunny day for the best solar production.

[hikernut]

An excellent question. I have some ideas and I may take it on as a project in retirement, assuming no companies have an offering at that time.

One problem with full-on residential solar is all of the extra electronics needed, which add a lot to the cost of the system and generally do not last as long as the panels. One saves a lot on $$ and complexity if you can use DC power, just need a simple regulator.

hikernut

[AlohaFriday]

Check out this company http://monarch-power.com

I don't think they're doing AC, but the founder, an ASU professor, is doing cool things with making solar more accessible and affordable.

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by Voebe

At least, I haven't heard of one. The summer APS bills are so infuriating. I imagine someone could make a killing with some easy-to-install home a/c unit. God know we have enough sun to power it.

Thank the lack of leadership from city, state, and federal. It's funny, we rather destroy nature by putting up giant solar farms but refuse to put them up on the thousands of empty rooftops. Then there are the thousands of empty parking lots... It's the same reason internet is still as expensive as it is. It's the same reason for many.

[canadian citizen]

All it took was about 15 seconds, searching on Goggle, for find that Lennox makes a number of solar powered home central air conditioner systems.

link.Solar HVAC Solutions and Success Stories | Lennox Industries

Jim B. In Toronto.

[esiebert7625]

The OP said "cheap", I don't think what you linked to meets that criteria:

The Lennox unit runs between $9,000 and $15,000 and is eligible for a federal tax credit of $500, Truly said.

The solar panels, which are 3 feet by 6 feet, cost between $4,000 and $30,000 before the 30 percent tax credit, depending on how many panels the homeowner wants to install.

Read more here: New air-conditioning unit gives homeowners chance to go solar | Mom2MomDFW.com

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by canadian citizen

All it took was about 15 seconds, searching on Goggle, for find that Lennox makes a number of solar powered home central air conditioner systems.

link.Solar HVAC Solutions and Success Stories | Lennox Industries

Jim B. In Toronto.

Yes, these have been around for a few years. I've followed some discussion on HVAC forums, and guys who claim to be former Lennox sales reps say they don't make sense from an economic point of view. One fellow said it would only be a good buy where electricity cost is over 50 cents per kWh.

Not sure what the OP considers "cheap". To me it means something that's cheaper in the long run than a conventional system.

Hikernut

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

So what happens at night? Or on a cloudy day? Maybe some sort of hybrid system? Would probably be too expensive and not worth it, might as well go full solar on your house.

And the sun we have here isn't actually all that great for solar because of the heat. Solar likes light from the sun, but not the heat. Ideally you want a cold sunny day for the best solar production.

I can't claim to be at all knowledgeable about solar power, but from what little I've gleaned, my impression is that systems store power, so that you don't need the sun 24 hours a day. It takes power from the sun, but then ideally stores enough to run the system through a couple of sunless days.