Yes, It is definitely possible to power even the largest RV air conditioning unit with solar power, but you'll need to design your installation based on the size of your A/C unit and how much starting and running wattage it requires.
Can solar power an RV air conditioner?
For RV owners, installing a solar panel on your RV roof is a great way to reduce your energy costs and increase your ability to live off-the-grid. But can solar power really generate enough wattage to power large appliances like your RV air conditioner? So can you power an RV air conditioner with solar?
How much solar power does an RV AC use?
The average RV air conditioner is rated at 13500 or 15000 BTUs and consumes 1 to 1.5 kWh of energy per hour of run time. To offset this amount of energy consumption, you would need 200 to 300 Watts of solar power, and that's just to run the AC for 1 hour.
How much energy does an RV AC use?
The air conditioner consumes about 1.2 kWh of energy per hour. The air conditioner is left on for 3 hours a day. The RV will be parked in Moab, Utah. With these assumptions in mind, the following are the size of the components necessary to run this AC: At least 615 Watts of solar panels. 4 Lithium batteries, each rated at 100AH.
Do I need a solar panel for my RV?
At minimum, you have the solar panels themselves and a collection of batteries (often known as a 'battery bank') that provides power directly to all of your RV's 12-volt DC electronics. In order to power any 120-volt AC electronics, like your air conditioner, you'll need to install an inverter as well.
Can air conditioners run on solar?
Although air conditioners consume A LOT of energy, you can still run them on solar. However, to make this as inexpensive as possible, some optimization will be required.
Should you use an inverter mini-split for your RV AC?
There are many case studies that prove the superior efficiency of inverter mini-splits. So if you're in the habit of using your RV AC for more than a couple of hours a day, switching to an inverter mini-split can save you hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars in solar panel and battery costs.