When looking into buying your own solar system, you might be asking yourself a common question. This question is “How many solar panels are needed to run an air conditioner?” The answer to this varies depending on multiple different factors.
In this article we’ll discuss how much energy AC units consume, how much energy solar panels generate, and exactly how many solar panels is required to run an air conditioner.
How Much Energy Does An AC Consume?
If you’ve ever lived in an hot environment then you know that an AC unit can run up an eletrcity bill. Air conditioners simply use a lot of energy because they use a compressor, condenser coil, and fan to cool the air. This unique process is very effective at cooling the air, but requires a lot of energy to do so.
With that being said how much energy does a standard ac consume?
Most central air conditions run off of 220/240V. They can typically cool homes up to 2000 square ft. and are perfect for homes with multiple rooms. Since they can cool a large area they typically use total of 2000W – 6000W to run.
Small room ACs on the other hand run off of 110V. They can cool rooms up to 300 square ft. and consume anywhere from 600W – 1200W. While small air conditioners are most economical route, they require you to pick one room to cool effectively instead of the full house.
How Much Energy Do Solar Panels Produce?
The amount of energy a solar panel produces is determined by three main factors. These factors include the size of the panel, the efficiency of the solar cells, and the amount of sunlight the panel gets.
If you get all three of these factors right the solar panels can produce a ton of energy.
With that being said most modern solar panels are around 65 inches tall and 39 inches wide. These solar panels have energy conversion rates in the 20 – 25% range and typically produce a total 265W per panel.
How Many Solar Panels Are Needed To Run An Air Conditioner?
Given the above information we can finally answer the question of, “How many solar panels are needed to run an air conditioner?” If you have an air conditioner that consumes 3000W then you will need around 12 solar panels at 265W each.
Keep in mind this number of solar panels is simply to run the AC itself. You will need to purchase more panels in order to power other appliances in your house.
If you use a smaller 1200W air conditioner then you will only need 5 solar panels to power the air conditioner. As you can see the less energy you require the less solar panels you will need to purchase.
So if you don’t consume a lot of energy than buying a solar kit might be the best option for you. If you have a large home and do consume a large amount of energy then its recommended to contact the professionals when going solar.