Hi everyone! I'm diving into a project to set up a solar-powered cold storage unit for a community garden, and I could really use your help. The unit I'm working with is a walk-in A/C set up to keep our produce fresh during the summer months, so we're planning to complete this within the next month.
The A/C unit I have is 1000W, 115V, with a draw of about 9.7A, meaning it would consume roughly 12kWh daily if it operates around the clock. I've estimated that we'll need a battery bank of around 14-15kWh to support it properly. Right now, I'm a bit lost on how to translate these figures into selecting the right solar panels, inverter, and batteries. We're considering the Jackery Explorer 5000 and EcoFlow Delta Ultra Pro for our setup. I'd really appreciate any insight you can share!
1 Answer
I can help with that! The A/C specs show it will draw about 1115 watts if it runs all the time. However, how much cooling do you actually need? I recommend doing a manual J calculation—it can really clarify your BTU requirements. If it turns out you need around 9000 BTUs, your unit won't run as much as 24/7 like you estimated. You should also consider a conversion loss of about 11% when using the Jackery 5000, meaning you'll need around 13.5kWh available daily at the minimum. Of course, if you want to avoid any downtime, sizing up to about 17kWh can give you a buffer, especially on those cloudy, low production days. For solar panels, factor in that they typically produce only about 75% of their rated output, so plan accordingly. Ideally, think about a setup that'll take advantage of sunny hours directly without relying too much on battery storage.
Thanks for the clarification! I found out that my 12kWh estimate came from a formula I found online, but I double-checked with a J calculation, and it gave me a figure of 1,640 BTUs based on our A/C and dimensions. We're planning on running it at around 5-8 degrees Celsius using a coolbot. With vegetables being pretty forgiving, I think we'll be insulated well enough to manage cooler days. Your input really helps to break it down!