Hey everyone! My dad and I just set up a backyard office and we're looking to power the AC and heating unit. It's a 12,000 BTU unit that runs on 115 volts at 60 Hz, and I'm considering a solar generator from brands like Bluetti or Jackery. The challenge is figuring out how big of a battery and how many solar panels I'll need to keep it running for about 9 to 10 hours each day. Any advice?
3 Answers
Honestly, for what you're looking to do, it might be far more practical to just run a power line from your house. You'll likely need around 15 kWh capacity to power that AC unit for several hours, which means investing in a lot of solar panels and batteries. It's definitely doable, but it could get pricey!
AC units are some of the most power-hungry appliances out there. It’s usually better and cheaper to run a cable from your house instead of trying to set up a solar system just for that unit. You could even do an overhead run to save some costs!
Don't forget to consider the startup amps when you're planning your setup. AC units draw a lot of power when they first kick on, and you'll need to account for that in your solar calculations.
Exactly! It sounds like a hassle, but running a line is way more cost-effective for a consistent power supply.