SOLAR PANEL TO RUN AC IN THE SUMMER?

How much would it be to purchase solar panels and have it professionally installed? I am looking for enough power to run AC in the summer. I have a 1500 sqft home.

Also, are the solar panels good for a long time?

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Comments (5)

#1 written by talon699
about 2 years ago

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Sorry to tell you this, but in order to run an ac unit you would need allot of solar panels , Probably at least 10 acres , and the cost would be outrageous, Each panel does not put out a lot of power. may be cheaper to go geothermal/heatpump setup.
#2 written by Wolfchevy3
about 2 years ago

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Solar panels are expensive. For a 75 watt panel, the cost would be about $700. You will also need batteries to store the power which is anywhere from 6- 24 volts. You will need a step-up transformer to change the voltage from DC to AC. Believe me when I say that it will get very expensive. I work at a company that uses solar panel for recharging batteries that are used in construction arrow boards and message panels. The cost is not cheap, but in the long run, it will be the best thing to ever have to power your home. I hope that this helps. Good Luck!!!
#3 written by Ed
about 2 years ago

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Talon is way off on the number of panels required, and Wolfchev is wrong on the need for batteries.

To determine the size system you would need, check your AC for its wattage. When learn enough about solar systems to determine the system size. You will have to do a lot of learning to understand the whole system, and what it can do. There is a lot of info on the Internet, and in the green search box at the top of this page.

Batteries are needed only if you have to store power. My system has net metering, so when I generate more than I use, it goes to the power company. An equal amount can come back for free, when I am using more power than is being generated. Batteries add a whopping amount to the cost of a system, and are not needed if you don’t need power during electrical outages.
#4 written by Don K
about 2 years ago

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I use two window A/C units and I have a 1600 SQ home. It may not be as hot here as it is at your place but works great for me.

You can run a 5000 BTU A/C unit that you buy at Freds department stores on about 800 watts of solar modules. A 5000 BTU A/C uses about 6 amps at 120 volts running hard. 120 volts times 6 amps = 720 Watts. So you might want to say 850 watts in panels for heat losses.

So about $10,000 to $15,000 depending on where you are and who you are dealing with.
#5 written by hebers1
about 2 years ago

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I just learned about a relitivly new type of solar pannels more expesive but more efficant than the old style It is called photovoltaics. Instead fo just heating up a wire this stuff seperates the electron from the photon parical, wich means that it even works on cloudy, rainy days.

Also there is a guy that live in my town that runs his house on solar power and every month the power company buys his extra energy he produces.

Overtime your solar panels will pay for them selves. So I really don’t think that buying the pannels is a question of money but a question of how to do it.
Atleast in my opinion.

Try this website it has some usefull information
http://www2.dupont.com/Photovoltaics/en_US/science_of/index.html