Off Grid Solar Powered RV Air Conditioning - Is it Possible?

[@hvacsoldier1554]

It is 100% possible to run your Air Conditioner off of your Solar system. The question is do you have the right size Solar System to support your needs. Making sure you have energy efficient equipment is also vital. Installing a soft start kit on Air Conditioners is never a bad idea. Many new models of HVAC equipment will have soft start installed from the factory. You can also make a soft start kit if you have the technical prowess. All of the material to create a soft start kit are available and inexpensive. Great Experiment thanks for the post.

[@bluejeans8001]

I know Old "Land Locked" video but one of the reasons I follow you guys is the "experiments" and equipment test reviews you guys perform. This one regarding AC and solar certainly deserves more hits based upon the plethora of KZbin vids/questions on the subject. Fair winds!

[@henrythinks]

I also am a senior RV tech who retired 5 years ago. And I thought I may as well release some information to help you. A/C does in fact draw a lot of power and to cool your unit with what you have will drain it down over time. But there is also an alternative that will use much less of the precious power while out off the grid. A dehumidifier uses much less power and instead of recycling the hot moist air and cooling it as an A/C does. A dehumidifier removes the moisture from the air inside and drains it off to the outside or into a drip pan withing the unit. Thus cooling the unit my removing the hot water droplets held in the air trapped inside your RV. It cools the RV using about 1/3rd the power. It does take a bit more time to cool the unit down but it could continue to work using just you solar array alone while also charging the battery bank too. Food for thought, enjoyed you video.

[@Mike82ARP]

Yes, but they are in the desert where humidity is not a problem. I would think adding some humidity would be preferable and would suggest a small "swamp cooler" which can run off a small 12v fan and add some humidity to the RV.

[@komerwest9520]

Henry Avery The AC in our master bedroom has a dehumidifier in it. Thats normally what I have it set on. Love it.

[@BOBBERtheKID]

All air conditioners remove humidity, that is why on newer cars you will hear the compressor kick on when your the defroster on.

[@robertoblanco4410]

You could use a mini split ac plumbed in with a all dc ac. Also, swamp coolers work great in a desert. Of course running a generator with diesel or propane would be cheaper in the short term .

[@thelionsden3323]

@@BOBBERtheKID OR YOU CAN FART. SEE WHEN PEOPLE FART OTHER PEOPLE CLEAR THE ROOM. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FART AND THE HUMIDITY WILL CLEAR THE RV HA HA HA HA

[@johncnorris]

Have you looked into the AC models that perform dehumidifying as well as cooling? I've read that you can run the unit in dehumidifying mode at a much reduced current draw and it makes a big difference on hot and humid days. It probably wouldn't make much of a difference in the arid desert though.

[@robertgarbe6348]

Late breaking news.. That "soft start microprocessor control" gizmo that you briefly mentioned by MicroAir of Pensylvania is the most AMAZING device ever invented. AI little pricey , but man, does it live up to it's claims. My AC unit starts and runs and cycles on my Honda 2000 which it never did before and the Honda barely even comes out of eco mode. It is a must have device for anyone wnating to minimize their inverter, or generator size etc.Thanks for mentioning it.

[@gonewiththewynns]

+Robert Garbe AWESOME!!!! That is so cool. We're looking at one for our boat AC so we can run it off our battery bank too.

[@Brandywine-farm]

You can get a hard start capacitor on Amazon for $20. Same thing without the fancy computer board.

[@UTBanjo]

It’s not the same thing, at all. The cheap hard start capacitor with help with the surge. The Microair actually allows me to run my 13.5K AC on a Honda Eu2000i, and I could never make that happen on the hardstart.

[@theunconventionaldeal3879]

There are cheaper soft starts, handy for microwaves and anything with large inrush currents.

[@arthurlucas4920]

@@UTBanjo I just put in a MicroAir. Just amazing! Same experience you had. I have a 100 foot extension cord to just keep batteries fresh. Just for giggles plugged in to extension cord and fired up the A/C. Wow it worked fine! Pricey but well worth it.

[@HolySwordsman1]

what about just a truck camper with about 5500-6500btu AC? I'm planing a round country trip, and will use the seasons to my advantage temperature wise, but will still need AC/heat at times of course. I'm hoping 1000w will be enough for this, with propane and engine charging(diesel) to supplement. its a tiny camper, and my budget for the solar alone will be around 2,000$.

[@theoldwizard998]

The "holy grail" of RV boon-docking is a DC A/C compressor. Well, it is on the horizon ! Automotive component manufactures are now making DC A/C compressors for battery and hybrid vehicles. The real win is when they have a variable speed compressor for RV A/C systems. These are the current "state of the art" in mini-split heat pump/A/C units. They have their own built in inverter.

[@kevintaylor5715]

No need to brag.

[@smacdiesel]

You two have the best channel relating to RV living. Thanks for well edited and high quality content, really enjoy watching them.

[@gonewiththewynns]

We've got loads more detail on this little test on our site here: www.gonewiththewynns.com/off-grid-solar-rv-air-conditioning I hope this helps debunk a few of those naysayers out there, it sure did open our eyes to the possibility :)

[@monster1576]

You guys are the coolest

[@simonlynchsae]

+Gone with the Wynns Math could have saved you the effort. It's not as fun and exciting, but it's always right! ;) It's cool to see that with a good setup, one can run the AC for a few hours just to keep the temperature acceptable! Keep up the fun videos!

[@StimRacingTrailerandTravels]

+Gone with the Wynns Great job guys, and RV Geeks. You guys are the best!

[@NomadicSociety]

+simonlynchsae yes on paper 800watts of solar on top running a 386 watt portable Ac unit sounds like it could work for most older RV setups this is my plan but still expensive to set up

[@RealFarknMcCoy]

+Gone with the Wynns Yes, it's good to see that the advances in technology are bringing this into the realm of possibility. A few years ago, this was just not possible - now it's looking promising. And not just for motorhome setups, either. Imagine how awesome it will be for the people living in desert/tropical environments to be able to run a/c off of solar. :-D

[@1D10CRACY]

I use to do this my 1972 Winnebago, except I had 8 golf cart batteries, a 3k non pure vector inverter and a hard start cap on a 13.5k btu carrier air conditioner.

[@dominique___1980]

3 years later, I'm seeing this. I know from Burning Man that loads of people have a pre-load limiting gadget connected, and that reduces the start up surges.

[@LukeRT]

They glazed over that their inverter is rated for 40 amps max, and they were pulling 70 amps and some change..good way to let the smoke out of your inverter, soft start in place or not

[@ksimif]

Thanks for "doing the test" I have always wondered if on an optimum "Solar Day"! ... it can be done! You guys are awesome! Thanks to the RVGeeks for their input too!

[@LibertyLeslie]

Thanks for making it super informative and bothering all the experts for us.

[@BryanProper]

After watching this I can't help but think you are gonna be totally prepared for Burning Man this year!!! I hope to finally meet you after following you for a couple years now!

[@allenslansky]

The "soft start" or "Easy Start" is a big hit with the Airstream crowd. They find they can reliably run a Dometic 13,500 BTU AC with a Honda eu2000is generator. It's a electronic device that goes in the AC shroud, and takes that giant spike in current and smoothes it out over a longer time.

[@JeffeysMom]

Thanks! I was wondering what it was and where to get one!

[@chrisludwig9783]

yes.. it works GREAT

[@sumbirb5843]

Thanks guys. Im planning on full time rving while freelancing around the U.S. and this information is huge for me

[@edwinscherer]

I don't know about RV efficiency, but there are new variable speed compressors with inverter motors that achieve SEER ratings of 33, about double what standard high efficiency units of this type achieve. The units run at top speed initially and as the thermostat set point is approached the unit slows down until it is running at a speed where the output matches the heat entering the space it is cooling as well as heat generated from bodies, activities, etc. You might want to check some of these units out. Of course the problem will be mounting the outside units. Some of them run directly on 48V D/C so no inverter is needed between solar panels wired to achieve 48V and the units. They can be zoned as well so you keep the main space you occupy cool during the day and then at night switch to cooling your sleeping quarters and bathroom. Great experiment though. Wonder how long it will take for your inverter to have a melt down due to the very high current draw when it is changing 24 or 48V DC into 120V AC. Good luck. Always find your videos informative and enjoyable.

[@XRinger]

I use Min-split cool/heat units on my home. A 24,000 BTU Sanyo can hog a lot of power when starting, but because of the 'inverter' technology which controls the fan and compressor motor speeds (outside unit), I can start up slowly keeping the 230vac amps under 10 amps. (under 2.3 KW) easily. Today it wasn't too hot, so the max start up power was under 700 watts. After the house was cooled down (about an hour), the power dropped to under 500 watts. (I have TED monitors) So the cooling is running along at 470w and then drops down to 10w when the house is a tad over-cooled.. Works almost the same when heating. The main cause of higher power use is real cold weather.. It can average around 1 KW per hour.. Up to 20 kWh per day.. (I'm installing a new unit that works down to -20 degrees F).. This kind of system is one of the better ways for people living off-grid, when they have a lot of PV panels.. :)

[@brucebear1]

Yes, the technology on these is great today, and it's advancing (without great purchase price increases) by leaps and bounds. I have a number of friends who have put mini-splits into RVs with mixed results. It appears that they're not built to withstand RV stresses without mods at the present. But if you mount the components on rubber mounts, be sure wiring has flex room but is mounted securely, ditto for the coolant ("Freon") lines, be sure of your air flows for compressor and condenser modules, etc., the newer models seem to be lasting well. There are also options being developed. There are systems with one compressor unit running two or more evaporator/air handlers, etc. (although I think I'd prefer the redundancy of two separate systems). Have a look at the websites for technical details. My opinion is that these units are a bit of an experiment for RVs now but soon, they'll be a powerful option.

[@XRinger]

Using them on RVs would require some anti- vibration mods. It would be better to have them designed from the baseplate up for RVs..

[@Mradevans]

Richard Lee not sure I completely agree in that regard, design for vibration and road issues sure, but rv specific, not thrilled with that, the reason, cost, just because it's "rv" you can add 100% to your asking price, not because it's 2 times better, but because only rich people buy ac made to run on batteries it's the same thing for semi ac, apus capable of running ac for 8-10 hours runs between 6 and 15k (used/new) and more often it's a small deisel generator and a splice into the existing ac/coolant lines, there are SOME battery powered units, but those are in the 10k range as well, I've looked at fabricobbling my own together, and I CAN do it with off the shelf parts for about 3-6k, evert once in a while you'll see a guy who stuck a home ac unit in and set up a small generator on the frame to run it for less than 1000$ bottom line, I don't trust rv and truck mfgs to cone up with a better product because I'll end up paying through the nose

[@terrywaters6186]

A 13,500 btu RV rooftop AC can be bought for $600. A 3500 watt generator to power it can be bought under $300, I managed to buy a dual-fuel one for $179 last summer.

[@ZenTrickz]

I've been wondering about this topic for the longest time. It's fascinating to see someone running AC off of their solar setup.

[@VanlifewithAlan]

At Caravan Salon 2016 in Dusseldorf there was a Roadtrek vehicle which had AC running off the battery. It had 400A of lithium batteries on board. It also had an electric hot plate. This seems to me to be a revolution in RV technology. I am glad yours works - but there is no shortage of sun in California. Lithium batteries can go down to almost zero unlike traditional lead acid batteries.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

Alan Heath They can but it's bad to run them below 10%

[@workhardforit]

we have an LG Inverter V with "Active Energy Control" feature. The amazing thing about it is you don't have to fiddle with the temperature setting which take the guesswork out of the wattage it uses since you CAN select the cooling capacity or SPEED/POWER CONSUMPTION of the compressor. It has a soft-start feature which pulls power from the socket starting at 15W, then gradually increases to 320, 675, 800, then 950 at full compressor speed.

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks for including us in this great experiment. It was fun to be a small part of it. And for those asking exactly what we did to re-wire the electrical panel.... if we told you, we'd have to kill you. We love you Nikki & Jason, but that includes you, too. :-P

[@RVgeeks]

+chris ce Yeah... those Wynns just left us out there to die. ;-) In an upcoming video, we'll be sharing the details of why we were camped about 500 feet away, rather then right nearby.... because we got our oversize RV stuck in the sand where they were! So we had to hoof it back home. Thanks for looking out for us, Chris.

[@KevinLauscher]

+RVgeeks kind of wish there was a bit more of that classic rv geeks voice narrating to really seal the deal. nice colab!

[@RVgeeks]

Sorry. The Wynns couldn't afford my voiceover fee. ;-)

[@starttherebellion9146]

+Dragonetta - You mean using a winch with a land anchor for self-extraction?

[@jw11432]

+RVgeeks So much for freedom of information.

[@TraderRoss]

Another option, with the magnum inverters the hybrid M model you could hook a small 2000 honda generator up to help extend the run time. A/c's are a beast to start. My factory air will start off my honda 3000 but the bedroom a/c will throw the fault. I need a soft start for it

[@reimersorama]

Interesting, didnt realize they made a "soft start" module for small air conditioners like that. We use several soft start drives on our motors at work (the technical term is variable frequency drive, or VFD). They work great, saves alot of money in electricity and keeps the wear and tear down on the motor itself.

[@earlzeis35]

Soft starter and VFD's are two completely different items that do different things.

[@ghengiscrayon]

Great to see you and the RV Geeks working together.

[@TallTexasGMan]

You can get DC only HVAC units. In fact Practical Pepper here on KZbin has some great videos of mini-split units that run completely on solar.

[@kevintaylor5715]

Don't advertise your own channel

[@DavidSmith-bt6qe]

Now that was an interesting experiment and great information to know for those of us that think we have to have air conditioning when the temperature hits the 85 to 90 degree mark. Thanks for having the guts to even try this off of the batteries.

[@TheOffgridkid]

Lithium batteries are awesome! Great video, Nice RV & solar setup. I'm getting lots of AC from solar. Using my AC as a dump load.

[@3321MDZ]

Good test. Truth is just like with a microwave, it's the start up 'jolt' that most solar/battery systems can't handle. Once the unit is actually running, the drain on the system is much less. Both Dometic and Coleman are working on those soft start systems from what I've researched. Blue Skies.

[@patrickeh696]

So, if you doubled your solar panels you could run the AC with "no battery" drain during peak solar. Cool! Literally.

[@kevintaylor5715]

Hehe I see what you did there. Because "cool" could mean a lower air temperature, which is what the A/C is helping create.

[@mrdaihatsu]

My front AC unit was losing it's cool, so I built a half size Mastercool out of sheets of aluminum. The front end is a Lasko 4500 turbine blower, The mastercool 8" pad was hand sawed down to fit the 18" high X 20" wide custom case. I placed a Fantastic Vent (Fantastic Fan without the Fan) in the roof opening, and tied them together with a handmade aluminum elbow. It runs along at under 200 watts on the inverter including the pump and if it chills outside at night, I can close down the vent. I live in the desert, so the moisture stays manageable. Only downside is the 3/4 gallon/hour of water it uses because you never have enough water when dry camping.

[@alexstepanski]

This is the most cheerful video I've ever seen on KZbin. I'm so used to seeing people get hurt or some kind of disaster happening.

[@876234ABC]

They're obviously quite wealthy--look at that rig! Money can't buy happiness, but it certainly can rent it...

[@Usman.Sanaullah]

You guys seems super happy and satisfied with life and with each other i hope everyone could live like that!!! thumbs up you guys

[@seineasylum6936]

The million dollar question in the back of every RV'er's mind LOL. This is very interesting, you guys are awesome!

[@longle1509]

Thank you for sharing your experiment. Can't believe it worked. Out in the dry desert I think I'd opt for an energy efficient swamp cooling solution, but it's good to see that you can boon dock in more humid climates in comfort with the right kind of set up!

[@shepd3]

If RV manufacturers would get into this century, they'd demand an inverter based A/C (not power inverter, but an inverter based motor controller). Your compressor draws loads of power due to the fact it is powered the same way they've been powered for 5 decades. Inverter setups will actually modulate the amount of power sent to the compressor so it doesn't start so harshly. They are also wildly more efficient than the old tech you have right now. 32 SEER vs 15 SEER. Best part is they aren't bang/bang on/off to regulate temperature. Instead, they adjust the speed of the compressor to select various BTU outputs so the A/C runs constantly (but at a lower power). Contrary to what you'd think, A/C units last longest when they stay on and aren't abused with on/off cycles. This also gives you drier air and a very consistent temperature. Also, soft start kits will solve the problem at the expense of the life of the compressor. They're a hack method I've used to accomplish the same thing with running a fridge off an underrated inverter. It works but you have to understand it is damaging to the windings of the compressor.

[@vlakkieaarde]

Fully agree . Currently running inverter Ac units on our pv solar powered house. You can even ( manually) modulate the power draw with the temperature setting to balance the power draw with with what the pv solar system is harvesting.... and you get a very soft start thrown in

[@Remus42]

As a new RV owner of a older model Dodge that needs updating (it's a 1977 Sportsman Mobile Traveler), I'm glad I saw this as I am considering an installation of a solar unit so that my fiancee and I can travel and record our reality show, RV Pinay In The USA. Yes, the RV, christened "Jasmine," needs modifying and I am thinking just to be able to have a fan-based unit instead of a full-on air conditioner might work in my case. I'm still mulling over options.

[@leerman22]

It's only using ~1KW of power, which is less than my microwave oven. You can't produce 3KW of solar out there? That would need about 12 255W solar panels I used to install :P

[@leerman22]

@mike h Do you not run an air conditioner at the same time as a toaster or microwave? You want to put charge in the batteries at the same time, too.

[@leerman22]

@mike h They cant charge their batteries, they're being drained. They want to have battery power for night.

[@leerman22]

@mike h One out in the desert in a poorly insulated RV? It might be an 80-90% duty cycle. You do realize you don't produce the full rated power at all times the sun is out, just a few hours of they day right?

[@buildthings79]

I have a 5000 watt continuous inverter that also trips the overload durring large draws like refrigerator compressors and other things. Large storage batteries especially lead acids or agms have high resistance to large draws so a way I combated that was putting large car stereo capacitors on the system. 1 farad (not micro farads) for for every 1000 watts of energy peak draw. As soon as I did this the problem went away. Those are on a 12volt system but they do have 24 and 36 volt units depending on the solar panel system voltage.

[@vincentmaturo8906]

You guys are AWESOME............ I have never spent an hour in an RV, but I am fascinated by them and the people who live in them. Recently I discovered The RVgeeks, and love them. Just the other day I discovered you guys, and now I find out that you know The RVgeeks. OMG, I have reached a state of Nirvana. Your sense of adventure and enthusiasm is a joy to behold. Thank you for these vicarious thrills.

[@RVgeeks]

+Vincent Maturo Nikki & Jason are the greatest, and we're honored to call them friends.

[@NomadicSociety]

+Vincent Maturo lol ahh Nirvana! i love it

[@RVSteveTravels]

Vincent Maturo love RV Geeks! Wish I had them on speed dial!

[@ghengiscrayon]

Did you guys try cycling the generator auto gen start? Also, The Xantrex units run AC with no issue.

[@deodog7135]

I would love to see these two get in an argument

[@kevintaylor5715]

You're deranged.

[@iceyembrace5197]

I've been researching this for years. the best way I've discovered is to increase the insulation value of your rv. then get a dc powered air conditioner,preferably a split (are made for portable buildings and trucks). get a lithium battery array and some solar panels. you lost some power when converting dc to ac, so a dc powered air conditioner would help minimize that, and they run at much lower amps. Kimberly karavan in Australia uses a low powered gas generator to handle the starting load amps, then it turns off. temperature inside the vessel can be reduced by up to 40% by adding a "tropical roof". this would allow you to run the ac at night. overlanding vehicles have been doing this for years, it is very important that you that keep the heat outside the caravan with high r value insulation, and double pane European style windows. having a insulated door between the cockpit and cabin is also very important. I had my rv custom made from the chassis up, it would be easier that retro fiting.

[@iceyembrace5197]

I will add that I'm a fan of gone with the wynn's, and I follow your work as much as I can. thanks for the great info.

[@mrstevereno2502]

You guys are great! Love the delivery and the laughter. Kept me a captive attentive audience no problem. Now I’m off to binge watch all your other content. Keep up the great work!

[@wadeguidry6675]

Soft start is basically a large, rapid discharge capacitor that releases enough amperage (push of electricity) to start the compressor motor turning. It's kind of like how it takes a lot of gas to get a car going but once it's cruising along it takes less gas to keep it moving. It might take 30 amps to start your ac compressor but only around 10 to keep it going once it's started.

[@Rvlove]

Educational as always, thanks guys - we don't have solar, but it's good to know A/C is possible with the right gear. Hey Jason, around 8:30 it occurred to me you look rather like David Bowie! Has anyone ever told you that? (when he was younger of course ;) Safe travels you two!

[@gonewiththewynns]

+RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett I like it, David Bowie. Never heard it before but I can see the resemblance. :)

[@thelionsden3323]

@@gonewiththewynns how many batteries and how much is the price tag. I am getting a camper that has no vehicle attached. I am from Philadelphia Pennsylvania we don't have sun like you guys do but I need your help

[@edjensen7907]

Really do appreciate all you are doing and sharing with us, seriously... Your experiences and willingness to share your found knowledge with the rest of us full timers is "priceless" !!! So Thank YOU Both!

[@dansouthcomb5439]

Installing a $10.00 Supco Solid State relay and hard start capacitor can reduce the start up current by up to 50%.

[@SotolNorteno]

Yea I heard them say soft start, but the correct term is a hard start capacitor correct? Because with out it its hard to start. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@seanash7134]

+Daniel Southcomb would one of those capacitors from a car stereo store work?

[@dansouthcomb5439]

+Sean Ash I have no experience with that type of capacitor

[@chadjones99]

sorry I just posted the same. I always add them to my air conditioners makes life easier on your generator you can get them on eBay and Amazon and no they're not the same as car stereo coils LOL. they come rated for horsepower a 1 to 5 horsepower should be fine

[@joeyherring5942]

Soft start, by definition is a ramping up of the ac side to the motor, this limits the start up current - essentially, the motor winding is near zero resistance until the X of L has a chance to build, so soft start limits that inrush current. The capacitor would work better on the DC (battery) side and act as a very temporary storage for "saved up" electrons. This would allow for high current draw on a temporary basis without taxing the batteries as much. This is all very cool stuff, but out of my price range for now. :)

[@DK-vx5co]

I hope you're still monitoring this thread. My company renovates Zero Net Energy homes. I noticed that the AC unit is quite noisy. All of that noise takes energy to produce. The high-SEER mini-split heat pumps we use are so quiet that we often have to strain to hear them operate. The energy savings and quiet operation would be a double benefit. Has there been any conversation about using such units in RVs? And does the "soft-start" unit work with capacitors to buffer the initial surge of power to get the unit moving? Thanks, and very interesting!

[@DoubleD72]

As much as I like your videos. I will say these videos on certain things are not for everyone... more so for rich people who want to go off the grid in style without losing the luxury. Especially this Solar setup is outrageously priced... normal off gridders who want a simple system this would not be the way to go... you can literally get the same setup for half the cost of what this system is priced at... that is including batteries... not lithium batteries... but still... I do enjoy the videos though... you people are bloody adorable..

[@gonewiththewynns]

+Double D it can be done for much less with off brand equipment, we choose quality and warranty over budget because if something goes wrong we want to be covered.

[@DoubleD72]

I agree with you for certain people. People who just don't or can't do things for them selves... But I disagree about quality.. you can also buy quality for much cheaper... I understand wanting to be covered. but nothing is more secure then covering your self by doing it your self... From what I gather from watching you both I believe you are both smart enough to figure these things out with out anyone else... and to be out at sea you can't just ring up a professional and have them skip on over and fix your issues... In these types of situations you both or anyone needs and should learn these things because things do happen. Solar is much different then line electricity... i also realize you both are doing these things to make money as advertising the items you show and use... and that is helping your income to do the things you guys are doing... I also have no doubt you two are a little more well off then alot of people... not that any of that is a bad thing... keep up the good work... I enjoy your videos...

[@potc420]

Double D I'm a normal off gridder and my set up is bigger than theirs. 960 watts is tiny

[@JSmith-wy3yh]

@@gonewiththewynns I hate to say this but warranty is not always covered for anything in life. good luck

[@jaime4022]

@@DoubleD72 And that was hardly patronizing at all! smfh

[@thomabb]

If you boondock a lot in warm climates, look into one of those portable AC units. They only draw about 8-10 amps and will run fine off a medium size inverter.

[@onebyside]

Ive never seen 2 people laugh after every sentence.

[@JkouFiles]

Mark Dove hah huh hah

[@preluder4]

Mark Dove Its like the parents from that freakazoid cartoon smiling 24/7. They must be od'ing on anti depression medication.

[@giovannichingautheman3780]

That happens among some people, sometimes it gets annoying but it's better to be like them, they live healthier and don't let troubles disheart them which usually sickens people. Maybe you saw them as freaks given their indie pop style which seem to be common among gays but these guys seem a decent couple.

[@onebyside]

I don't see them as freaks, I see them as 2 people dressed by a stylist and performing for the camera.

[@JkouFiles]

Mark Dove yea I see that now

[@adam-newbloom]

I've been doing this test for the last couple of years with both my home solar system and my RV. One thing to note is your inverter is connected to your batteries as well as the solar connection (after charge controller). So when you are pulling a large draw like 70-80amps and your charge controller is sending 40amps then the batteries are only supplying the difference. You made it sound like your sending 40amps in and pulling 80 out for the AC. So it wouldn't be any more strain on your batteries then if you were drawing 40amps with lights, fridge and TV. Thanks for the info on the "soft start". I'll be curious to learn more about that. Not sure why every AC unit doesn't come with this.

[@RVwithTito]

Awesome experiment! That's the first I've heard about the soft start. Thanks for the great info. I love how the RVGeeks just show up in the desert and walk off into oblivion :)

[@RVgeeks]

+RVwithTito Don't worry Brian. After they sent us packing, they had the compassion to call search and rescue. ;-)

[@idomake4429]

If one really wanted to get this to work, one modification that would really help that start surge would be something called a Variable Frequency Drive for the Compressor motor. A VFD can be programmed to run the motor MUCH more efficiently and even more importantly, it can "Soft Start" that motor eliminating that in-rush spike. Thanks for the work, Safe travels. Glen

[@WookieSenshi]

So theoretically you could double your solar and run it right off of the solar. :P lol

[@chuckbronco6485]

Wookie Senshi bigger inverter also. 3k isn't much to work with.

[@JSERVE81]

Wow let me start off by saying you guys are very entertaining and inspiring. This is the one things that I have been questioning/researching, but not in a RV but more in a work shop/man cave/guest house in the back yard of my house. I concluded to start the AC or any device that draws alot of power at startup, you will need a capacitor system of sort ( I am wondering is the "soft start system"would consist of 1 or 2 farad cap or several caps???) to not draw to much amp/watts from your electrical system at start up. At any rate I appreciate you guys video.

[@Billodnh]

Who wouldn't want to have the RV Geeks on speed dial?

[@RVgeeks]

+Billodnh Oh they do! LOL

[@goldo1107]

+RVgeeks I love the Wynn's. You guys just earned a new sub. Will learn a lot from you. Planning on a year long excursion living full time in an RV traveling all over the U.S., Canada and Alaska. Hope to learn a lot from you guys.

[@RVgeeks]

Sounds fantastic, Robert! Have a blast!

[@deodog7135]

Billodnh yeah.. she even gave the guy a hug..She needs some discipline

[@johna1398]

I run my AC all day long. 1500 watts of panels, 700 Ah of lead acid battery, 3000/7000 surge watt inverter, 850 watt 9000 BTU mini-split AC (I removed the highly inefficient roof top AC units), and 2 ceiling fans. With the dark window tint and good air circulation, it runs like a champ. System has been working for 4 years. I also have temporary loads including the 900 watt microwave and 1500 watt hair dryer.

[@Zraupp10]

960w in pannels? thats close enough to run a small 5k-6K BTU on low, but i would like it Never pull more then 75% out of the barriers, if u do that will really lower the life span of the barriers.

[@Zraupp10]

***** sorry, i know house solar setups/batteries, and i said, "Pull more then 75%", = 25% left.

[@josecasillas1463]

mal.

[@josecasillas1463]

mal. 7

[@MrSGL21]

they were getting about 40 amps out of their panels when doing this test. I have a 5k btu window ac that pulls 450 on high with the compressor running. they would just barely be touching their bank for a few amps with that AC unit.

[@deodog7135]

Zraupp10 they aren't very intelligent if you've noticed.. the smart thing to do with just run it off the generator.. if they really want to be smart they should learn how to run generators off of wood gas ;)

[@derrickfelix503]

Thank you very much in returning my questions: Still a not acceptable:, with the noise. A improved system is required and a 24/7 constant use, like the fridge. Recon considerable improvements could be made on a Rv due the large shaded area. Cheers

[@zweibrucker]

Informative but financially challenging.

[@Undergroundexpedition]

not if you buy batteries directly from china. which is where the cells are coming from anyway. less than half the price

[@CHARLES12STRING]

I have a window shaker that is very low draw on the amps - I am thinking that roof mounted unit is at the highest end of power draw units - biggest ac I have ever needed was a 9 amp draw and that was in a 3rd story room built in the roof taking advantage of comon built rafters ( no truss webbing ) and reclaiming space :)

[@jbncnow]

She is so cute though, i wish i was that happy

[@vancroft13]

Great experiment and great solution with the soft start add-on, another big help to safe lots of power per day is to keep the outside door closed when the AC is on !!! I noticed you guys had it wide open and I'm shocked that No One from the comments I read said anything about that? All that cold air you're making goes straight out the door when its open and you'll never really cool of the inside of the MoHo that way! I am still working on expanding my system to a 1200watt system and will certainly see how we can make this a reality as well even though up here in Canada we don't use it that often, nice to know we could. Keep up the great work. Oh BTW I think I have a simple 12v way to power tip my solar panels ;-) Ed

[@tacticaladvance]

Can you run AC on a $135000 RV. If no get a refund. Lol

[@yankeegoogle199]

Tactical Advance soo..i worked in HVAC industry for awhile and my 2 cents worth is this...RLA. THAT'S STARTING POWER. IF you want less initial draw on your load you need a "soft draw" or as I know it called a "hard draw". Regardless of your set up the point I want to make is YOU NEED A CAPACITOR TO HELP on your a.c. start up. It's a relatively CHEAP wire in. If you have a "hard start" CAPACITOR wired in properly you will not only help save your ac compressor but you will also help save compressor power consumption durring start up. Will this help in the long run of running a.c. longer? YES and NO. It will take less initial amps to start your on and off again a.c. unit. No in the sense that as it continuously runs after start up. Soo...is a hard start cap sys worth it..? I would say yes. Less stress on batteries on start up and less stress on the compressor motor on start up. Cost for parts? Less than $100. Install? Double or triple.. Also..installation is relatively easy. All done at the compressor on the roof..

[@elbybrook9466]

A hard start capacitor is an easy install. Just youtube that shit.

[@ghermansizer]

Google User thanks for your 2 cents. I will spend it when I start restoring my 1962 airstream.

[@rockydennis8926]

Depending on the size of the unit they have single two wire hard starts one being called SPP6 look it up it’s worth it .

[@marklines260]

Blaaahhaa! Exactly.

[@allenroach7503]

Curious if you are going to get the soft start and switch to the low amp AC. You also did not say how long you ran the system during the test?

[@carlhursh505]

Then there are the rest of use who live on a fixed income or reality.

[@rockyalvarez520]

Rving is not a poor mans game. Get yourself some food stamps and a Hud housing voucher and leave the RV road trips to those who can afford it.

[@jacobwomack5627]

"Reality"

[@happyhealerforpresident2029]

nah, you make it that way. It doesn't have to be that way.

[@loquist42]

@@rockyalvarez520, we full time RV and it is less expensive for us than living in a sticks and bricks house. We save money and our kids travel everywhere.

[@loquist42]

Carl, they installed just about the most expensive system possible. We have a similar system to them and it cost me a fraction of the price they paid by using different components and installing the system myself.

[@judgetk8327]

Good vid guys. If you run a 48 volt inverter your power increase will be large. I changed from 12 to 24 V and huge difference. With 48 V inverter you will be able to run anything you want. Its all in the inverter. Did you get an air jack yet? Good luck guys.

[@kamikazekunze]

You can.....with a million rig

[@fun2drive107]

The compressor locked rotar amps will pull about 80A at 110 VAC to start for your sized unit. That is why you have both start and run capacitors in your AC. Start cap is to help the inertia of the motor start and the run cap is to help keep the motor in phase. Inductors lag and caps lead thus the reason you need a cap to keep the system in phase which delivers your best power. More than likely the soft start unit has a lot of start caps to get the motor up to speed and allow the run cap to take over.

[@TYZA108HD]

How much solar for a tv and a ps4 lol

[@gonewiththewynns]

+TYZA108 HD a few hundred watts should do :)

[@TYZA108HD]

Gone with the Wynns you doing a 100k special?

[@shermanhooper324]

Gone with the Wynns n

[@deodog7135]

TYZA108 HD. 2or3 12v batterys ran in series/400w pure sine wave power inverter/ 12v 20 amp lighter socket/400w solar panels/40 amp solar charge controller and you are playing all day...make sure you use proper fuses and you know what you're doing

[@deodog7135]

Gone with the Wynns it takes more than a few hundred Watts lol

[@unyalliman]

You guys are great. I understand this was about AC on strictly solar and batteries. Not sure this was mentioned already, you have a hybrid inverter. A small 2000 watt champion inverter generator supplying say 5 amps should allow all day AC with solar supplement and keep the batteries charged.

[@gonewiththewynns]

Well right, but the test (and the question that always gets asked) is whether you can run it on solar alone. Glad you mentioned nice quiet inverter generators though!

[@victor070]

Nice video but those fake smiles and laughing is annoying

[@jkot1304]

Are these the flex panels mounted on a frame or just regular panels? Why did the kit use 10 AWG - 4AWG not better or just not necessary? Saw another video that showed you were using (and loving) flex panels because you can step on them and worked just as well?

[@REVIEW_JUJUR]

Lovely wife u got there mate...

[@JohnS-zq8ks]

Wow!! I didn't realize that those AC units only drew about 16 amps running continuously. Damping the initial surge isn't a big deal. What a great option? Thanks for putting your equipment to the test!

[@AJ-di3xd]

At 4:25 Jason said 80 amps vdc. That appears to be continuous since his meter was not able to measure the surge. It seems that all additional equipment was powered off prior to the test. Hope this helps.

[@JohnS-zq8ks]

+Allen Baker Hi Allen. I'm confused, because I too saw the 80 amps on their meter. How can a 3000 watt inverter power 80 amps? Dividing 3,000 watts by 120 volts gives 25 amps or thereabouts. Am I looking at this wrong. Any help would be great because I'm looking at getting the same inverter. I can't see how it didn't blow.

[@michaelscalisi4316]

+John s I think it's measuring amperage off the DC side. 80 amps at 14 volts = 1120 watts

[@JohnS-zq8ks]

+Michael Scalisi Thanks. Makes sense. I looked at the Coleman's amp draw, which his AC. That draw x 120 is about the watts you're coming up with.

[@diegosuarez5994]

gorgeous eyes!

[@Jim.Hummel]

Slightly off-topic question...is it possible to run your roof AC unit(s) while driving? Do you need to run them off the genny or batteries or can the engine alternator handle the load?

[@jimbarnaby3547]

We run a 5000 BTU window A/C off of 750w of solar and 675 Ah of Lifeline AGM batteries. Generally the batteries only absorb the surge as the solar puts out 10 amp more than the A/C uses while running. Flat mounted the solar can run the A/C from 10 am to 3 pm with no loss to the batteries. Before and after requires a bit of tracking.

[@dl4111]

I am installing hard start capacitors on home heat pumps and AC units that we are installing off grid solar generation to. Because we are now able to run 240 volts from our inverters, and using high capacity flooded golf cart batteries, large homes can now be off grid.

[@CurmudgeonExtraordinaire]

The air-conditioner compressor uses quite a bit more amps when it is starting up so it's entirely possible to have a battery system (or generator) that can run the air-conditioner in normal mode, but it can't handle the start-up current. In your situation, you need to also take into account that you will not be having any solar charging occurring at night, so your battery pack will be providing the full power for the air-conditioner at night and probably a good portion of it in the early mornings and late afternoon / evening. That means that you will need a larger battery pack and maybe have to provide for a generator charging your battery pack on occasion. A small 2000W generator that could automatically start when the battery level got to a certain point and shutdown when it is completely charged would probably give you the capability to run your A-C even without relying on solar availability.

[@researcher4good]

If you were to stay in the desert, the AC would run almost continuously when the sun was shining. For it to work for more than a day or two, you need more panels. This is good to know, I have an old AC unit from a Mini-Winne that I was thinking about mounting on our horse trailer. I was wondering how many panels it take. Now I have a good idea and I think it would work on our trailer. Thanks.

[@sgh77]

+Gone with the Wynns. It would be interesting to see how much you draw at night when solar isn't helping the load, I know my 240v 2200w kettle draws 183amps with conversion losses thats about 215amps. We have 1200w Solar, 600ahr Lithium batteries and a 2500w inverter. I have questioned running the Air Con as we can pull in well over 80amp from solar when the sun is high. I'm not sure what size the Air is? 1350btu or 1500? Do you know how many amps yours draws at night?

[@victorduran507]

i think your best bet is to contact an electronic stuff expert and ask him to instal some "ultra capacitors" that are conected along with the lithium batteries, so when the ac starts up and drain up that high peak of amps, the capacitor kicks in and supplie those starting amps and let the lithium batteries continlue suppling the amps needed for the "work load". The high peak amps drain is reached everytime the ac compressor kicks in, thats actually the main feature on the "inverter AC units", those ac units do not reach those high peaks of amps drain because the compresor does not kick in from 0 to 100% load, in goes up gradualy. i dont know if you could get the idea from my explanation because of my poor english. also other option (if it is available) is to get a Inverter AC unit for your RV.

[@K4t77]

This gives me such off grid hope since I don't think I am roughing it material. Lol. Love your channel it is so informative and helpful and funny!

[@mirkamarlowe3762]

You guys are so awesome! Love what you do and how you share your knowledge along the way. You've inspired us to go full time!!

[@jacobnolt9512]

I did a camper van convertion and got a DC AC and run it off the batteries. Fully Offgrid

[@kevintaylor5715]

DC AC or AC/DC??? Hehe but seriously take care now.

[@julioctaboada]

What if you install a shade covered with more PV pannels? you should increment the power from the solar system, and less impact from the sun in your RV. and of course, the softstarter its a must have.

[@gonewiththewynns]

That would be a massive shade structure, the issue would be setting it up and keeping it from flying away in wind.

[@bob1117]

I'm not sure if this would work in this case but your getting the "fault" light when the compressor start's because the compressor is basically a motor/pump and almost every electrical motor will pull more amp's in the first few rotations of the motor when it first start's to spin-up. Some electric motors have a capacitor connected to them to help the motor start-up and also help reduce some of that initial increase (pull) of ampere's. If I'm not mistaken an air conditioner motor come equipped with a capacitor already connected to it, ( someone who knows more about this please correct me if I'm wrong) would adding or changing the capacitor with a higher farad rating help ? or a small bank of capacitors ?? just a thought, I'm curious to know the answer. :-)

[@freetrailer4poor]

I noticed there are some flexible panels on EBAY that use Sunpower cells. If you could add a couple panels that exceed watts of the AC you battery would not drain at height of day, then as it get darker it would drain. The inverter low voltage disconnect would probably hit at 7:00 p.m. But then by 8:00 pm the battery would be filled or mostly filled to last the night. You need a way to temporarily connect to the solar array. You also could use a more efficient AC, some of the 5000 BTU through the wall ACs probably are more efficient and take less than 500 watts. Get a watt meter and test AC units at home depot. Leave windows open night and closed them in the morning.

[@andrewd.harris656]

I live in an RV next to my mother, and I was wondering exactly how much power my ac draws. I'm grid tied with a 1.04kw system. It seems to power the fridge and freezer with a light just fine, but it's about to be peak season here for air conditioning.

[@workhardforit]

By the way the best thing about DC Inverter Air conditioners and refrigerators is they pull no more that 6-7 amps at startup. Even when running at full capacity!

[@SweetFLGuy1]

Great solar setup! I got 2 questions. 1) Is your air conditioner on top a 120 volt AC or a 12 volt DC ? 2) With almost 1,000 watts of solar power that you have using a Easy Soft Start device that you talked about, how long can you run the air conditioner non stop just on solar alone ?

[@anthonycoffey816]

What if you had one battery bank & solar system, but had a separate inverter just for the A/C? Or possibly a separate, smaller system all together for the A/C?

[@jaekib]

Good test. It looks like for the answer to actually be yes you will need to more than double your solar panels. Then you have a system that 'will run off solar'. And that would be 'cool'.

[@rono33]

Outstanding Video, but I have one question you did not address please! I realize this post is a bit older so I hope you have a chance to get to my question: did you guys ever figure out how many hours you can run your AC before needing to recharge the batteries?

[@catprog]

Some ideas I have had. Do you need to cool the entire RV down? If you reduce the cooling space then it will not take as much power. (also if you have a extendable wing of solar panels it could provide more power)

[@whatdoyouthinktodd]

I know it would be a lot of money but if you had a second row of panels on the other side of the motor home tilted at the sun would that help run maybe aTV to?

[@SVELFARO]

So how much current are you drawing with the roof air on low?, you were pulling 80 amps DC, I bet wire and battery's were getting mighty warm in those ambient temperatures I would think on low it should be considerably less, ill have to pull out my amp meter and try it on my own. also are you feeding the inverter with 24 volts I assume so.Thanks for the video.

[@YarelysNatureG]

" oh! im not wearing shoes... O.O" Hilarious. Great in depth information Wynns. A little over my head, I guess i'm heading over the the article to read more and get my head wrapped around this. Great job!!