Ran Frigidaire 5000 btu AC all night on 200ah battery - recharged to 100% next day on 1 solar panel

[@kingpickle3712]

Good stuff. I was annoyed how other people were testing out portable AC and pointing out that it doesn't get cool to their "comfortable" temperature of 65. I told one dude to just stay at home in an apartment.

[@colinauld]

Thanks, yeah 65 is a little tough but Will Prouse actually gets pretty close to that running his 6,000 BTU unit in Vegas where he has a little shed for solar stuff. He has a ton of good content. For me the biggest issue when I was running it for the 11 days was remembering to keep the room door closed. That was a pretty frantic time I wouldn’t wish in anybody lol. I agree with you, we need to have reasonable speciations and things will flow. Thanks again.

[@madjackgamingandfitness498]

65 is absolutely nuts. 74-78 is fine. I’d run 80 if I wasn’t worried about food and seasoning spoiling.

[@no-damn-alias]

You should keep it running at a lower temperature when the battery is full and the sun is still out. Then you'll use your room as a thermal battery as well

[@jasonasanu]

VERY IMPORTANT: Central air set to 78 ( 2:03 ), so he is only cooling from 78 to 76 for this test.

[@colinauld]

Yes it is important and that’s why I point it out in the video. The system now has a total of 400ah of batteries and using this setup I ran that 5,000 btu AC for 11 days against Florida heat after hurricane Ian. I also ran a small microwave for instant coffee (also very important .. to me lol). The system kept my master bedroom cool while the rest of the house baked with zero electricity … 11 days of misery but at least I slept in quiet comfort. The 240w panel brought the batteries back to full every day after using the AC all night - one of the blessings of that Florida sun. Thanks for the comment and here is the complete setup. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZ2md355q9KAgMU

[@dwayneosodope9333]

I saying that exact same thing 😂

[@9111logic]

Not bad at all, glad to see it tested. I've just ordered one for my Solar Shed running two Victron multi in parallel and two MPPTs which is getting too hot in the summer even though we're in the UK. Thank you for sharing your experience with us 🙏

[@colinauld]

Happy to help, Thanks for the comment and let me know how it all works out for you.

[@9111logic]

@@colinauld Will do, thanks 👍

[@vet137]

Gotta love it, Lipo4 are going to come down in price I hope as I want to add to my setup. Cool beans!

[@magaisacult2023]

Ok, update: Not sure what I did wrong. The ac and inverter are in a micro camper I am outfitting. My 1st trial was just a dry run b4 perm installation of batteries, inverter solar controller, which I completed today. I just began a second test, started 13.6v, ac been running 1 hour, still at 13.6!!! Will try and let it run overnight. If I can get 6-8 or more hours, Ill be THRILLED. Thanks.

[@kf5hcr176]

Sir, thank you for the good observations. Previously I used high frequency 2kw go power pure sine wave inverters to run our Midea 5000 BTU window AC (650-800watts), after a couple or three years they failed to start the AC. Currently I have a LOW FREQUENCY inverter , 5kw rated, and it works well with inductive loads. Im curious how the load balancer functions, if it gets hot as some have stated, I'd say its depleting the higher voltage bank with a resistive load. In the event i replace my lifepo4 batteries, I may go with 24volt batteries to avoid the imbalance, which still perplexes me. Thanks again and keep up the good experiments.

[@mlangfordoutdoor]

I am building a teardrop camper again and want to solar power a ac unit as well

[@anandasmom]

What unit did you go with

[@Justin-bb7oi]

74 is freezing to you? My ac stays at 65 66 all summer.

[@colinauld]

lol, I’m in Mongolia right now … you might want to look into properties here. I think it’s the temperate zone fit for you lol. Thanks for the comment.

[@ChuloRob617]

60 here...electric bills be damned haha

[@vahagnmelikyan2906]

How many watt/hour did it consume in 12 hours?

[@BillySBC]

Wait... a 5Kbtu A/C is going to use like 450 watts while cooling, but there is a surge to start the compressor that might be six or seven times that... Where is the surge reading?

[@colinauld]

Never saw this kind of hit. Typically this unit is starting in fan mode. It cranks the compressor as the desired temperature is entered (on panel or via remote). It never issued a demand for anything close to 2700 watts. There maybe a soft start in the hardware? None of my monitoring equipment reflects this kind of hit but you’re talking milliseconds so it may be missed. Either way it is not an issue with this 2200 Watt inverter or the wires carrying the loads. Thanks for the comment, hope this is helpful.

[@markdemmer-p3j]

This unit has a surge suppressor only needing 800 watts on startup

[@agustinrey1505]

I’ve been seeing a 1100-1350 watt surge in mine. Not sure if it’s normal but the unit still works

[@dfish1]

I’m working on running a 28000 btu window ac with solar. Perfect world I’ll be able to get it to run all day

[@michaelgraham8504]

Pull out the pocket book

[@anthonyglaser929]

so that is using the victron smart shunt battery monitor?

[@colinauld]

Yes, I really like the Victron products.

[@chrisbond7324]

How much a watts of solar panels do you have

[@colinauld]

I use a 240 watt panel but I live in Florida so sun is excellent (when they’re not spraying). The panel has been replaced with this 250 watt model amzn.to/3WgySR6 by the manufacturer. Thanks for the comment, hope this helps.

[@paulh-747]

Was this test done in a air-conditioned house?

[@colinauld]

This will have more value to you. This was no test, this was me running for 11 days with zero power after Hurricane Ian. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGXChXuYrbabeKM

[@JayNayMay]

Im just here to find out how many watts at peak this ac was using lol

[@colinauld]

I think I saw it hit around 450 during cooling periods … it may have spiked a bit higher for short periods within that.

[@JayNayMay]

@colinauld thank you !! Helped me make a decision! I run the ecoflow systems so I'm wanting to be as efficient as possible

[@colinauld]

@@JayNayMay You bet, we all need to share what we’re finding so we can build the right systems. Hope it all goes great for and thank you for your comments.👍🏻

[@agustinrey1505]

@@JayNayMayhow did it work out for you? Are you using the same AC unit? I’m seeing starting watts of 1100-1350

[@armurano5093]

I bought the Costco Energizer power source. Do think I can run 5000btu midea AC unit. I did a 5min test and felt it cooling but than got scared I was going to burn something up before researching.

[@colinauld]

I’m not familiar with that unit (I don’t have a Costco membership). I agree with you being cautious. Go through the manuals for that unit and see if you can find others using it and giving feedback. Sorry, I wish I could offer more but I just don’t know the item, the wire gauges, the fusing …. I was so paranoid of the fire risk I even covered my walls in concrete fire retardant backer board so I agree with you 100% in doing the research. Thanks for the comment .. all the best.

[@DobleWhiteAndStanley]

What is the solar wattage you have pouring into that and what peak sun hours do you think you had when making the video? This video is so close to answering some of my questions lol. Hard to find good videos on youtube.

[@colinauld]

It was a typical south Florida day. So intermittent clouds with very regular sun. The panel has a max of 240 but it usually hits around 190. I made a few more videos where you can see the Victron cerbo data on sun and charging as it happened. For the test above I think the batteries came back to 100% before noon on that one panel. Hope this helps and thanks for the comment, cheers.

[@DobleWhiteAndStanley]

That was perfect, thanks man.

[@danielgtr17]

you forgot to mention the # of solar panels you have bringing in watts

[@colinauld]

There was only one solar panel driving the 3 batteries running the air conditioner - it was a 240 watt fro newpowa amzn.to/464lxxg.

[@vahagnmelikyan2906]

Assuming you have it running 300 watts on demand. That means in 12 hours it will consume 300×12=3600wh. So I would need a battery no less than 3600wh to be able to run it. But we see it's not always on it goes on and off. So if you could measure it's total watt hour in 12 hour period, it will give us the true battery capacity we'll need. I think the system should have some measuring parameter.

[@colinauld]

What I saw in the 11 days I had it running was that it would run every 20 minutes or so till it hit the desired temp. If it ran the compressor it would draw the heavier watts but the next two times it would run in that hour it did not draw heavy watts because it was only trying to maintain the reached temperature. If you can discipline yourself to remember to keep the door to the room closed it is very efficient. While it waits to run the draw is incredibly low. Thanks for the comment, hope this helps.

[@vahagnmelikyan2906]

@colinauld I was interested for it's watt hour to see if i have enough solar on my car to run window AC😆

[@LootHunt]

​@@colinauld Yes, if it's cooling it's a 5000btu ac is using 350 watts. If only the fan is running it's using 80 watts (be nice if fan turned off after chill returns to room temp). I think he said when it's doing nothing it draws 4 watts.

[@zodaguado6655]

It runs at 333 wh when the cooling is on,,, I have the same one, this dude could have made the video much simpler…. Who cares about amps 😂😂😂😂,,, 333 x 10 hours is about 3300 watts 😂😂 very rarely will it shut off for cooling a small room, unless at night

[@colinauld]

@@zodaguado6655 I was with IBM for my first 10 years in IT and Tech …. After that I could never take the simple road again, they ruined me lol. Thanks for the comment ….

[@magaisacult2023]

Confused, I just tried this with 2 100ah LiFePO4 batteries and it ran a brand new 11 seer 5000 btu for about 30 minutes????

[@colinauld]

Something is off William. Will Prouse runs this same setup (Frigidaire 5k & the Giandel) 24*7 in a small shed in the Vegas heat and he shoots for a very low temp (but he does have more panels.). The Frigidaire runs for about 20 minutes then cycles - I ran it for 11 days and it was pretty consistent in that. Are you saying that after just 1 30 minute run of your 5k AC your 200ah battery was dead?? That doesn’t seem possible? Do you have a meter … can you check them? You may have the inverter set to cutoff at a very voltage … did you check that?

[@colinauld]

May have the inverter set to cutoff at a very high voltage … need to see the levels of the batteries … something is definitely off.

[@MAGAisacult]

@@colinauld Did not know there are any settings on an inverter?

[@colinauld]

@@MAGAisacult I can’t speak for them all William but mine has a cutoff. I don’t use it due to the MOES switch handling all that before I get to the inverter.

[@magaisacult2023]

@@colinauld Ok, update: Not sure what I did wrong. The ac and inverter are in a micro camper I am outfitting. My 1st trial was just a dry run b4 perm installation of batteries, inverter solar controller, which I completed today. I just began a second test, started 13.6v, ac been running 1 hour, still at 13.6!!! Will try and let it run overnight. If I can get 6-8 or more hours, Ill be THRILLED. Thanks. Reply

[@walterschilling4512]

Hello ,I am rambling along, and going to install a 48watt system in our home, I have just about everything for that project.I did purchase 4 agm -6volt batteries for 24vsystem for my garage alone.I need to power a 6000btu through the wall unit.I have many 300watt panels and would like to power the unit from the sun mainly in conjunction with the batteries.I also will have this system on a Moes ats transfer switch. I will have 8hrs of sun where my panels will be located., I think the 24 watt system ,will maintain 70 degrees and my battery draw will be 50% on cloudy days before going back to grid. i will use a pure sine wave 24watt inverter same make as yours. if I can sustain a good 8 hrs in my work shop , i will be happy. I have a regular two car garage , insulated and can isolate to 1/4 of space needed for cooling. You info is quite informative on what to expect, thanks for posting.MT

[@colinauld]

You’re very welcome, I’m glad to be of help. Your system sounds like it will be a lot of fun👍🏻 Thanks for the comment

[@massa-blasta]

How is the performance in 107 degree temperatures?

[@colinauld]

I don’t know what temps were here when Ian wiped us out. Had to be around 85 - 90 or so and it was a big help to me. If I could have remembered to keep that bedroom door shut during those 11 days it probably would have done even better but I was very glad to have it when I slept. Go to will Prouse channel on KZbin and watch his videos where he runs it in Vegas (has to close to the temp you mention) and you can see his results. Pretty impressive. Thanks for the comment.

[@nicknack6884]

Hello how much watts do u think this would draw on a 100 degree day 150sq ft without other ac's helping out.

[@nicknack6884]

I have 1 200ah redodo battery i got from amazon just wondering if this would last in between charges

[@colinauld]

Hi Nick, I ran this unit for 11 days with no other AC and no power at all in my home during hurricane IAN. It performed very well and kept my master bedroom comfortable the entire time. The master is right around 170sf and I kept forgetting to close the door when I left the room. The only change I will make is to add another 200w of panels (I ran all that on just a single 240w panel which never gave the full 240). The batteries were great and my system gave me all the power I needed for the full 11 days. Thanks for the comment.

[@keishadholmes9796]

How long can 1 car battery that's 1,000cca run a 600w Ac without solar panels ?

[@ObamaoZedong]

CCA means cold cranking amps. ie. How much power can it deliver in a short burst. Car batteries are not designed to run for long periods of time. You want a deep cycle marine battery, or better yet lithium.

[@DorothyMartin-xu2dw]

Day is you cutting off the panels cheif what the best charge controller to i can fully ready the grid cause im using two 30 amp mppts ya know and running my ac and other things at different times but i seen this and like y'all keep saying running ac in the day why not night time if you dont mine me asking,, you that cause i use my ac if i do most the time at night, ya know ya can i know that but ya dont need all that they claim but it makes the system stronge to wait, silly though but for real, think about it i hear folks see folks show hell of a battery bank in here can't run a ac all night half the night then why,? But ask your self that question why looking at your system connected and tell me some you can do that they say you cant do and get back at me I'm tell ya if ya dont get my drift though🥴 off a short bank no sun light out , if ya get my point i dont fallow rules but i do but some things or to be put to the test rules can be broken in some ways

[@colinauld]

Well let me start with why run the AC all day and the answer is it keeps the room at a decent temperature. I don’t think I would have been able to cool the room if just ran it when I was going to sleep and this little AC draws very little power when it’s just trying to maintain a certain (reasonable) temperature. I agree with you about people making it more difficult than it is, but I do stick to the rules when it comes to safety. Wire garage and fusing is critical so those rules I’m following for sure. The controller I use is only a 20amp but it’s Victron who I love due to the remote reporting and the fact that they’re marine friendly. If you have 2 30 amp you should be set? Thanks for the comment.

[@DorothyMartin-xu2dw]

@@colinauld yes basically but I can run all night I just hear folks say they can't run night, crazy I have mine on 9 to 3 in the morning ya know so I feel like maybe they did something wrong or I did something a little different though I did ya feel

[@damonr4136]

Man this is hard to follow, you're constantly just saying numbers with little explanation