Run AC with solar panel?????

[Kevin K]

Could you run a 8 amp AC using a 100 watt solar panel plus a battery?
100 watt solar panel puts out 8.3 amps.

[cpaharley2008]

that would be 1000 watts/12v or 83 amp hours, you would need 10 panels and a battery bank of at least 250 ah!! unless I'm calculating wrong

[Kevin K]

This is what I used Volts Watts Amps Converter Tool Calculator
12 volts
100 watts
8.3 amps

[cpaharley2008]

8 amp x 120 volts=960 watts/12v will be 83 amps in 12v

[Kevin K]

I had a brain freeze.
AC on 120 volt not 12 volt
So I would need a 1000 watt solar panel to run the AC. If I had 100% sun on the panel. But I would need 2000 watt solar panel to start the AC.
This idea is OUT.

[jen b]

If I understand correctly if you're going 100% solar, here's your best bet for air conditioning.

[Thomas G.]

Look at it this way - 2000 watts of solar panels provides a heck of a lot of shade.

[cpaharley2008]

I invested in a 12v cooler fan that uses ice to cool the interior down when I had an rv that did not have a/c, works pretty good for about 2-3 hours and then you need more ice-but it maybe enough to allow you to fall asleep. here is one
Amazon.com: 12 Volt 12v Portable Air Conditioner for Ice Cooler Chest: Automotive
This should work fine with a single solar panel.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by jen b

If I understand correctly if you're going 100% solar, here's your best bet for air conditioning.

Or a Fantastic Fan it would give you more bang for the buck!

[Ken C]

I thought paul and sherry do this for their pet while away. I thought I read that on their blog.

[RogerDat]

One thing I have been wondering about cooling since we have no AC and do not plan to hack one into an old scamp that was not designed for it. Too lazy to re-engineer I guess.

What is the air temp under the camper? Is it cooler than what would come throught the windows? Could a roof vent fan or a floor mounted fan pull that air in if there was a floor vent?

Those of us who own dogs know that they tend to go to ground under the camper if possible when it's hot. I seem to recall that even the temp under the eaves of a house was cooler than in the house and was the basis for some sort of green cooling system.

Everyone at Amazon gives that cooler fan thing 1 star, for the dog I think I would just put a bucket of ice water down, area of floor near bucket stays cooler and dog can get drink of cold water. 2fer.

[Greg H]

Sure it would be cooler under the trailer, until you sucked up all of the cool air and then it would be hot again.

[gmw photos]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

Look at it this way - 2000 watts of solar panels provides a heck of a lot of shade.

Yeah, no kidding ! Considering my solar panel is not quite 3 sq ft and it's only a whopping 13 watts ( 1 amp ).

geo

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by RogerDat

One thing I have been wondering about cooling since we have no AC and do not plan to hack one into an old scamp that was not designed for it. Too lazy to re-engineer I guess.

If your going to be on power then a cheap small light portable ac does the job without any hacking. The PO of my trailer gave me one for the rear window that he made a little wooden holder for that went over the back window ledge and it worked really well - pretty easy to set up as well but hated packing it around in the back of the car when not using though.... havent actually bothered bring it along since installing the Fantastic Fan.

[David Tilston]

I vote for the Fantastic fan as well.

[Rene]

If you want more than a fantastic fan check out Stay Cool with TurboKOOL - Advanced RV Evaporative Air (Swamp) Coolers.
Twice the price of the fantastic but closest thing to air conditioning and doable on solar.

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Rene

If you want more than a fantastic fan check out Stay Cool with TurboKOOL - Advanced RV Evaporative Air (Swamp) Coolers.
Twice the price of the fantastic but closest thing to air conditioning and doable on solar.

I looked at these a while back and decided they wouldn't work well for my location. I believe they cool by water absorbing heat as it changes from liquid to gas, hence the name evaporative cooler and as such only work well in low humidity locations. The name "swamp cooler" seems erroneous. Perhaps someone who has some experience with one can give some insight. I believe the Uhaul came with one. Raz

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by P. Raz

I looked at these a while back and decided they wouldn't work well for my location. I believe they cool by water absorbing heat as it changes from liquid to gas, hence the name evaporative cooler and as such only work well in low humidity locations. The name "swamp cooler" seems erroneous. Perhaps someone who has some experience with one can give some insight. I believe the Uhaul came with one. Raz

Exactly right. These work well in low humidity locations, poorly in high humidity. Living and mostly camping in Michigan, I removed mine and replaced with a Fantastic fan. Still evaporative cooling, but it is directly off the skin.

[Pam Garlow]

I took my swamp cooler out as well and am getting by just fine using fans. Nights cool down in Michigan, so sleeping is comfortable. Sitting in the shade drinking iced tea works fine for staying cool during the day

[RogerDat]

Originally Posted by Carol H

If your going to be on power then a cheap small light portable ac does the job without any hacking. The PO of my trailer gave me one for the rear window that he made a little wooden holder for that went over the back window ledge and it worked really well - pretty easy to set up as well but hated packing it around in the back of the car when not using though.... havent actually bothered bring it along since installing the Fantastic Fan.

I have the late 70's style windows that tilt up and prop open as a single pane. So AC either replaces window pane or goes someplace else.

My own inclination is to go with the 12v fan approach such as fantastic fan you mention. 12 volt fan is usable even in rustic without 110 from gennie. There are parts of the country where that might not be comfortable but I'm not going to be in those places often enough to make it a major concern.

It is suprising how moderate the temp is with all that window space and a white reflective shell.