A window AC unit of 5000 to 6000 BTU is perfect for a 250 to 350 square feet bedroom. These AC units are elementary and convenient to install and plugs into a regular power outlet. As they are mainly used in summer, such an AC unit is a perfect appliance run by solar panels. Figuring out how many solar panels are needed to run a window AC unit is a fairly simple process, and in this article, we will explain this step-by-step.
A window AC unit of 5000 – 6000 BTU capacity uses about 500 watts/hour and requires 900 – 1000 watts of solar power from 3 x 300-watt or 4 x 250-watt solar panels to run efficiently.
How much power does a window AC unit use?
The first step in figuring out how many solar panels you will need to power a window AC unit is to determine how much power it uses in watts/hour. The manufacturer will normally state this figure, and in most cases, there will be a sticker or stamp on the air conditioning unit itself with the power rating.
Power ratings of Window AC units
| Window AC Unit | Power Rating |
|---|---|
| GE 6000 BTU | 535 watt |
| Frigidaire 5000 BTU | 450 watt |
| LG 6000 BTU | 520 watt |
| Haier 6000 BTU | 455 watt |
As in the table above, most 5000-6000 BTU window AC units have a power consumption of about 500 watts/hour.
How many solar panels are needed for a window AC unit?
As the power needed for a window AC unit will be about 500 watts/hour, we can start looking at 2 x 250 solar panels to give you 500 watts.
Solar panels do not operate at 100% efficiency, and the peak output from a 250-watt solar panel will not be 250-watt., but more in the region of 225 watts/hour, and that is only in the peak midday sun. You can have some cloud cover which will reduce the solar panel’s output, and the sun’s intensity varies throughout the day.
The average power output of a 250-watt solar panel will range from 50 watts/hour to 225 watts/hour in the span of a 12-hour day.
Considering all this, the average output of a 250-watt solar panel will thus be only about 125-watts/hour in a day. 2 x 250-watt solar panels will only provide an average of 250 watts/hour will not be sufficient to power the window AC unit.
Adding another 2 x 250-watt solar panels to the solar array will add the needed capacity for the 500 watts/hour window AC unit.
We then have 4 x 250-watt solar panels, which will power the window AC unit. These 4 solar panels will produce some extra power in the summer during midday, which can be used to power some additional appliances or charge batteries if you have a battery bank added to your solar system.
Key Takeaways
- a Window AC unit typically uses 500 watts/hour of electricity.
- Solar panels does not operate at peak efficiency the whole day, and that needs to be considered when calculating how many solar panels are needed to run a window AC.
- In order to provide 500 watts/hour consistently throughout a day , you will need 4 x 250 watt solar panels to power a window AC unit.
- You will need an inverter to convert the DC power generated by the solar panels to AC power which can be used by the air-conditioner.
Can you run a window AC on solar?
Solar panels can be used to power a window AC, but you’ll need at least four 250-watt panels to provide sufficient power even on partly cloudy days.
Do you need an inverter to run a window AC on solar?
You will need an inverter to convert the direct current (DC) produced by solar panels to alternating current (AC), which then can be used by your window AC.
Can a 100 watt solar panel run a air conditioner?
A single 100-watt solar panel is insufficient to power an air conditioner; you’ll need 5 to 10 times that amount to keep it running.
