Many homeowners are now considering utilizing solar power to run their electrical appliances since solar power is becoming more popular. One question that is often asked is how many solar panels are required to operate a 1.5 ton inverter air conditioner (AC). To answer this, we need to take into account the following things: the number of watts that an AC uses; efficiency of the solar panels and; availability of sunlight based on location.
Understanding the power consumption of a 1.5 ton inverter air conditioner.
A 1.5-ton inverter AC is built to cool a room of medium size. An average consumption of between 1500 and 1800 watts is found for such as unit based on the manufacturer or make involved. Inverter ACs are more efficient than conventional models because they can automatically control how much cooling is needed according to the room, which lowers power usage over time.
For this calculation let us assume an average power consumption of 1,500 watts.
Calculating the Energy Requirement of Solar Power
Firstly, you have to find out how much energy the AC uses in a day so as to know how many solar panels are needed. So if we assume that an AC runs for 8 hours daily, then the total energy consumed in this time would be:
1,500 watts×8 hours=12,000 watt-hours (Wh)=12 kilowatt-hours (kWh)
Also, one needs to consider the average daily sunlight hours available in your location, sometimes referred to as “peak sun hours.” This varies by region but generally ranges between 4 and 6 hours per day. Let’s assume an average of five peak sun hours.
Solar panel sizing calculations
Photovoltaic panels are rated based on their power output under standard test conditions. In terms of residential solar panels, the commonly used ones have a range of 300 to 400 watts. To illustrate this, let’s assume that we have a 350-watt panel.
The average number of panels per day can be approximated as:
350 watts×5 hours=1,750 watt-hours=1.75 kWh
Divide the total energy consumption by the energy produced per panel to determine how many panels are needed:
12 kWh÷1.75 kWh/panel≈6.86 panels
Since you can't install a fraction of a panel, you would need 7 solar panels to run a 1.5-ton inverter AC for 8 hours a day.
Further considerations
Battery storage: You will require a battery storage system if you want to run your AC at night or during cloudy days. How many hours you intend to run the AC without sunlight will determine the size of the battery.
Inverter efficiency: A solar system needs an inverter to convert DC power produced by the panels into AC power for home appliances. Since inverters are not 100% efficient, it might be necessary for you to increase slightly your solar system’s size so that it can accommodate this waste.
Panel orientation and location: The actual output from your solar panels may be affected by how they are facing the sun and any shading that may occur. Make sure such panels are put up where sun exposure is maximized.
To run a 1.5-ton inverter AC for about eight hours per day, one would need approximately seven 350-watt solar panels, assuming an average of five peak sunlight hours every day. However, this number might vary depending on where you live, panel efficiency as well as other factors. By consulting with a professional on solar energy matters, it is possible to design a system that meets your specific requirements and operates optimally.
