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How Many Solar Panels Do You Need For a 1.5 Ton AC
Solar panels can be a great way to diminish the energy consumption of your air conditioner. This article will help you determine how many solar panels you need for a 1.5-ton AC (air conditioner).
The number of solar panels required for a 1.5 ton AC depends on how many sunlight hours your area gets on average, the level of shade around your house, the type of inverter you are using, and how much roof space you can spare for panels. Let’s dig a little deeper into how each of these aspects affects your power output and what specific requirements you need to fulfil for your air conditioning needs.
Although, if you’ve already decided on buying a solar panel and want to assess the costs of various systems and their installation, we can help with that. It can be difficult finding a solar panel installer that you can trust.
This is why our handy service can help you instantly find quotes from multiple vetted MCS-accredited installers in your area with a few easy clicks. You can easily begin saving on your air conditioning costs ASAP. Press the button below and receive up to 4 free, non-binding quotes.
How many panels do you need to run a 1.5 ton AC?
The main factor you should be concerned with, both for the AC and the solar panels, is wattage. This will decide what capacity you should be working with since wattage decides the power consumption of a 1.5 ton AC unit.
To determine the wattage (W) of your AC, check the label on the unit.
| 1.5 Ton AC Star Rating | Maximum Wattage (Est.) |
|---|---|
| 1-Star 1.5 Ton AC | 2,400 Watts |
| 2-Star 1.5 Ton AC | 2,200 Watts |
| 3-Star 1.5 Ton AC | 2,000 Watts |
| 4-Star 1.5 Ton AC | 1,800 Watts |
| 5-Star 1.5 Ton AC | 1,600 Watts |
The main factor you should be concerned with, both for the AC and the solar panels, is wattage. This will decide what capacity you should be working with since wattage decides the power consumption of a 1.5 ton AC unit.
To determine the wattage (W) of your AC, check the label on the unit.
Alternatively, you can also derive the wattage from the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) or ESEER (European seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating.
The solar panels should ideally match the Wattage requirements at 100% cooling power. Here is a handy table that can help determine the right capacity for your energy needs in terms of the size of the system in Watts and energy consumption in kilowatt hours (kWh):
| Running Time | Power Consumption | PV System Size |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Hr | 3 kWh | 600 - 800 Watt |
| 5 Hr | 7.5 kWh | 1.4 - 1.8 kW |
| 8 Hr | 12 kWh | 2.2 - 2.6 kW |
| 12 Hr | 18 kWh | 3.4 - 3.8 kW |
| 20 Hr | 30 kWh | 6 - 6.4 kW |
| 24 Hr | 36 kWh | 7 - 7.4 kW |
Can you run a 1.5 ton AC on solar panels?
Yes. The number of solar panels required for a 1.5 ton AC with an inverter can vary based on what wattage of solar panels you’re using and how long you intend to use the air conditioner. It is generally believed that you’ll need 10 to 12 of 250 Watt solar panels to power an AC of this size or an equivalent system that can produce between 3kWh and 5kWh.
In comparison, a 1 ton AC will use between 1,500W to 1,800W when at 100% cooling power. Consequently, a 1 ton AC requires 6 to 7 panels at 250W each, assuming it has a decent SEER score. Similarly, you would require 3 to 5 solar panels (250 W) to run a 1 HP air conditioner.
However, your setup needs may vary if your intention is to go completely off-grid. If your intention is to find the most sustainable form of heating, then pairing a heat pump and solar panels is the way to go.
On-grid vs. off-grid systems
An off-grid system is one that will be entirely reliant on solar power. In terms of air-conditioning, this can limit how much you can use your AC to hours of the day with sunlight (unless you use a solar battery). Solar batteries can help you store energy and make use of it later but this will also mean you need to account for future storage.
To truly optimise the number of sunlight hours you get, you will need to calculate how many hours you need to use your Air Conditioner and store up the necessary amount of power. This would mean having an extra powerful system that can allow you to use during peak sunlight hours while storing the excess for later use.
How stable are solar panels for air conditioning?
While stability can depend on sunlight hours, shading, and other factors, solar panels can be very reliable in areas that meet these requirements. While systems can suffer lower efficiency during colder seasons, solar panels still manage to work in winter. With the addition of a solar battery, residents can be sure that they have enough power stored up for extended use.
Similarly, getting the ideal solar power and a good battery is much easier when you have an installer you can trust.
Our free service can help you find up to 4 trusted MCS-certified engineers without any hassle. Simply fill out our short form and you won’t need to worry about finding an experienced professional for your installation. Click the button below to receive up to 4 free, non-binding quotes.
Factors affecting performance
Solar panel systems can continue to have optimal performance as long as you:
- Use high-efficiency solar panels.
- Choose the correct direction for your solar panel system. South-facing roofs provide 10% better efficiency than north-facing ones.
- Minimise shading and maximise sun.
- Optimise roof space. A 3kW system would require 17 to 21 metres of roof space. Luckily, most UK homes can manage this.
- Keep the panels clean and adjust for seasonal changes (more on this later) and properly implement solar panel maintenance.
- Space out the panels from the roof for cooling in the case of on-roof rather than in-roof panels (7 inches between the panel and the roof can be ideal).
- Use a good battery. Newer batteries have better efficiency and give you better value for your money.
Do solar panels also work in the winter?
As long as adjustments are made, solar panels can work well in winter. Adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter, and subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during summer is a good rule of thumb to optimise output.
If you live in a snowy region, you don’t need to worry about the lack of heat (solar panels absorb light regardless of temperature). In fact, there are even some benefits of snow. A fair amount of snow lying around increases solar panel performance if it is reflecting the sun’s photons back from the ground and up towards panels. Just be sure to make sure it’s not blocking the panels themselves.
Location: does it work everywhere in the UK?
While there are fewer sunlight hours during winter, this does not mean that solar panels are rendered useless. As long as there is sun, they will generate power. We also have other resources that go into depth about why the UK is sunny enough for solar panels to work in most places.
If your concern is the type of house you have, there’s no need to worry. Solar panels for apartments are just as viable as for detached houses. Although detached houses provide a lot more options for placement, such as detached garages or pergolas, apartments with decent roof space can be great for solar as well.
Daytime vs nighttime solar power
Since solar panels tend not to produce any energy at night, one of the factors you need to consider is how many nighttime hours you’ll spend with your air conditioner on and factor this into your solar power storage. This is less of an issue if you plan to have a sizable solar battery but it is worth keeping in mind.
While there are solar cells that generate electricity at night, they aren’t on the mass market. The best alternative is to store enough electricity for your nighttime needs with a solar battery.
If you’re looking to buy a solar panel system and want to assess the costs that best suit your needs and their installation, we can help with that. It can be difficult finding a solar panel installer that you can trust which is why we can provide the best prices directly from trusted MCS-accredited installers in your area. With just a few easy clicks, you can begin saving on your air conditioning costs. Press the button below and receive up to 4 free, non-binding quotes.
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