Designing an off-grid power system for a 5000 BTU air conditioner requires knowing its amps per hour. The average 5000 BTU unit uses 5 to 7 amps at 115 volts or 500 watts.
A battery bank with 400 amp hours would power the air conditioner for eight hours a day. In addition to the battery bank, a 600-watt solar array is suggested for daily battery charging.
Additionally, a 2000-watt pure sine wave inverter is required. This inverter handles the air conditioner’s starting surge, which may exceed 1000 watts when the compressor starts. However, in the blog, we will discuss the 5000 btu air conditioner amps per hour and everything that you need to know.
Understanding Air Conditioner Amp Usage
The amount of cooling an air conditioner can do is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour. A machine with a higher BTU number is usually stronger, but it may use more electricity. However, an air conditioner’s real amp usage relies on a number of things, such as:
- Voltage needs: Depending on their size and cooling ability, most home air conditioners run on either 110 to 120 volts or 220-240 volts.
- Efficient: The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) tells you how energy-efficient an air conditioner is. Units with higher SEER rates are more energy-efficient, which means they use less power to cool the same amount of space.
- Conditions of operation: The amount of power an air conditioner uses can be affected by things like the temperature and humidity in the room.
Typical Amp Usage of a 5000 BTU Air Conditioner
Based on the search results, a 5000 BTU air conditioner consumes about 5 to 7 amps at 115 volts. This means that about 500 to 700 watts of power are being used.
Please keep in mind that these are just averages. The real amp usage may be different based on the type and maker. When sizing the system’s electrical parts, you should also keep in mind that the starting surge current may be higher than the running current.
Calculating Battery Bank Size
We need to think about the following things to figure out what size battery bank is needed to power a 5000 BTU air conditioner:
- How much power is used: With a battery charge of 12 volts and an average power use of 500 watts, the current draw would be about 42 amps (500 watts / 12 volts = 41.67 amps).
- Run time: The amount of time you want the air conditioner to run on battery power. For instance, if you want to run the AC for eight hours, you would need a battery bank that can give you 42 amps for eight hours, which is 336 amp-hours.
- Depth of discharge: To keep their life, lead-acid batteries shouldn’t be drained below 50% of their capacity. To account for the depth of discharge, you would need to double the volume of a 336-amp-hour battery bank to 672 amp-hours.
- Type of battery: When compared to lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries work better and store more energy. Lithium-ion cells would be smaller and lighter for the same amount of power.
Sizing the Solar Array
You’ll need a solar array with enough power to charge the battery bank and keep up with the air conditioner’s power needs. What determines the size of the solar array are these things:
- How much power is used: You’ll need a solar setup that can make at least 500 watts of power if you use 500 watts of power on average.
- Solar insolation is the amount of sunshine that hits your area. This is different based on where you live, the season, and the weather.
- Efficiency is the measure of how well the solar panels and other parts of the system, like the charge driver and generator, work.
Most of the time, a 600-watt solar setup with tiltable panels should be enough to power a 5,000-BTU air conditioner and keep the batteries charged. But it’s always best to talk to a professional solar provider to find out what size system is best for your needs and where you live.
Choosing the Right Inverter
You’ll need a pure sine wave transformer with enough power to run a 5000 BTU air conditioner. How the best solar inverter needs to be depends on how much power the air conditioner and any other devices you want to use at the same time.
As a general rule, pick a transformer that can handle at least 25% more power than the air conditioner can use at its peak. The normal power use for a 5000 BTU air conditioner is 500 watts, so a 2000-watt inverter would work well.
Selecting the Charge Controller
A charge controller is an important part of a solar-powered system because it controls how much power goes from the solar panels to the batteries. How big the charging charger is will depend on how many solar panels are placed and how much power is in the batteries.
An MPPT charge charger with 40 amps would work well with a 600-watt solar setup and a 12-volt battery bank. MPPT charge controllers work better than PWM charge controllers and can get more power from the solar panels, especially when there isn’t much light.
Wiring and Mounting Hardware
The wires and fitting tools you need for your system will depend on how your car or off-grid setup is set up and how big it is. Use lines and connections of the right size to keep power drops to a minimum and make sure the system works safely.
When you place the solar panels, you might want to use tiltable mounts so that you can change the angle of the panels throughout the day to get the most power.
Conclusion
It is possible to run a 5000 BTU air conditioner on batteries and solar power, but you need to plan ahead and have the right tools. You can make sure the battery bank, solar array, inverter, and charge driver are the right size if you know how many amps a 5000 BTU AC unit usually uses.
When you’re planning your system, don’t forget to take into account the starting surge current, the depth of discharge, and the amount of sunlight. Talking to a professional solar provider is always the best way to make sure your system is safe, works well, and fits your needs.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you’d like to get a price for a solar-powered air conditioning system. Our professionals will help you come up with a unique answer that fits your needs and your budget.