Torture test of the solar A/C
I titled it that because it wasn't intended to be used this way but it could happen I guess. To start with I don't get good sun here until after 10 am but the trailer does in the lot all buttoned up. It was all ready in the 80's by the time I got it home, the system set out and the A/C installed.
The things that worked against it was the heat was rising so the best I could do was close it up and let the A/C run. I set a digital thermometer mid trailer and after a hour it dropped a degree even though it was in the high 80s outside. I tried to reduce heat load at the ceiling but opening the vents just let the hot air trapped under the max airs in. I ended up putting the foam insert into the front one and closng off the bathroom to reduce the area to be cooled. I also blocked off the bunk above the A/C because without air flow it was a oven exposed to the sun.
After a hour the temp was holding at 81.5F in the trailer. It would dip below 81F but every time I opened the door it added to the heat load. I would open it to check on the battery voltage and controller output evry hour or so. The 8-D was holding above 13v and the amps out were in the mid 40's.
After 3 hours it got up to 95 and the temp inside went up to 82.+F and now after four hours with three of them between 92 and 95F the trailer is 82.9F and the battery is at 12.9v under load. Not bad considering it was resting at 12.4v this morning. The panels are flat so peak sun has passed.
So does it turn the trailer into a ice box in this heat? No. Does being out in 95F heat and stepping into a trailer at 82F feel good/ Yes
The system is suppose to keep us cooler up at elevation where it is 82 degrees right now. Normally we would have done things to keep the heat load from building before mid day and the A/C would have stood a chance at lower temperatures to start with. Even the load on the system would be less because at lower temperatures the compressor will cycle which it hasn't all day.
I may run the test again tomorrow but with the A/C in the bedroom window where the cold air can be directed up to the ceiling. I'll let it keep going tonight until the 8-D and solar get down closer to 12v and them put a charger on it. It cools quicker up there than here, so running it till 6 PM would work.
At 2 PM and 95F outside
The things that worked against it was the heat was rising so the best I could do was close it up and let the A/C run. I set a digital thermometer mid trailer and after a hour it dropped a degree even though it was in the high 80s outside. I tried to reduce heat load at the ceiling but opening the vents just let the hot air trapped under the max airs in. I ended up putting the foam insert into the front one and closng off the bathroom to reduce the area to be cooled. I also blocked off the bunk above the A/C because without air flow it was a oven exposed to the sun.
After a hour the temp was holding at 81.5F in the trailer. It would dip below 81F but every time I opened the door it added to the heat load. I would open it to check on the battery voltage and controller output evry hour or so. The 8-D was holding above 13v and the amps out were in the mid 40's.
After 3 hours it got up to 95 and the temp inside went up to 82.+F and now after four hours with three of them between 92 and 95F the trailer is 82.9F and the battery is at 12.9v under load. Not bad considering it was resting at 12.4v this morning. The panels are flat so peak sun has passed.
So does it turn the trailer into a ice box in this heat? No. Does being out in 95F heat and stepping into a trailer at 82F feel good/ Yes
The system is suppose to keep us cooler up at elevation where it is 82 degrees right now. Normally we would have done things to keep the heat load from building before mid day and the A/C would have stood a chance at lower temperatures to start with. Even the load on the system would be less because at lower temperatures the compressor will cycle which it hasn't all day.
I may run the test again tomorrow but with the A/C in the bedroom window where the cold air can be directed up to the ceiling. I'll let it keep going tonight until the 8-D and solar get down closer to 12v and them put a charger on it. It cools quicker up there than here, so running it till 6 PM would work.
At 2 PM and 95F outside
