JWLV
-.-. --.-
- Joined
- May 27, 2020
- Messages
- 579
I was looking at using this exact thing. How would you do what I want to do with it?
You stated that your goal is to save a few bucks on your electrical bill. Going grid-tied is far too complex and expensive for a do-it-yourself.
So the next best thing is to lower your grid electrical usage. By using a seperate air conditioner, such as the Midea U, you can cool just one room instead of the entire house. This should reduce your electrical usage.
If I was doing this, I'd get the 8000 BTU Midea U (for up to 350 sq ft room), two 48-volt 100AH batteries (EG4 Lifepower, Ruixu, etc), a MPPT all-in-one inverter (Growatt, EcoWorthy, etc), and enough solar panels for the amount of sunlight you get in your area.
Some rough estimates on costs:
Midea U -- $400
2x 48V 100AH batteries -- $2800
All-in-one Inverter -- $600
Misc cables and connectors -- $200
Solar Panels -- ??? (you'll probably want at least 1500 watt in solar panels)
Total: $4000 without solar panels
Let's assume you run the air conditioner 12 hours day. The Midea U uses 710 watts according to its specs. So 12 x 710 = 8520 wh per day. Let's round that to 8.5kwh.
* If you intend to run the air conditioner more than 12 hours a day, you'll probably need more batteries and more solar panels
Let's assume your electrical cost is $0.20 per kwh (could be higher or lower in your area). In a day, you'd be saving 8.5kwh, which equals about $1.70 per day. In about 6.5 years, you'll break even on what you spent on all the solar equipment. After 6.5 years, you'll be saving money, as much as $4000 every 6.5 years. That assumes your electricity cost stays the same at $0.20 per kwh. But it's likely electricity costs will probably go up 10% or 20% by then.