Anyone running a mini-split only on off grid solar?

My mastercool just died, I am thinking about getting a mini split to replace it. I would like it to be off grid solar powered. Anyone doing this? What is your setup, or even how much juice are you using?

Yes.

I'm using the EG4 Ac/Dc 24k and 12k. They work off direct solar panels or AC. I've got a transfer switch on the AC side so I can switch between on grid and off grid too (panels /inverter /battery). It's the best of all worlds .

This thread

And they're heat pumps ?

I'm running the EG4 24K unit off my panels and inverters for now until I have the time to set up dedicated panels for the mini split. It is performing way beyond my expectations. I keep the house at deep freeze temps during the day when the sun is out and still don't use all my available power. Can't wait to get the panel up and I still need another 12K solar unit for a bedroom.

I'm running a 28k ramsond off of my sungold tp6048. I'm not offgrid nor do I have batteries on it but when the suns up its running off the solar panels completely. I can cut the mains off at the grid side and it keeps cooling fine.

Hauls Assington said:

My mastercool just died, I am thinking about getting a mini split to replace it. I would like it to be off grid solar powered. Anyone doing this? What is your setup, or even how much juice are you using?

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What is a "Mastercool"? Is it a whole house ducted AC? Heat Pump? AC and Gas furnace? Window unit?

You didn't tell us much about your home size / square footage. How many rooms? How much space is your existing system cooling? Heating? Is it a ducted system ?

The thing to keep in mind about mini splits ... They are pretty much zone cooling / heating. So if you have lots of "zones" (rooms), one mini split no matter how large may not be enough.

But ... If you're Mastercool is a ducted system ... AND ... the blower fan still works, consider keeping it for the duct blower fan. Use a thermostat that has a fan circulate mode (so the fan doesn't run all the time) and run the blower off grid too. This will move the cold air from one, or a few mini splits around the whole house.

I have 3 mini splits and use my blower fan on my 3 ton heat pump on circulate. This cools the whole 2400 sq ft, 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house, up stairs and down stairs. The blower fan makes all the difference.

Another Option ... If your old system is ducted, another option is the new Mr Cool Ducted Heat Pump. Just replace what you have with a similar concept to mini splits, but For the whole house . And the Mr Cool being inverter compressor soft start low energy would be doable off grid with the correctly designed system.

I'm running a Hotspot 48v, straight from my battery bank. Usually pulls 300 to 500 watts when running.

timselectric said:

I'm running a Hotspot 48v, straight from my battery bank. Usually pulls 300 to 500 watts when running.

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Tim is that a 12k or a 24k

MrM1 said:

Tim is that a 12k or a 24k

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12k

Summer of 2023, hottest year ever recorded in history. I'm running a Sennville LETO 9,000 BTU A/C and Heater off of 560Ah battery and three solar panels mounted on ladder racks on my Ford E-250 van. The mini-split is mounted on the left rear bumper (facing the rear). Batteries appear to stay in balance. In "Dry" mode it will freeze you out; today with 95 degrees, 70% (or some ungodly humidity) the inside of the van recorded 68 degrees and 48% humidity. The batteries and electronics love it.

Four 1.5T (Mirage and Midea) units in mstr Bdrm, kitchen, living room and garage; two 1T (Midea) in guest bdrms and one 2T (York) in garage. All are 240V inverter heat pump except for the 2T and one 1.5T garage units. We don't run them all at the same time usually 3 or 4 at once during the day and 1 or 2 at night..

I don't see the point of the 48v ac-dc units especially for off grid. Why dedicate solar panels to a single use. And unless you only need daytime use you still need to have enough battery and inverter capacity on the ac side to run when there's no sun.

1- 2 ton and 1- 1 ton B- Air brand platinum series 240 vac inverter series 20 seer mini splits. Heat and AC .

1000 sq ft block / stucco home located in Baja California Mexico.
Today's temps 101f 46% humidity . It has finally started to cool off....
These units were installed by me a year ago with 250.00 in tools . They have performed flawlessly. If I remember correctly the manual says something about a solar eco mode. I bought these in Mexico but they are for sale in the U.S.
We run the 1 ton from midnight to 1pm daily all year long. The 2 ton comes on about 11 am in the morning and runs at 24c (75f?)eco setting till almost 4am.
We are 100% off grid. We run 2- 6500ex48 inverters and a 7700w array . We have a 30kwh lifepo4 battery bank and most days we cycle from 100% to about 40% .

guidecca said:

Summer of 2023, hottest year ever recorded in history.

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Yes ... Thank you Hunga Tonga volcano

Hauls Assington said:

My mastercool just died, I am thinking about getting a mini split to replace it. I would like it to be off grid solar powered. Anyone doing this? What is your setup, or even how much juice are you using?

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My little signature solar system is driving 4x Pinnacle 9000btu 38seer systems. I have a number at sales for hvacdirect.com she really helped me find the most efficient system I could afford. After months of no AC in Tennessee the wife and I are so happy.

JohnTupper said:

My little signature solar system is driving 4x Pinnacle 9000btu 38seer systems. I have a number at sales for hvacdirect.com she really helped me find the most efficient system I could afford. After months of no AC in Tennessee the wife and I are so happy.

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That is cool and Really high up there. Do you ever need to clean the filters?

I have 3 of the EG4 mini splits (the direct solar ones). A 12k and two 24k's. They keep my poorly insulated florida home at 72F no problem with an outside temp of 98F. And they run 100% off DC solar input as long as the sun is out (from 9am to 5:30pm, and limited DC input before and after).

I Like 'em ?

Filters need regular cleaning like any heat pump, brand new so I will check them in a couple weeks. I've never tried a DC heat pump; do you know SEER of those units?

MrM1 said:

That is cool and Really high up there. Do you ever need to clean the filters?

I have 3 of the EG4 mini splits (the direct solar ones). A 12k and two 24k's. They keep my poorly insulated florida home at 72F no problem with an outside temp of 98F. And they run 100% off DC solar input as long as the sun is out (from 9am to 5:30pm, and limited DC input before and after).

I Like 'em ?

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60K ? please insulate like mad and you'll use so much less electricity. The 36k is overkill for my little house tbh. Systems are set so they only all run during peak sun hours, better than sweating any longer imho

If it’s PV that’s driving the units why care. If he doesn’t use them it’s just wasted.

JohnTupper said:

My little signature solar system is driving 4x Pinnacle 9000btu 38seer systems. I have a number at sales for hvacdirect.com she really helped me find the most efficient system I could afford. After months of no AC in Tennessee the wife and I are so happy.

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Is that 38seer2 or the old spec? Either way good choice.

Either way I’d much rather pick up a more efficient AC unit vs just a PV unit.