The inverter heat pump I installed here:
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothe...-new-post.html
Would work great with off grid, at least when air conditioning. It has no start up surge.
How does it do in the cold I do not know yet it may take a few years to get a real cold winter.
The out side unit is very quiet, only makes a fraction of the noise of a window unit. The inside half of the split appears to be made with some kind of stealth technology because it makes virtually no noise even when the fan is on high.
The fan on the inside unit feels a little weak but it cools one bed room very well.
I will likely buy the 2 ton version of this air conditioner next time.