EcoRenovator - View Single Post - Repurpose Auto AC for shipping container?

bpatton · 11-15-17, 12:10 PM

I have considered the idea as well but on a larger scale for a house with multiple compressors. My idea was that you could cycle the compressors as the loads change. The conclusion I finally came to was that its cheaper and simpler to run an inverter setup with a larger battery pack. While anything is possible, the efficiency of hermetic compressors is just too hard to beat. Plus the cost of solar now is so low, it might be worth it to just invest in the panels and build your own system out of window air conditioners or the like. Check out the Heat pump manifesto on this forum, it has great information on hacking your own AC sytems.
When I was looking into it the figure for around 5hp seemed the common most common need for nominal HP needed to run the compressor. If you do end up building this setup please post some pictures! I would love to see it.

11-15-17, 12:10 PM	#6
bpatton Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 10 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I have considered the idea as well but on a larger scale for a house with multiple compressors. My idea was that you could cycle the compressors as the loads change. The conclusion I finally came to was that its cheaper and simpler to run an inverter setup with a larger battery pack. While anything is possible, the efficiency of hermetic compressors is just too hard to beat. Plus the cost of solar now is so low, it might be worth it to just invest in the panels and build your own system out of window air conditioners or the like. Check out the Heat pump manifesto on this forum, it has great information on hacking your own AC sytems. When I was looking into it the figure for around 5hp seemed the common most common need for nominal HP needed to run the compressor. If you do end up building this setup please post some pictures! I would love to see it.