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Solar is really popular in Africa, but on a very small scale, just small panels to charge devices. The problem is that if you want to use solar for something m

Solar is really popular in Africa, but on a very small scale, just small panels to charge devices. The problem is that if you want to use solar for something more serious, you get hit with an impenetrable wall. You can't use solar for something like air conditioning or cooking without having a grid-tie inverter (expensive) and a grid. And completely stand-alone systems with batteries are completely out of the question, for now.

Retric 2y ago
I suspect the wall is more about the amount of power an AC needs vs a cellphone/battery powered lights etc. A ~200$ UPS may only have minutes of batteries, but it got all the electronics for inverting 1.5KW and safely connecting to the grid which would let you run an AC. I’d expect there to be a market for a cheap box where you can just plug into a wall outlet run in some DC lines from a PV, and then keep an AC running when either the grid or solar panels are supplying power no need for batteries or a knowledgeable electrician. Even just leaning solar panels on the side of your house and running a cord in through the window would work.
- cyberax 2y ago
  There are plenty of such devices (they're really popular in Ukraine right now). Ecoflow, Deye, etc. The problem is that there aren't that many loads for them (well, maybe a fridge). Even a small AC needs at least 1.5kW of power, so for 16 with little-to-no sunlight you'll end up needing a 24kWh battery. This is a pretty huge battery.
  - Retric 2y ago
    > aren’t many loads for them Saving money on the electricity bill and having improved resilience in a power outage occurs even without batteries. Panels are like 1/3 the cost of a normal home solar system. With this plug in your AC in the summer and Resistance heater in the winter and even though you’re losing money when nothing is using that 1.5KW the dramatically lower install costs probably make up for it. Batteries are obviously better for outages, but you could also plug this into a generator and save on gasoline when the sun is shining.
more_corn 2y ago
I bought some cheap panes on Ali express. I think the battery controller was $.99 the inverter was a couple bucks. I run a small, cheap mini split off it ($500 retail in the us). Strangely I wasn’t able to find a dc powered mini split. I guess they make em for RV use but they’re more than twice the price of the one I bought. My whole system is off grid. I run 12v lights and even have a redundant battery system. You can do lot with cheap Chinese parts.
tim333 2y ago
Stand alone systems are much advertised on Alibaba eg https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/AC-DC-Solar-Panel-Powered-Air_1601250471925.html https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/AC-DC-Solar-Panel-Pow... Says "100% Off Grid Solar Air Conditioner" I've no idea how good it is.

Retric 2y ago

I suspect the wall is more about the amount of power an AC needs vs a cellphone/battery powered lights etc. A ~200$ UPS may only have minutes of batteries, but it got all the electronics for inverting 1.5KW and safely connecting to the grid which would let you run an AC. I’d expect there to be a market for a cheap box where you can just plug into a wall outlet run in some DC lines from a PV, and then keep an AC running when either the grid or solar panels are supplying power no need for batteries or a knowledgeable electrician. Even just leaning solar panels on the side of your house and running a cord in through the window would work.

cyberax 2y ago
There are plenty of such devices (they're really popular in Ukraine right now). Ecoflow, Deye, etc. The problem is that there aren't that many loads for them (well, maybe a fridge). Even a small AC needs at least 1.5kW of power, so for 16 with little-to-no sunlight you'll end up needing a 24kWh battery. This is a pretty huge battery.
- Retric 2y ago
  > aren’t many loads for them Saving money on the electricity bill and having improved resilience in a power outage occurs even without batteries. Panels are like 1/3 the cost of a normal home solar system. With this plug in your AC in the summer and Resistance heater in the winter and even though you’re losing money when nothing is using that 1.5KW the dramatically lower install costs probably make up for it. Batteries are obviously better for outages, but you could also plug this into a generator and save on gasoline when the sun is shining.

more_corn 2y ago

I bought some cheap panes on Ali express. I think the battery controller was $.99 the inverter was a couple bucks. I run a small, cheap mini split off it ($500 retail in the us). Strangely I wasn’t able to find a dc powered mini split. I guess they make em for RV use but they’re more than twice the price of the one I bought. My whole system is off grid. I run 12v lights and even have a redundant battery system. You can do lot with cheap Chinese parts.

tim333 2y ago

Stand alone systems are much advertised on Alibaba eg https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/AC-DC-Solar-Panel-Powered-Air_1601250471925.html https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/AC-DC-Solar-Panel-Pow... Says "100% Off Grid Solar Air Conditioner" I've no idea how good it is.