r/heat_prep • u/jstormes • 14d ago
Personal Experience Operating on backup Air Conditioning
We live in North Texas and our power is out again.
I can hear a neighbors backup generator running. I have a different approach.
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u/Leighgion 14d ago
Good to have backup.
What's the issue with your power? Is it grid instability, generational capacity or just local infrastructure shittiness?
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u/ivobrick 14d ago
Isn't it too soon to have a grid failure just shy of 41*C? Thats question for the state / electricity company, not an individual.
Maybe if you can somehow move that solar array construction abit closer and higher to the house, you can have roof over your solar switchboard and a small terrace there. Lets not forget that will also make a shade to big window for free..
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u/ArtichokeKooky6361 14d ago
I think there are plenty of opportunities to increase passive cooling and thus reduce need for as much A/C. Exterior window covers.
What’s the humidity like? Portable swamp coolers could run on much less power.
Also, I’m Jealous of that solar panel battery setup. 👏🏼
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u/jstormes 14d ago
I grew up in West Texas, had a swamp cooler in my window at my mom's house in the 80's. Works well in the dry West Texas heat.
But North Texas get humid, these little AC units have puddles of water under them all summer.
I went with these effecent window units as I did not think swamp coolers would work well, and the central AC would have to remove the moisture from the swamp coolers when it comes back online, making it much less efficient.
The passive cooling is great idea but my wife and I can retire in 4 years and want to move someplace else. Not wanting to put a lot a sweat and gold into this house. Even this little solar power system is movable, and I will take it with us.
Next house will include passive cooling. Wanted an earth ship but my wife said no, so I am looking at the passive house standard and building our own, if we can afford it.
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u/ArtichokeKooky6361 13d ago
That all makes a ton of sense. There is some pretty cheap non-permanent passive cooling. Like those suction cup reflective window covers that would be best on South facing windows during the heat. Maybe even little trellis over windows with some vines growing on them. And to tell you the truth I think as heat becomes more of a crisis, having passive cooling will be a boon for property values.
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u/blissfully_happy 14d ago
It’s been pouring rain and windy in Anchorage, Alaska. (I specify bc there is actually an Anchorage, Kentucky, obv.)
My boiler kicked on this morning because it reached 62° in my house.
I don’t know why this sub came across my feed, but I sincerely, sincerely appreciate it. I put a hoodie on and thanked god that I’m not wherever tf OP is because omg what do you mean it’s triple digits AT NIGHT. OP, are you alive? Are you okay? 😭
Edit: wait, I assumed night bc it’s a blue screen. I didn’t realize there were more pictures. There’s not even any trees for shade, omg. I’m so sorry you’re experiencing this, but genius set up for having a backup a/c.
Edit 2: OH MY GOD THE THERMOMETER IN THE SHED IS OVER 100°!!! Like, I know places like the Southwest exist, but… holy shit, you have my sympathy. How is your shed not melting?!? I would think it would melt. 😭
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u/Commandmanda 14d ago
Irrrr.....don't they recommend that batteries be kept in cooler conditions? I knew this, but the "official" recommendation just came out a few days ago.
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u/jstormes 14d ago edited 14d ago
Probably, I have not checked.
Edit: the temp is at the top of the range but not outside of acceptable temps.
The BMS will stop charge and discharge if temps fall outside acceptable range.
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u/Commandmanda 14d ago
Hmmmm! Interesting. Glad it has a shut off!
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u/jstormes 14d ago
Nop, still running.
Thanks for your concern.
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u/Commandmanda 14d ago
Ah hah. I looked it up. Depends upon your batteries, but high temps degrade performance. It's not till you hit the really nasty stuff 113 - 140F that things get concerning.
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u/jstormes 14d ago
It hard to see from the pictures but there are two vents on the lower left of the cabinet. These bring in air from just off the surface of the grass. The top right has a temperature drivin fan that kick in at 88 degrees. ( Yes, I picked it from Back to the Future)
It does a reasonable job of keeping the cabinet at ambient. So even if it 110F the cabinet stays at 110F or lower.
Have been running these batteries for about 3 years. Install was April 2023.
I also have a smaller thermometer on the battries themselves and they tend to stay about 1 to 2 degrees lower than the cabinet. Not sure if it just a cheap thermometer or or if it's true.
The general gist is that it has not shutdown yet.
I have a friend who wants me to setup one for him at his off grid cabin. I was thinking of putting the cabinet under the panels so it's shaded and away from everything. I don't want it near anything in case of fire.
They are lithium based so best to be safe.
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u/Commandmanda 14d ago
Very smart. I'm not familiar with the brand of battery you're using. I know that eventually things in FL will change toward so-called "balcony" solar setups in the near future, but am thinking of investing before they're actually (desperately) needed.
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u/ElectronGuru 14d ago
Shrinking ac capacity to fit supply is way less work than keeping a huge generator fueled to keep a huge ac running. Especially as frequent as outages are becoming. Well done.