This is probably the number one reason people in Pakistan go solar. The summer bill arrives, half of it is the AC, and the question is simple: can panels run it instead?
- A 1.5 ton inverter AC usually draws roughly 600 to 1,500W once the room cools.
- Daytime running from panels alone is realistic with a 4 to 6kW system.
- Running an AC all night on batteries needs a large battery bank.
- Start the AC in the afternoon, cool the room early, and let the inverter AC settle.
Short answer: yes, during the day. At night it depends on how much battery you’re willing to buy.
How much power does an inverter AC really use?
An inverter AC doesn’t run at full power all the time. It works hard for the first 15 to 30 minutes, then slows the compressor once the room reaches the set temperature.
- 1 ton inverter AC: often around 400 to 1,000W in normal running
- 1.5 ton inverter AC: often around 600 to 1,500W
- 2 ton inverter AC: often around 900 to 2,000W
These ranges depend on outside heat, insulation, how many people are in the room and the thermostat setting. A room set to 26°C uses far less than one set to 18°C.
Daytime: panels doing the work
For one 1.5 ton inverter AC plus normal house load (fans, fridge, lights), a hybrid system of around 4 to 6kW with matching panels usually handles the daytime comfortably in summer. Two ACs push you toward 6 to 10kW.
One tip that makes a big difference: switch the AC on around noon or 1 pm while the sun is strong, not at 5 pm. The heavy cooling happens on solar, and by evening the AC is only maintaining the temperature.
Night: the battery question
Let’s say your 1.5 ton AC averages 900W through the night. Eight hours is about 7.2kWh. Add fans and fridge and you need roughly 9 to 10kWh of usable battery for one AC. That’s two 5kWh lithium batteries, before thinking about cloudy days.
That’s possible, and some customers do it, but it’s a big investment. Many families settle on a middle path: AC on solar during the day and early evening, then grid at night with net billing or normal supply.
Don’t forget the startup
Inverter ACs start softly, which is good news. Old non-inverter ACs pull a big surge when the compressor kicks in, and that needs a bigger inverter. If you still have an old AC, replacing it with an inverter model often saves more than adding panels.
Get your number
Put your AC, fridge and fans into our solar load calculator. It accounts for motor surge and tells you which inverter size fits. For one or two ACs, the Empire 6kW is a common pick among our customers.
How many ACs do you want on solar?
Tell us the tonnage and hours. We’ll suggest an inverter and battery setup that fits the budget.