SOLAR AIRconditioning without grid feed-in
Add dedicated solar-powered air conditioning without connecting new panels to your existing solar array, inverter or export meter.
The air conditioner’s panels connect directly to the outdoor unit on their own circuit.
Your existing solar system remains separate.
Why adding solar panels can put a legacy feed-in tariff at risk
If you are still receiving a legacy or premium feed-in tariff, changing your existing solar system is something you probably approach carefully.
Many older tariff arrangements were created under programs that are now closed to new applicants. Depending on your state, distributor, retailer and specific agreement, changes to the existing solar installation may affect the arrangement you are currently on.
That can make a straightforward solar upgrade much less straightforward.
Adding more panels to your existing system may mean changing the inverter, altering the registered system size or changing what is connected through your meter.
The important point is that the rules are not the same for every customer.
Solar AC DC cannot tell you whether a particular installation will preserve your feed-in tariff. Only your own electricity distributor and retailer can confirm the conditions that apply to your account.
What we can show you is how the air conditioning system is wired differently.
How a dedicated solar air conditioner sits outside your existing system
A Solar AC DC unit uses its own dedicated solar panels.
Those panels supply DC power directly to the outdoor air conditioning unit.
They are separate from the rooftop solar system already connected to your house.
That means the dedicated air conditioning array does not need to be added to your existing solar inverter or incorporated into the existing solar panel array.
Where the panels connect
The dedicated solar panels connect directly to the air conditioner.
During daylight hours, the unit can use the DC power produced by those panels without sending it through your existing solar inverter first. Our solar air conditioners will not feed back into the grid.
There is no need to increase the capacity of your existing rooftop solar system simply to provide daytime solar input to the air conditioner.
What your existing inverter and meter see
The dedicated panels are not connected through your existing solar inverter.
They supply the air conditioner directly.
That distinction is particularly important for homeowners who do not want to alter a solar installation associated with an older feed-in tariff.
The electrical arrangement still needs to be assessed for your property, and the existence of a separate dedicated array does not automatically determine how your retailer or distributor will treat the installation.
That decision belongs to them however, generally since the solar air conditioners do not feedback into the grid, it is not an issue.
What still needs checking with your distributor
Before proceeding, contact both your electricity distributor and your retailer and explain what you are proposing.
Tell them:
- The air conditioner has its own dedicated solar panels
- Those panels connect directly to the air conditioning unit
- The panels are separate from your existing rooftop solar array
- Your existing solar inverter is not being increased to accommodate them
- You want written confirmation of whether the proposed installation affects your current feed-in tariff
If they require further technical information, Solar AC DC can provide the relevant system details for you to send through.
Getting that confirmation before installation removes the guesswork.
How does solar airconditioning work?
New to solar airconditioning and curious as to how it works and whether it’s suitable for you? Watch the video below to hear from our very own Rob explain the key points about our solar aircon solutions.
Daytime and night-time operation
During the day, the air conditioner can run from its dedicated solar panels when sufficient sunlight is available.
The unit automatically responds to available solar production and can start once there is enough light.
For homeowners who also want air conditioning after sunset, hybrid models can use the property’s existing power supply when solar production falls away.
You can also choose to operate from solar during daylight hours and allow the unit to stop when the available solar power is no longer sufficient.
The WiFi app lets you see solar and mains power use while the system is operating, along with timers and usage history.
Why Solar Airconditioning vs Traditional Systems?
Both units cool a room. What separates them is how each one behaves when the power available to it is finite.
| Conventional split system | Solar AC DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the power comes from | Runs from the property’s existing AC supply, which usually means drawing from the battery bank, inverter or generator. | Runs directly from its own dedicated solar panels during daylight hours, separate from the house power system. |
| Effect on the battery bank | Air conditioning becomes another significant load that the battery bank needs to support whenever the unit is running. | During normal daytime solar operation, the air conditioner does not draw from the house battery bank. |
| Inverter requirements | The inverter needs enough capacity to operate the air conditioner alongside the other loads already running in the house. | The dedicated solar panels supply DC power directly to the air conditioner, so the house inverter does not need to carry the daytime cooling load. |
| Battery storage requirements | Longer air conditioner run times may require additional battery capacity, particularly if cooling continues into the evening. | No additional battery storage is required for the air conditioner to operate from its dedicated panels during the day. |
| How the solar power is used | Solar power is converted from DC to AC by the house inverter before it is available to the air conditioner. | DC power from the dedicated panels is supplied directly to the outdoor unit without first passing through a solar inverter. |
| During strong sunlight | The air conditioner continues drawing from the property’s AC system, with rooftop solar offsetting some or all of that demand depending on what the rest of the property is using. | The unit uses the power available from its dedicated solar array and can run independently of the house battery system during normal solar operation. |
| During passing cloud | The air conditioner continues demanding the power required to maintain output, with any solar shortfall coming from the battery bank, generator or other connected supply. | The unit responds to the solar power available. A hybrid system can use the connected supply when additional power is required. |
| At night | Continues operating from the property’s battery bank, generator or other AC supply. | A hybrid model can switch to the property’s existing power supply after solar production falls away, or the unit can be left to stop when solar is no longer available. |
| Generator use | On some off-grid properties, the generator is used to avoid placing the full air conditioning load on the batteries. | Daytime operation can come directly from the dedicated solar array, reducing the need to run the generator simply to power the air conditioner. |
| Visibility of power use | Power use is generally monitored through the property’s broader inverter, battery or energy monitoring system, if one is installed. | The WiFi app shows the air conditioner’s live solar and mains power draw, along with usage history and timers. |
| Impact on the existing off-grid system | Adding air conditioning can mean reassessing the inverter, battery storage, charging capacity and generator requirements of the property. | The dedicated daytime solar supply is separate from the existing house system, so the air conditioner can be added without resizing the house inverter or battery bank for daytime solar operation. |
| How it tends to be used | Owners may limit daytime use because they are conscious of the load being placed on the battery bank or generator. | The unit can be left to operate through the solar day, helping cool the building while dedicated solar power is available. |
How many solar panels do you need?
Most installations use approximately four to eight dedicated solar panels, depending on:
- Air conditioner size
- Panel output
- Roof or array orientation
- Property location
- Available sunlight
- The area being cooled
The panels belong to the air conditioner rather than your house solar system.
That separation is important.
Adding air conditioning does not mean resizing the solar array, inverter and batteries that already run your home.
Tell us your postcode, the size of the area you want to cool and what your current power setup looks like, and we can recommend an appropriate system and array.
Solar air conditioner specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Available sizes | 3.5kW, 5.0kW, 7.0kW and 9.0kW |
| Operation | Reverse cycle |
| Daytime power | Direct DC solar |
| Typical panel array | 4 to 8 panels |
| Existing solar inverter | Separate |
| Existing solar array | Separate |
| Battery bank required | No |
| Charge controller required | No |
| Automatic solar start | Yes |
| Hybrid operation | Available |
| Monitoring | WiFi app |
| Battery-based model | 48V option available |
Reviews from customers on legacy feed-in tariffs
Check out some of our solar AC reviews. If you want to keep reading, we have also been featured on Channel 7 News, and there are more customer reviews from installations around Australia.
Air conditioning and feed-in tariff questions answered
Will installing a solar air conditioner affect my feed-in tariff?
We cannot determine that for you because feed-in tariff conditions vary between programs, distributors and retailers.
What is different about this system is that the dedicated solar panels connect directly to the air conditioner instead of being added to your existing rooftop solar array or existing solar inverter.
Before proceeding, provide that information to your distributor and retailer and ask them to confirm your position in writing.
Does the air conditioner connect to my existing solar system?
The dedicated solar panels do not connect to your existing solar array or existing solar inverter.
They supply DC power directly to the outdoor air conditioning unit.
A hybrid model can also connect to the property’s existing power supply for operation when solar power is unavailable.
Will my inverter or meter see the extra panels?
The dedicated air conditioning panels do not feed through your existing solar inverter or existing solar export path.
Your distributor or retailer should still confirm how they classify the complete installation under your particular tariff arrangement.
Who do I need to check with before I go ahead?
Contact both your electricity distributor and your electricity retailer.
Ask specifically whether adding a separate dedicated DC solar array that supplies an appliance directly affects the conditions of your current feed-in tariff.
Solar AC DC can provide technical information about the system if they require it.
What happens at night?
A hybrid model can switch to the property’s existing power supply when there is no longer enough solar available.
If you only want the unit operating from its dedicated solar panels, it can stop when solar production falls away.
Can I add panels to it later?
The dedicated array can be designed within the electrical limits of the air conditioning unit.
If you expect to alter the array later, discuss that when the system is being specified so the complete arrangement can be planned correctly from the start.
Does it work with a battery?
The direct solar system does not require a battery bank for daytime operation.
A separate 48 volt DC model is available for battery-based installations.
How many solar panels does it need?
Most installations use between four and eight panels.
The exact number depends on the air conditioner size, panel specification, array orientation and location of the property.
Solar AC DC can size the dedicated array as part of the quote.
Get a Quote Without Guessing About Your Existing Solar
Tell us what solar system you already have, whether you are on a legacy or premium feed-in tariff and what area you want to cool.
We can recommend a suitable air conditioning system and explain exactly how its dedicated solar array would be connected.
You can then take those details to your distributor and retailer for confirmation before proceeding.