Solar AC Calculator 2026

Recommended solar system for your AC

Solar System

3.5 kW

7 × 540W panels

Inverter

3 kVA

Pure sine with surge margin

AC Load

1250 W

300 kWh/month

Battery Bank

—

Not needed (grid-tied)

Cost estimate

System Cost

₹1,92,500

PM Surya Ghar Subsidy

− ₹78,000

Net Cost

₹1,14,500

Ready to Go Solar?

Get a detailed quote with free site survey from our UPNEDA-registered team.

Get Solar AC Quote WhatsApp Us +91 92609 40733

How to size solar for AC

Step-by-step guide to picking the right solar system to run your AC.

Identify AC tonnage

0.8, 1, 1.5, or 2 Ton based on room size. 100 sq ft = 1 Ton, 150-200 sq ft = 1.5 Ton.

Pick star rating

5-star inverter AC saves 25% vs 3-star. Pay the premium — solar system sizing depends on it.

Estimate daily hours

Be realistic. Summer peak: 8-10 hrs. Winter: 0-2 hrs. Use summer peak for sizing.

Choose system type

Grid-tied for cost, hybrid for backup, off-grid for energy independence.

Read recommended size

Our calculator outputs exact kW, inverter kVA, and battery Ah (if applicable).

Apply PM Surya Ghar subsidy

Up to ₹78,000 central + ₹30,000 UP state for residential systems.

Running AC on solar in 2026

A 1.5 Ton 5-star inverter AC running 8 hours a day uses ~10 kWh. On grid tariff (₹7/unit average), that's ₹70/day or ₹2,100/month — more than most families' entire electricity bill. Solar turns this into zero operating cost. The math is simple: 10 kWh/day ÷ 4.5 peak sun hours ÷ 0.8 efficiency × 1.1 safety = 3 kW. Our calculator does this automatically for any AC configuration.

Size chart — solar kW per AC configuration

AC Config	Daily Use	kWh/day	Solar Needed
1 × 1 Ton 5★	6 hrs	5.2	1.5 kW
1 × 1.5 Ton 5★	8 hrs	10	3 kW
1 × 2 Ton 5★	8 hrs	13.5	4 kW
2 × 1.5 Ton 5★	8 hrs	20	5.5 kW
3 × 1.5 Ton 5★ (villa)	10 hrs	37.5	10 kW

AC sizing connects to three other decisions — measure total household load with our Appliance Load Calculator, size the battery bank for night-time AC, verify the inverter kVA handles compressor surge, and pick panel tech in our Solar Panel Comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run AC on solar?

Yes, easily. A 1.5 Ton 5-star inverter AC running 8 hrs/day needs about 10 kWh/day — that's a 3 kW solar system in UP, or 3.5 kW to stay comfortable through monsoon. Grid-tied is cheapest; hybrid gives outage backup; pure off-grid needs the biggest battery bank.

How many solar panels do I need for 1.5 Ton AC?

A single 1.5 Ton 5-star inverter AC (1250W) running 8 hrs/day = 10 kWh/day. In UP (4.5 peak sun hours), that's a 3 kW array = 6 × 540W panels. Add more if you want to run the AC and other home loads simultaneously.

Grid-tied vs off-grid vs hybrid for AC — which is best?

Grid-tied: cheapest (no battery), AC runs on solar during the day and grid at night. Hybrid: solar + battery backup during outages; 20-30% costlier. Off-grid: total energy independence but battery bank alone costs ₹1-3 lakh. For a home with a reliable grid, grid-tied or hybrid is best.

Do I need an inverter AC for solar?

Strongly recommended. Inverter ACs use variable-speed compressors that ramp up smoothly instead of slamming on. Startup surge is lower, running wattage is 20-30% less, and compatibility with battery inverters is much better.

Will solar AC work at night?

Yes, two ways: (1) grid-tied AC uses grid power at night while your net-metered solar credits offset the bill, (2) hybrid/off-grid uses the battery bank. A 1.5 Ton inverter AC running overnight (8 hrs) needs ~150 Ah of lithium @ 48V.

What's the payback period for solar AC?

A 1.5 Ton AC running 6-8 hrs/day costs ~₹1800-2500/month on grid. A 3 kW grid-tied solar system (₹1.2 lakh after subsidy) saves ₹1500-2000/month. Payback: ~5-7 years. After that it's free cooling for 18-20 more years.

Can I use my existing AC with a new solar setup?

Yes. As long as your AC is pure-sine-compatible (almost all split ACs are), you can add solar without replacing it. If you have an old non-inverter AC, still compatible but you'll see higher startup surge — pick a 1.5× rated inverter.

Do I get subsidy for running AC on solar?

PM Surya Ghar 2026 subsidy is based on system size, not load. A 3 kW system qualifies for ₹78,000 central subsidy regardless of whether it runs AC, fan, or fridge. UP state adds ₹15,000/kW × 2 = ₹30,000 more (max).

Solar AC Calculator

AC specifications