http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 10:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 10:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950904.html

Also, this looks to be part of LG's Mini-Split heatpumps which operate more efficiently and with lower power than standard household units. I have a 12,000 BTU LG 'Art Cool' unit. When operating at full blast, it only consumes 600 watts. It's pretty nice.

With a properly insulated and air sealed house, you can keep cool with very little little electricity.]]>Jun 21st 2010 11:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
I'd rather go all or nothing, and if investing in solar get a big panel across the roof tied in, not just to power a fan. ]]>Jun 21st 2010 5:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
And just to clarify, usually AC is not running when it is hottest... most people are at work during the day and which is when the solar cells will be sucking up sunlight. Figure 9 hours worth of sun is about 600 W of stored up juice per day.

Then when people come home from work around 5-6pm is when the AC usually get's turned on, so you could run it for about 20 minutes essentially free of charge.

And that is with just one of these panels. Cover your entire roof with solar cells and you could be off the grid for a good part of the day.]]>Jun 21st 2010 10:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 10:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 10:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
Usually the peak power usage time is not 11-2, but rather 5-7 or so when people get home. Just take a look at when most brown-out occur.

Also the key to all this is that this peak is only for a couple of hours... once the sun goes down, the house will stay cool, and after people have eaten dinner, power drops off fairly quickly.

And you are right, that people that don't work during the day, and weekends are not factored in, but the solution to most people's energy usage isn't a simple X watts used - Y watts generated either. Time of day, energy storage capacity and other factors play a bigger deal than the total amount of energy used. ]]>Jun 21st 2010 11:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/To hell with my footprint... I have a carbon shoe store.
]]>Jun 21st 2010 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
Nonsense.

You don't trash, and then buy a brand new panel every month or year. These last for decades. Some of the first panels that were mass-produced back in the 70s are still going strong today. ]]>Jun 21st 2010 11:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
So because a 'tard like you can't MOVE, you have no problems with rising ocean levels and catastrophic flooding, and every thing else that will happen.

Oh yea, and numbnuts, it's called CLIMATE CHANGE. Not global warning - not all parts of the globe will actually get warmer.

But then again, what am I saying... maybe your parent's basement won't get flooded when the sea levels rise.]]>Jun 21st 2010 11:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/hey douchtard... I said global warming cause fatty said that in his post I was replying to.
And no I don't have an issue with any of that shit cause ths planet is going to kill off itself long before climate or warming or whatever the fuck u hippie douches are calling it these days.
I want to move to your parents basement. Your mom would be so happy. She wouldn't have to make the trip up here all the time to get my nuts in her mouth. OH! and you'll appreciate this, she wont be burning all the fossil fuels driving to come up here to get her weekly filling.]]>Jun 21st 2010 12:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
I set my AC around 84/85 when I leave for work then turn it down when I get home. If I turn it off the place gets a sweltering 95+ and takes forever to cool down which would ultimately use more energy than maintaining some level of temperature.

Of course, my place isn't very efficient because I have a bunch of giant old single pained windows but it's historic so I can't replace them.]]>Jun 21st 2010 12:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
Second, builders usually use the smallest AC unit they can get away with for a given home. This means many units are running constantly during the hottest part of the day because they can't keep up with the heat load instead of cycling on and off as needed. If you programmed the temp to be higher during the day it would get so hot inside that these weak units wouldn't catch up with the cooling demand until well after midnight.]]>Jun 21st 2010 1:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
Awwww... looks like little A25i is all cranky.
That's what happens when 10 year olds are allowed to stay up past their 7:00pm bedtime.

Now run off you little scamp - the internet is no place for preteens because clearly they are too stupid to add anything useful to the conversation. ]]>Jun 21st 2010 1:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
I can understand your issues, but there are almost always things you can do. If double pane windows are not allowed (which is quite surprising, even in historic districts because there are styles that have an "old" look but have modern efficiency), you can still add insulation. I do understand that sometimes you can only do so much, but then again, people that buy homes in historic districts should already know about these type of limitations. Heck, just having the shade from a tree out in the yard can sometimes cool a house rather dramatically. ]]>Jun 21st 2010 1:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
You can't make everything "idiot proof," but at some point people have to be educated about the programming features of these devices.

Concerning your builders comment - I see that crap all the time.

These builders - like all companies - do the absolute least they can get away with. And it's not just AC units either.

Look at stuff like water heaters, toilets, showers and insulation. They put in the cheapest stuff they can, and then a home owner isn't going to replace a brand new, but marginally efficient, unit. They are going to live with using X% more water each year, and Y% more electricity to heat and cool their homes. In the long run, this adds a TON to the nations energy usage.

All that crap should have a bare minimum level of efficiency. Like a builder should not be allowed to get a permit to build their McMansion if they aren't using an Energy Star appliance rate for that home (so they can't get away with using an efficiency, but under-powered AC to try to cool some ginormous house).]]>Jun 21st 2010 1:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 1:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 22nd 2010 8:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 22nd 2010 5:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
You are an idiot, not the least of which is because some $20 timer can turn your AC on a 1/2 hr or so before anyone even comes home from work, so they come home to a cool house. Hell, there are cellphone applications that let you control all that from anywhere right from your phone (I think running iPhone, Android and BB).

Running it for ~1/2 hr extra is a hell of a lot better than running it for 8+ hours needlessly.


I love the 'tards in this country that are actually "proud" of wasting resources needlessly... as if somehow that isn't impacting their own wallets. No one is saying anyone should *gosh* break a sweat in the middle of summer, but usually some very simply and cheap solutions can give people the comfort they want and actually save them money in the long run. Instead certain people out there are smug about their ignorance.]]>Jun 22nd 2010 6:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 10:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 1:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 10:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watt#Confusion_of_watts.2C_watt-hours.2C_and_watts_per_hour

/journalism rant]]>Jun 21st 2010 10:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 10:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/actually you pay your bills in watts*h which is not the same as the watts on your lightbulb or your processor...]]>Jun 21st 2010 11:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 11:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
Anyhow, regardless how you measure it, 70 watts total generated in an hour ain't much. ]]>Jun 21st 2010 12:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
They haven't changed it, and both of the things you said are wrong. It should be "It generates 70 watts of power." Full stop. 'Power' is already the *rate* of energy production. You don't need to add a 'per X' to turn it into a rate again.

@TimStevens

The information is incorrect. 70 watts per hour makes no more sense than driving at a speed of 70 mph per hour. Watts are already an energy 'speed', adding 'per hour' is completely wrong.]]>Jun 21st 2010 12:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 1:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 1:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Well it makes sense if your accelerating! Maybe this unit just happens to produce and exponential amount of power. Did you think of that? Huh? No you didn't! Silly guy.]]>Jun 21st 2010 1:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/
"70 watts per hour" would be equivalent to "70 joules per second per hour" which would mean an accelerating energy production. this would mean that after an hour of running, the solar panel would output 70 watts, and after four hours, the output would be 280 watts. after a week it would be 11760 watts, which doesn't make any sense.]]>Jun 21st 2010 1:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 1:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 2:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/Jun 21st 2010 10:52AM