Solar + Aircon: Timing Your System to Your Panels

If you’ve already invested in solar panels, there’s a good chance your air conditioner is one of the biggest opportunities you have to actually use that power, rather than just export it back to the grid for a few cents a kilowatt hour. Air conditioning is typically the single largest electricity draw in a WA home, which makes it the perfect appliance to run when the sun is doing the hard work for you.

So how do you time your ducted or split system to your solar output? Here’s what Perth homeowners need to know.

Why timing matters more than ever

Since the introduction of time-of-use tariffs and reduced feed-in rates in Western Australia, exporting excess solar back to the grid isn’t as rewarding as it used to be. In many cases, homeowners are being paid very little for exported power during the middle of the day, while grid electricity in the evening peak can cost significantly more. That means the real value of your solar system now lies in using as much of the power as possible while it’s being generated, rather than sending it out and buying it back later at a higher price.

Running your air conditioner during daylight hours, rather than waiting until you get home in the evening, can make a real difference to your power bill.

Pre-cooling and pre-heating your home

One of the simplest strategies is pre-cooling in summer and pre-heating in winter. Rather than switching your ducted air conditioner on when you walk in the door on a 40 degree day, set a timer so the system runs through the hottest part of the afternoon while your panels are producing at their peak. A well-insulated home holds that temperature for hours, meaning you can often get away with a shorter, cheaper top-up in the evening rather than fighting to bring the whole house down from a heat-soaked start.

The same logic applies in reverse for winter. Reverse cycle systems are at their most efficient when they’re not working against extreme temperature differences, so a scheduled pre-heat while the sun’s out means less strain on the system later.

Zoning makes solar timing far more effective

This is where a ducted system with zoning really earns its keep. Rather than conditioning the whole home during the day when only certain rooms are in use, a controller like the AirTouch 5 lets you direct solar-powered cooling or heating to living areas during the day and switch the focus to bedrooms in the evening. It means you’re not wasting solar generation cooling empty rooms, and you’re not paying peak grid rates to cool the whole house overnight either.

Scheduling is your best friend

Most modern ducted and split systems come with app control or programmable timers, and this is genuinely one of the most underused features we see in homes we visit. Setting your air conditioning to align with your solar generation window, rather than manually turning it on and off, takes the guesswork out of the equation completely. If your system doesn’t currently offer this kind of scheduling, it may be worth speaking to your Ford & Doonan Design Consultant about a controller upgrade.

Getting the balance right

Solar and air conditioning are a natural pairing, but getting the most out of that pairing comes down to having the right system, the right zoning, and the right scheduling in place. If you’re not sure whether your current setup is making the most of your panels, or you’re weighing up a new system alongside a solar installation, our team can help you find the right balance for your home and your energy bills.

Get in touch with Ford & Doonan today via our handy store locator for a site inspection and a chat about how to get your air conditioning and solar working together.