Which generator for A/C?

Anything electric, AC or DC

Which generator for A/C?

Postby RescuedBy4Paws » Sun Apr 02, 2017 7:44 am

I was wondering which generators y'all use for your A/C and other electrical. I have a 5000 btu Haier which says it takes 445 watts, 3.9 amps and ceer rating is 11.0. So far I only plan to run ac and battery tender. Will a 1600 running watt / 2000 starting watt do it? Is the inverter type best? Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
RescuedBy4Paws
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2017 5:48 pm

Re: Which generator for A/C?

Postby Bill n Robi » Sun Apr 02, 2017 9:24 am

Based on the generator sizing chart that I used for my 5000 btu ac unit, 2000w would work but it ran at 80% so I went with an inverter Yamaha 2400w - EF24iSHX. It came converted to tri-fuel so it will run on propane or gasoline. I don't like to carry gas so this was my best choice.
2015 T@G Max
2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4 Door Short Bed
User avatar
Bill n Robi
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 390
Images: 4
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 4:32 pm
Location: Big Pine, Ca

Re: Which generator for A/C?

Postby working on it » Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:24 pm

  • I have a LG LW5012J A/C, 5000 btu, and I use a Craftsman 2500W generator. It has not had any problem starting the A/C, which has a probable LRA of 1530 watts(based on examples I have read of similar starting draws). I never looked on the A/C data tag (I don't recall seeing one, but I will look tomorrow for it) which should state the LRA (starting power draw) on it. I've only used my generator three times in testing the startup, but as it has sat untended for 18 months, I need to run it again, so another full test is in order.The electrical specs:
  • LG LW5012J Air Conditioner Specs.PNG
    LG LW5012J Air Conditioner Specs.PNG (16.09 KiB) Viewed 1645 times
  • Interpolating the known power draw of my A/C against those on this chart:
  • generator sizing.PNG
    generator sizing.PNG (135.26 KiB) Viewed 1645 times
    shows that 1500 watts on startup is about right.
  • As my generator is over twenty years old, and has thousands of running hours on it (it was used for years to charge drag-car batteries, between rounds), I have no idea what it is currently (double-entendre) putting out. If It is no longer able to start the A/C up, I might add a hard-start capacitor to the generator, to boost the surge.
  • hard start capacitor.PNG
    hard start capacitor.PNG (121.02 KiB) Viewed 1645 times
2013 HHRv "squareback/squaredrop", rugged, 4x8 TTT, 2225 lbs
  • *3500 lb Dexter EZ-Lube braked axle, 3000 lb.springs, active-progressive bumpstop suspension
  • *27 x 8.5-14LT AT tires (x 3) *Weight Distribution system for single-beam tongue
  • *100% LED's & GFCI outlets, 3x fans, AM/FM/CD/Aux. *A/C & heat, Optima AGM, inverter & charger(s)
  • *extended-run, on-board, 2500w generator *Coleman dual-fuel stove & lantern, Ikea grill, vintage skillet
  • *zinc/stainless front & side racks *98"L x 6" diameter rod & reel carrier tube on roof
173193172890148599
User avatar
working on it
2000 Club
2000 Club
 
Posts: 2170
Images: 457
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:05 pm
Location: DFW Texas
Top

Re: Which generator for A/C?

Postby working on it » Mon Apr 03, 2017 2:12 pm

working on it wrote:
  • I have a LG LW5012J A/C, 5000 btu, and I use a Craftsman 2500W generator. It has not had any problem starting the A/C, which has a probable LRA of 1530 watts(based on examples I have read of similar starting draws). I never looked on the A/C data tag (I don't recall seeing one, but I will look tomorrow for it) which should state the LRA (starting power draw) on it....
  • I looked at the tag, but the amp draw nor the peak draw (LRA) were listed, just the amps and watts during normal running conditions. As I stated before, the peak draw can be surmised from averages listed in amp & wattage charts for generators.
  • I copied a tag from a central air unit as an example of the rating system, and a wattage draw chart, modified to include the normal range of 5000 btu A/C units.
  • rated amp draw definitions & sample data tags.png
    rated amp draw definitions & sample data tags.png (343.72 KiB) Viewed 1611 times
  • To be on the safe side, of not having enough generator capacity to start the A/C from an LRA condition, I chose (actually I traded for -with a more powerful 6000 watt generator, too large to install inside my trailer- a 2500 watt peak model), that I knew would be able to surpass the A/C unit's startup requirements. Like they say, when in doubt, go big (or in my case, about 60% overcapacity).
2013 HHRv "squareback/squaredrop", rugged, 4x8 TTT, 2225 lbs
  • *3500 lb Dexter EZ-Lube braked axle, 3000 lb.springs, active-progressive bumpstop suspension
  • *27 x 8.5-14LT AT tires (x 3) *Weight Distribution system for single-beam tongue
  • *100% LED's & GFCI outlets, 3x fans, AM/FM/CD/Aux. *A/C & heat, Optima AGM, inverter & charger(s)
  • *extended-run, on-board, 2500w generator *Coleman dual-fuel stove & lantern, Ikea grill, vintage skillet
  • *zinc/stainless front & side racks *98"L x 6" diameter rod & reel carrier tube on roof
173193172890148599
User avatar
working on it
2000 Club
2000 Club
 
Posts: 2170
Images: 457
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:05 pm
Location: DFW Texas
Top

Re: Which generator for A/C?

Postby Socal Tom » Mon Apr 03, 2017 8:20 pm

My Frigidaire 5K unit works fine on my Honda EU1000. It appears to draw about 700 watts when the compressor starts.
Tom
Socal Tom
Donating Member
 
Posts: 1347
Images: 12
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:21 am
Location: San Diego Ca
Top

Re: Which generator for A/C?

Postby noseoil » Tue Apr 04, 2017 8:42 am

Got one from Costco, the 2000 watt inverter type with a "Yamaha" motor they had a few years ago (Chinese clone of a Yamaha product perhaps?). It's plenty for what we need. Will run the AC (5K BTU) & anything else we use, so it's plenty. A 1000 watt model would have worked just as well, but this was a sale price, so I grabbed it when they had it in stock. Expect to pay between $500 & $1,000 for a brand "X" or Honda (the gold standard).
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

137905
User avatar
noseoil
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1820
Images: 669
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:46 am
Location: Raton, New Mexico, living the good life!
Top

Re: Which generator for A/C?

Postby Socal Tom » Tue Apr 04, 2017 9:33 am

noseoil wrote:Got one from Costco, the 2000 watt inverter type with a "Yamaha" motor they had a few years ago (Chinese clone of a Yamaha product perhaps?). It's plenty for what we need. Will run the AC (5K BTU) & anything else we use, so it's plenty. A 1000 watt model would have worked just as well, but this was a sale price, so I grabbed it when they had it in stock. Expect to pay between $500 & $1,000 for a brand "X" or Honda (the gold standard).

I got my 1K from my parents, they upgraded to a 2K. They are almost as quiet, and can also run their electric coffee maker. Much more flexibility with the 2K unit.
Tom
Socal Tom
Donating Member
 
Posts: 1347
Images: 12
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:21 am
Location: San Diego Ca
Top


Return to Electrical Secrets

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests