3 ms·

How many tons is your AC? I’m also on the gulf coast and struggling to size a generator for my 5-ton compressor.

• bob1029 4y ago
  4 tons. 5 tons would definitely be pushing it on LRA/running amps for this size generator. But, this ultimately depends on the age & vendor of the compressor. Newer multi-stage or inverter compressor designs are much more likely to play well.
  • dijonman2 4y ago
    The opposite is often true with inverter driven compressors. It’s VFD powered which introduces harmonics and other noise from SWPS. In the data center industry you oversize your generators to deal with it. Plus dirty power from a struggling generator will kill the VFD. I just ran into this with my ECM condenser fan motor, circuit killed by generator.
    • bob1029 4y ago
      > The opposite is often true with inverter driven compressors. This is good to know. I had simply made an assumption - The inrush current is what I was primarily concerned with. I did not realize the other factors would cause trouble once it was ramped up to full speed. I can definitely see how dirty power from a cheap genset (like the one I have) could screw over a digital drive system.