"Toller" writes:

The shop vac has a universal motor, one with brushes and a wound armature,
like in a power saw. The refrigerator uses a different type motor, it may
not start even if the shop vac does. Why not just try it?

Because I drained the carburator already. But if it draws 16a and the
fridge only draws 13a, it ought to be okay. True, the power factors could
be completely different, and that might change things.

What matters is how the different appliances react to low voltage.

The shop vac has a universal motor, which will draw less current on
lower voltage and run slower. It's driving a fan, which is almost zero
load at startup from zero speed. So if the generator's voltage droops
under load, the shop vac will just take a while longer to get up to
speed.

The refrigerator uses an induction motor, which draws more current when
voltage drops. It's probably driving a piston pump, which should be
easy to start if the fridge has been off for a while and pressures have
equalized, but not as easy as a fan. So you may find that drooping
voltage under overload means the refrigerator won't start at all, and
either the motor or the generator will eventually trip on overload.

Dave