what size generator?
 

Most 6KW gens won't surge to 10KW and even if they did there's something everyone is forgetting he After the A/C is started a 3.5 ton unit will require about 4-5KW to run. Then you'll add a few other loads, say another 2-3 KW so now your gen is loaded up to about 7KW. Now you A/C cycles off but you still have 2-3KW load on it. Now a bit later the A/C decides it wants to cycle back on.....guess what...if it took a 10KW surge to start it the first time it's going to take ballpark 10KW again to start it but since you have a 10KW gen that's already loaded to 2-3KW you only have a surge capability of about 7.5KW....and the A/C probably won't start. You can do it but you'll have to manage loads and shed some load before the A/C comes on meaning when the A/C goes off you raise the temp on the thermostat so it can't come back on again until you first shed loads and then turn the temp down.....

Bottom line: an 8KW gen regardless of surge capability is WAY TOO SMALL to power a 3.5 ton unit. In fact if the running power for the compressor is about 4.2KW the locked rotor power needed is about 20KW but with voltage and amp "dips" it lower but you still need about 13KW to start it and I know of no 8 KW gen that surges to 13-14 KW and even if they do you're at the point that you can't add any additional load and still expect the A/C to restart without shedding all other loads. So...you haven't thought this through all the way....

--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...or-553539-.htm

what size generator?
 

On Tue, 2 Feb 2021 22:15:03 +0000, jose
wrote:

Most 6KW gens won't surge to 10KW and even if they did there's something everyone is forgetting he After the A/C is started a 3.5 ton unit will require about 4-5KW to run. Then you'll add a few other loads, say another 2-3 KW so now your gen is loaded up to about 7KW. Now you A/C cycles off but you still have 2-3KW load on it. Now a bit later the A/C decides it wants to cycle back on.....guess what...if it took a 10KW surge to start it the first time it's going to take ballpark 10KW again to start it but since you have a 10KW gen that's already loaded to 2-3KW you only have a surge capability of about 7.5KW....and the A/C probably won't start. You can do it but you'll have to manage loads and shed some load before the A/C comes on meaning when the A/C goes off you raise the temp on the thermostat so it can't come back on again until you first shed loads and then turn the temp down.....

Bottom line: an 8KW gen regardless of surge capability is WAY TOO SMALL to power a 3.5 ton unit. In fact if the running power for the compressor is about 4.2KW the locked rotor power needed is about 20KW but with voltage and amp "dips" it lower but you still need about 13KW to start it and I know of no 8 KW gen that surges to 13-14 KW and even if they do you're at the point that you can't add any additional load and still expect the A/C to restart without shedding all other loads. So...you haven't thought this through all the way....

My 5.5KW won't even bump the rotor on my 3.5T system with nothing else
on.