Portable generators are indeed a good solution to run your Central Air Conditioner in an emergency like during a blackout. Blackout is common during the hurricane and ice storm season in many regions.
However, most of us love to use a portable generator rather than a permanent generator. The portable generator is comparatively less expensive than the stationary generator. Moreover, you can use a portable generator for different purposes.
Most people believe that a portable generator is only for small appliances. The belief is partially true. Actually, it depends on the power of the generator.
In this article, I have elaborately discussed the portable generator and the central AC. Keep reading.
Can You Run Your Central Air With The Portable Generator?
Yes, you can run your central air with a portable generator. But you need at least 10% more generator wattage than your central air wattage. You will get different sizes of portable generators like up to 15KW portable generators in the market. You can run almost all types of central AC with a portable generator.
Let me clear, please. Say you have a central air conditioner that comes with 6000 watts starting watt. So, you need a portable generator that comes with at least 6500 watts. Yes, your central air will not consume all the power while running. You can run your other appliances then.
How Many Watts Does A Central Air Conditioner Use?
A central air conditioner uses at least 2000-watt power. The range of the central AC is usually 2000 watts to 10000 watts. To run a central air conditioner, you should have a clear idea of the starting and running wattage of your central air.
Actually, it is tough to answer this question accurately. Every appliance comes with a user manual. You will find the starting watt and running watt of your central air conditioner on the manual. Before buying a generator, don’t forget to calculate all the overall watts of all the home appliances.
Here is a general power estimation for different types of AC
| Central Air Conditioner | 3500 Watts |
| Central AC (with Compressor Off & Fan-Only) | 750 Watts |
| Smallest Window AC Units | 500 Watts |
| Medium Window AC Units | 900 Watts |
| High Window AC Units | 1440 Watts |
Related: Best generator for Air Conditioner
How Big Of Generator To Run Central Air?
As I mentioned earlier, you should have a portable generator with at least 1o% more power supply than your central air. If you want to use your portable generator to run heavy appliances of your house, you should go for the high voltage portable generator.
Because, you may need to run your furnace, well pump, washing machine, or something like heavy home appliances during the power outage. So, it is good to go for a powerful portable generator. Read this article to understand the sizing of the generator to run the AIr condition.
Which Portable Generators Are Good Enough To Power Air Conditioner?
Here, I have mentioned some of the best generators for central AC. With these generators, you can run your central air conditioner easily. I select the top products in different watt segments.
Let’s have a look.
Comparison Table for the Best Portable Generators to Power Central AC.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best 15000-watt  | DuroMax XP15000E Portable Generator |
| Check Price on Amazon |
Best 9500-watt  | Westinghouse WGen7500 Portable Generator |
| Check Price on Amazon |
Best 8500-watt  | DuroMax XP8500E Gas Powered Portable Generator |
| Check Price on Amazon |
Best 7500-watt  | Champion Power Equipment 100165 |
| Check Price on Amazon |
Best 3500-watt  | Generac GP3500iO Inverter Generator |
| Check Price on Amazon |
DuroMax XP15000E Portable Generator, Blue/Black
- 15000-watt peak watt
- 1200 watt running watt
- 23HP and 713cc DuroMax V-Twin Engine
- Automatically shut down when the fuel gets low
- 50-amp outlet
- 10.5-gallon fuel tank
- Wheel kit for easy movement
No matter what size of central air conditioner you run in your home. This monster can power everything in your home. This is a 15000 watts portable generator. It comes with a wheel for easy movement but the weight of this giant DuroMax is 340 pounds. That is incredible.
This portable generator is nothing less than a permanent generator. you could run almost all the appliances of your house during the hurricane or ice storm season. Really a good one for perfect preparedness.
Westinghouse WGen7500 Portable Generator with Remote Electric Start
- 9500-watt surge/peak watt
- 7500-watt running watt
- 11 hours running time
- 6.6-gallon fuel tank
- Outlets are safe from water and moisture
- 72 dBA noise level
- CARB Compliant
- Transfer Switch ready
- 3 years of limited service warranty and lifetime technical support
A 9500-watt generator is fine for a small family indeed. it can run not only the central air but also the other home appliances like the heater, sump pump, washing machine, and other appliances.
Anyway, though the title shows that it is a 7500-watt portable generator, actually it comes with 9500 watts starting watt and 7500 watts running watt. That means you could run the central air along with other appliances smoothly.
DuroMax XP8500E Gas Powered Portable Generator, Blue and Black
- 8500 peak watt
- 7000 running watt
- 16 Hp engine
- 72 dB noise level
- 7.9-gallon gasoline tank
- Both run in 120 volts and 240 volt
- 210 lbs Weight
If you are living in a tiny home with your small family, an 8000-watt generator is good enough for you. this DuroMax XP8500E is a gas-powered portable generator. it comes with a 16 Hp engine.
This DuroMax portable generator comes with 8500-watt peak watt and 7000-watt running watt. So, this is good enough indeed for a tiny house. you can not only run the central air but also run all other home appliances smoothly.
Champion Power Equipment 100165 9375/7500-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator with Electric Start
- 9375 starting watt and 7500 running watt in gasoline
- 8400 peak watts and 6750 running watts on propane
- Electric start
- Auto shut down sensor due to low fuel supply
- 3-year limited warranty with lifetime technical support
- Portable and easy to move
A dual fuel generator is a great invention for people who are living in an off-grid farmhouse or a rural area. You can run this champion dual fuel generator with gasoline and propane. That is incredible indeed.
This is an a7500 watt portable generator. It has an electric start including battery functionality. So, it is insanely easy to handle. Personally, I like the dual fuel generator because you don’t know when your gasoline or fuel will stock out.
Generac GP3500iO Open Frame RV Ready Inverter Generator – 3500 Starting Watts
- 3500 starting watt
- 3000 running watt
- 50% quieter than a normal generator
- RV ready portable generator
- USB outlet
- Parallel connecting features
- Affordable
- 73.3 pounds of weight
Living in an RV or Tiny home is really fun. Most people love to spend their weekends in an isolated tiny home. So, you need the quietest generator for running all the appliances including the central Ac.
Generac GP3500iO could be a good choice since it is one of the quietest and RV-ready open-frame generators. it could run a central air conditioner up to 15000 BTU. Moreover, you could connect 2 generators parallel to double the power.
Can A Portable Generator Run A Window Ac Unit?
Yes, even you could run the window Ac unit by a 2000-watt portable generator. they need 500 to 3000 running watts. Even, you can run the smallest window AC with the small inverter generator.
Window AC units are smaller than the central air conditioner. Since you could run the central AC with the portable generator, you could run them smoothly.
The equation is the same. You must ensure the running watt and starting watt of your window ac. Then select the right [portable generator.
If you have a comparatively larger generator to run the refrigerator or central AC, you could run all the window AC with the portable generator.
Will 6500 Watt Generator Run Central Air?
Yes, you could run the central air conditioner which comes with less than 6500 starting watts with the 6500-watt generator. Usually, you could run the central air along with the other small appliances of your home with a 6500-watt generator.
Yes, like always you should check the starting watt of your central air. Otherwise, you will regret it.
Will A 10,000 Watt Generator Run Central Air?
you can not only run the central air but also run almost all your home appliances like refrigerator, heater, and others with a 10000-watt generator. a 10000-watt generator is too powerful to run all the appliances smoothly. Yes, I am telling the portable 10000-watt generator.
Final Thoughts
These days portable generators are very powerful indeed. Even you can run your whole house with a portable generator. I hope you have understood everything about your portable generator and central air conditioner.
It is super easy to run your central ac along with other home appliances. so, why will suffer from the blackout? Take a generator according to your need and lead a happy life!
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