Harbor Freight 800 watt generator powering a 5000 BTU Air Conditioner

[scoobydog411]

Thanks for the video  . I wanted to know if that would work. Gary

[gws1977]

@scoobydog411 No problem! I was shocked that it worked! Good Luck

[luther349]

these generator are really 1000,1200 watt generator but they label them as 800. just depends on the name the importer slaps on them.. they are also a very simple desine and take more abuse then there more complex 4 stroke counterpart, but do not use them on sensitive stuff like a pc or even a newer tv.

[defendant420]

Have you attempted to run the setup for a long period of time? I ask because when I lose electric we are in the dark for 12 hours sometimes.I'm wondering how much gas she uses also, Thanks for the vid, I thumb up'd it

[gws1977]

@ITCHYweinerDOG THANKS!!! I AM GLAD IT WORKED OUT!!!

[JoelThedude4u]

It works because it may take like 1500 watts to start it, but only less than 1 sec, then it uses like 515 watt to run. If you have it pre-loaded ( other stuff on it) and then put this A/C on it, it may fry it. also, it doesnt turn off because the controls inside of it are somewhat crappy, if it was digitally controlled it would trip quick.

NO! donot leave it in the rain, the engine will be fine but it will rot in time. the generator will desintegrate and wear out internally, and short!!

[hp11208]

It can run up too 1000 watt max but they dont put that on the specs cause they dont want customer to overload it,i have one myself.

[MSGDREWRY]

ebay item 170679058836

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hope this helps someone that is looking to buy one

[mattt6511]

nice video man looks great, i have a question can you leave them outside while its raining?? i was going to use one on my sailboat with a portable ac system but i wasnt sure if i can leave it running if its raining

[gws1977]

@mattt6511 I'm not positive about using it in the rain, but most small engines are somewhat rain resistant.

[NBAGOATS]

@gws1977 NO. You cannot leave any electrical devices/machines out in the rain. GENERATORS generate ELECTRICITY. 

[hp11208]

@mattt6511 no rain

[HappyEndingsRescue]

I checked the specs on my 5000 BTU window air conditioner and it says on the side that it takes 515 Watts to run it. So Technically you could run it on this little generator and maybe even your laptop or TV. You never know what you could run on one of these little generators until you try. Plus their alot cheaper to run on than a 3500 watt generator. Good Video.

[gws1977]

@HappyEndingsRescue This little generator has really impressed me. Thanks for the comment.

[kens97sto171]

@HappyEndingsRescue

DO NOT try and run sensitive electronics with these or for that matter most generators. Unless it says its an inverter type. The voltage control is only from the engine RPM.. not well regulated. You can fry your stuff. You could take a nice heavy battery charger power it from the generator, put it to a car battery and then hook an inverter to the battery and run things that way. These are good cheap generators from what I have seen. Engine is built like a tank.

[NBAGOATS]

@kens97sto171 Sure you can run electronics on these. Its a brushless generator, this means it puts out relatively clean power compared to most other generators. I use an AVR plus a surge protector for my desktop and laptop. We have plenty Brownouts down here in the VI and these little Gens keep my home office up and running just fine. Been using it for about 1.5 years now. I work 4-5 hours a day. The longest i've used the units was for 4 days @ 4 hrs per day. One 4 days straight fridge.

[kens97sto171]

@NBAGOATS

Thanks for the info. I had heard differently when I posted my comment, then later saw someone else say you could run electronics. That the RPM changing would effect Voltage not the 60Htz

What is an AVR? .. Automatic voltage regulator? I am guessing. Good to hear yours has been reliable. I had heard good things about these being pretty bulletproof. Thanks again.

[NBAGOATS]

@kens97sto171 AVR is automatic voltage regulator, which is readily availble in the VI since our voltage is considered unregulated by most standards. We run 220 voltage here. The newer models of this class does not affect the Hz, Not sure about the older ones. But there are advertisements here on youtube advertising the running of laptops and other "electronics" while camping. I don't think they would advertise that if they weren't sure. But mine has worked out great.

[3beltwesty]

With a New/2010 LG 6500 BTUH AC; the unit will about never start. With an old/1997 Whirlpool 5200BTUH unit; it started most of the time. With the 2006 Maytag and GE 5400 BTUH units; the AC's started about 1/3 to 1/2 the time.

If one gooses the rpm higher the chance of the AC starting are higher.

My tests are *all* with a short/25 foot 12 awg extension cord on a hot 85F day.

A bigger generator would give one some margin.

[3beltwesty]

If one has the ONLY load as the AC unit; the locked rotor start current is about 20 to 25 amps. What happens is the AC might start then if it cycles then it might not start; or may start.

The surge current is to where the whole thing is marginal. If is starts, one is fine as long as the AC does not cycle. If the AC is off for 5 minutes one rolls the dice again.

The inrush starting current is about 4 to 5 times the run current with a small AC unit

[3beltwesty]

Here I have the similar made in China 2 cycle generator from Homier Tools "1250W generator" that is really about 800 to 900W steady and 1250 w peak. Homier is mail order and those circus tent tool sale guys. Homier has a 12 volt DC output too.

As far as starting a small 5000 to 6000 BTUH AC unit, my tests have be mixed. I have several new units from 2006 in the 5200 to 5500 BTUH range; that have EER's of about 9.7 and draw about 5.5 amps.

[loansharky]

Have you tested to see if the genny will run the ac for a couple hours? Also if you spin the blade on your shop fan by hand, it may reduce the starting current required to run the fan...

[gws1977]

@loansharky I have not tested it for a couple of hours, but I think that it will work. I will try it out when it gets a little warmer.

[MRSPANKY405]

COOL VIDEO CAN'T BEAT THE PRICE EITHER. THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT LITTLE TINY GENERATOR CAN RUN A WINDOW AIR. I AM THINKING ABOUT BUYING TWO OF THEM....

[gws1977]

@MRSPANKY405 I have been very happy with my little generator, and at $80 you cant go wrong!

[kuernodechivo]

Mine wouldn't hack it... I am jealous. Also for a round 10 bucks harbor-freight as a nice little meter almost like the Kill-A-Watt to monitor voltage and wattage.

Nice vid! Good Job. Plus there is a breaker on the Gennie I believe (if it's like mine) so if it was having too hard of a time I would imagine it would pop that first.

[gws1977]

@kuernodechivo it does have a breaker on it. I was really surprised that it powered the window unit because it did not have enough power to run a large shop fan w/ a 1/2 hp motor. You may try yours on a window unit, I believe that a 5000 btu a/c has a smaller motor than a swamp cooler. Thanks for commenting.

[ncrdisabled]

You need a volt meter a cheap one a harbor frieght 10 bucks or less set the range to 200 vols or higher then carefully stick the probes into the 2 long slots on the cord while the ac is plugged in it will be a tight fit I would put the meter in with the gen off then turn it on see what the meter says while the ac is on . For frequency same thing but the meter has to measure frequency and some cheaper meters do not have that feature.

[ncrdisabled]

Is that a 2 cycle engine or 4 cycle? I would check the voltage and frequency while its plugged to the AC . That way you will know if it will or wont burn the AC motor out.

[gws1977]

@ncrdisabled  It is a 2 stroke, the ac is rated at 560 watts but i didn't think the generator would have enough to start the electric motor. How do I check the voltage?