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re: Using portable AC units during long power outages (Laura experiences?)
Posted on 3/2/21 at 6:54 pm to tigerfoot
Posted on 3/2/21 at 6:54 pm to tigerfoot
quote:
What would be the difference in cost
A 5k-8k running watts vs going to a 12-15k watt portable is about $1,500-2k. If I don’t worry about a central AC, my load requirements almost go in half. Gives me a lot more options on generators. They don’t make many 12k+ portable. Another option is getting a slow start capacitor in the central AC to lower starting surge.
Using portable or windows ACs seem to give more flexibility.
2
Posted on 3/2/21 at 8:18 pm to ABucks11
I
I was thinking the same thing until I recently discoered soft starts from Micro-Air. They drop your in-rush amp requirements on your central air by 70-75%. A 10k portable would have no problem running a 3 ton central unit.
The only issue I am running into is finding one with a low enough THD% that doesn't make me step up to 12ks because those suck gas. I wish the Westinghouse 9500 dual fuel had a clean THD%. It will run 24-36 hours on a 100lb propane tank. Much easier than storing lots of gas.
quote:
A 5k-8k running watts vs going to a 12-15k watt portable is about $1,500-2k. If I don’t worry about a central AC, my load requirements almost go in half. Gives me a lot more options on generators. They don’t make many 12k+ portable. Another option is getting a slow start capacitor in the central AC to lower starting surge.
Using portable or windows ACs seem to give more flexibility.
I was thinking the same thing until I recently discoered soft starts from Micro-Air. They drop your in-rush amp requirements on your central air by 70-75%. A 10k portable would have no problem running a 3 ton central unit.
The only issue I am running into is finding one with a low enough THD% that doesn't make me step up to 12ks because those suck gas. I wish the Westinghouse 9500 dual fuel had a clean THD%. It will run 24-36 hours on a 100lb propane tank. Much easier than storing lots of gas.
Posted on 3/3/21 at 8:29 am to ABucks11
quote:
about $1,500-2k
I have been curious on this topic as well and have some thoughts and questions other may be able to provide input.
The additional cost seems to be a good deal for the number of years of service as well as the convenience and the savings of having to go buy, store, and maintain portable units for when they are needed.
Would the smaller unit power your central AC if you turned off all other non essentials at the panel box? If you are going to have limited power with the smaller unit using portable units then will it work if you rotate the use of the large power draws for when the are most needed?
If I were building a house would it be economical to design a house that would have a subpanel that would run bare essentials and have that subpanel connected to a generator?
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