re: Using portable AC units during long power outages (Laura experiences?)

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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.

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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.