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Using portable AC units during long power outages (Laura experiences?)
Posted on 3/2/21 at 9:38 am
Posted on 3/2/21 at 9:38 am
I’m curious on how well portable AC units keep rooms cool during longs power outages like after Hurricane Laura.
I’m getting an interlock kit and pricing out portable generators. Running portable ACs would allow me to get a smaller generator vs trying to run my 2.5 ton central AC.
Anyone have experience with these?
I’m getting an interlock kit and pricing out portable generators. Running portable ACs would allow me to get a smaller generator vs trying to run my 2.5 ton central AC.
Anyone have experience with these?
6
Posted on 3/2/21 at 9:51 am to ABucks11
Using portable AC units during long power outages (Laura experiences?)
I have two 5000 btu units - one for the MBR and another for Family room.
They are powered via extension cords to 5000 w generator.
The one in the MBR will freeze you out. The other will keep us comfortable, but not as cool. It will keep the humidity down though.
I have two 5000 btu units - one for the MBR and another for Family room.
They are powered via extension cords to 5000 w generator.
The one in the MBR will freeze you out. The other will keep us comfortable, but not as cool. It will keep the humidity down though.
Posted on 3/2/21 at 4:01 pm to DoctorO
quote:
I have two 5000 btu units - one for the MBR and another for Family room.
They are powered via extension cords to 5000 w generator.
The one in the MBR will freeze you out. The other will keep us comfortable, but not as cool. It will keep the humidity down though.
I have the same set up. Works fine for temporary power outage after a hurricane. I also run two floor fans, a refrigerator/freezer, bedroom lamps, and shop lights in the bathrooms - all with extension cords. Added a natural gas conversion kit to the carburator on the generator. Runs great. Much cheaper and easier than gasoline.
This post was edited on 3/2/21 at 4:05 pm
Posted on 3/2/21 at 5:19 pm to ABucks11
What would be the difference in cost, because you are going to have to buy and store a couple AC units....but they have cooled La homes for a long time.
Posted on 3/2/21 at 5:29 pm to tigerfoot
Window units are the best bang for the buck if that’s an option. Portables suck if you are trying to keep things normal, but if you move into more of a survival/ hurricane recovery mode with the kids sleeping on the floor and what not then yes they are certainly an option.
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.
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 3/2/21 at 9:20 pm to ruger35
quote:
will run 24-36 hours on a 100lb propane tank.
Propane’s still close to $3 a gallon, no?
Posted on 3/2/21 at 10:19 pm to ABucks11
I threw a window unit in each the master bedroom and the kitchen sink window post-Laura. When I started losing daylight, I’d crank the generator and run both units with master bedroom door closed. By the time things went completely dark, kitchen was comfortable enough for my whore shower, etc. Topped off the tank one last time before bed and ran master window unit only all night with box fans, mostly for noise. Bedroom was nice and cool, freezing by morning when generator was out of gas - my wakeup call if sleeping past dawn.
Window units are great as long as you isolate into small areas (a bedroom), but you’d need several to get an entire home to comfortable temperatures during the day.
Portable units suck arse.
Window units are great as long as you isolate into small areas (a bedroom), but you’d need several to get an entire home to comfortable temperatures during the day.
Portable units suck arse.
Posted on 3/2/21 at 10:25 pm to AmosMosesAndTwins
quote:
kitchen was comfortable enough for my whore shower
Posted on 3/3/21 at 1:35 am to USEyourCURDS
quote:
Propane’s still close to $3 a gallon, no?
It is as far as I know, but that's a close enough price for me to gas to not have to fill the generator up multiple times a day makes it worth it. Not having to store gas, letting it run for the wife and kids while I'm at work. No gummed up carburetors has me intrigued. I am weighing that vs a standby generator.
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?
Posted on 3/3/21 at 9:24 am to ABucks11
During one of our longer outages(Gustav maybe?)I moved a 110 unit from living room to bed room every day/night. I was lucky in that the living room windows were not on an outside wall. I think that helped. I would move the unit about an hour before bed, then back again as soon as I woke. Worked perfectly.
My little generator also kept fridge and outside freezer cold by me switching back and forth based upon usage. I would only plug in freezer at night since the generator would only be powering it and the A/C.
My little generator also kept fridge and outside freezer cold by me switching back and forth based upon usage. I would only plug in freezer at night since the generator would only be powering it and the A/C.
Posted on 3/3/21 at 9:30 am to ABucks11
I did that last spring in anticipation of hurricane season. Bought a 10,000 starting watts/8,000 running watts Generac from Home Depot and got the interlock kit installed on my outside panel. I can run everything in my home except the central air, just not all at the same time. My plan is to use most lights, one or two small window units to keep the house temp manageable, the fridge/freezer, alarm system, and camera system all the time but turn off everything for a couple hours to use the water heater before showers, then turn off the water heater to turn the others back on after the water heats up. Got a portable electric burner to cook with instead of the stove/oven since that uses more electricity (I think).
All in all, I spent roughly $1,700 total. $1000 for the generator and about $700 for the interlock kit and installation.
All in all, I spent roughly $1,700 total. $1000 for the generator and about $700 for the interlock kit and installation.
Posted on 3/3/21 at 9:33 am to fwtex
quote:
Would the smaller unit power your central AC if you turned off all other non essentials at the panel box?
An 8,000 running watts might be enough to power a central unit if that's all you have running on it but the problem would come with the surge in usage when it turns on. The starting watts would need to be considerably higher in my opinion (maybe 14,000-15,000 or higher) to safely run it without damaging the generator. I'm not an electrician but I'm going off of what my electrician told me about using mine to run the central air. To be safe, I'll keep my central air circuit turned off and just rely on a couple small window units. They won't keep my home cool but they'll definitely keep it manageable.
Posted on 3/3/21 at 9:35 am to AmosMosesAndTwins
quote:
comfortable enough for my whore shower
She can come shower with me and my hot water next power outage. She'll be more than comfortable.
Posted on 3/3/21 at 10:01 am to TDsngumbo
I had an electrician come out this week to quote me on the interlock kit, panel, etc. Still waiting on him to get back with me but he said he’s been doing large numbers of these since Zeta.
He looked at my AC unit and thinks I can run it with the Champion 11500/9200. He has the same setup as his house. I would run my stand up freezer and 2 refrigerators a few hours a day to keep them cold then turn those breakers off to run the AC.
He looked at my AC unit and thinks I can run it with the Champion 11500/9200. He has the same setup as his house. I would run my stand up freezer and 2 refrigerators a few hours a day to keep them cold then turn those breakers off to run the AC.
Posted on 3/3/21 at 10:55 am to GCTigahs
quote:
I had an electrician come out this week to quote me on the interlock kit, panel, etc
I have an electrician coming Friday. A different electrician over the phone told me don’t even try a portable generator for a central AC. He sells standby so I think he was trying to sell me on one. Curious what the quote will be.
I have natural gas drop at my patio that I plan to use for the generator and hope the electrician will tell me my exact wattage I need to run what I want.
Posted on 3/3/21 at 10:57 am to ruger35
quote:
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.
Dang just read into THD and risk to electronics. Maybe I will need a big portable regardless as I would need to run electronics for work.
Posted on 3/3/21 at 1:44 pm to ABucks11
quote:
I have natural gas drop at my patio that I plan to use for the generator and hope the electrician will tell me my exact wattage I need to run what I want.
Report back if you can. I am in the same situation and would be curious.
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