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I don't see how the generator fries things you didn't use. Not sure it could create a surge big enough to damage things that were not turned on. What is your procedure for switch to the generator? For example: 1. turn off breakers 1. plug generator into house 2. start generator 3. flip transfer switch 4. turn breakers on that you want to run What size is your AC? A 3-ton unit will draw around 15 amps running, but need 45 amps to get started. Your generator is rated for 39 amps at 240 volts starting. | |||
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| Member |
A ceiling fan likely has motor speed electronics that will be more sensitive to power noise than the motor alone. Fry the electronics and the fan won't turn. Nothing wrong with the motor, but its the electronics that send power to that motor. If the fan has a remote control, you can be sure there's more than a motor up there, and you can be sure those electronics are always on, waiting for a signal from the remote control. Lots of appliances these days have electronics that draw power even when they're "off" or not in use. Unless unplugged from the wall, they could be damaged by power problems.This message has been edited. Last edited by: markand, | |||
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Ammoholic |
Looks like we have an answer. You probably slammed that generator with a load it couldn't handle. Portable generator has no AVR and doesn't react to loads fast enough to account for the entire load of the house at once. Voltage and Hz drop when hit with a large load then spring back to overvoltage, then settles back to what it should produce. I would check your LRA ratings on A/C unit, I'm sure it exceeds your peak wattage of the generator. Then add the entire load of your house to that. Bad stuff. If you can safely run A/C you'd need to start it separately from and first. Procedure to start genny: Turn off all breakers in house. Turn on A/C and furnace breakers, start A/C (if it can even run off generator), then slowly add additional load after A/C has been confirmed running. Jesse Sic Semper Tyrannis | |||
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Member |
Yep. I didn’t see his second post but the only way the oven and fan could’ve been damaged was if the breakers for them were on. Luckily he didn’t have more breakers on and lose more equipment, I hope. ——————————————— The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Psalm 14:1 | |||
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Member |
Procedure was to turn off main and transfer switch. Start generator. Plug in generator. Turn on transfer switch. I did make sure everything in the house was off. All lights, fans, etc. But I did not unplug anything that draws power, nor trip any breakers at the indoor panel. Once the generator was running and the transfer switch was on, I went inside and turned on the A/C. I let it run for a few minutes and then shut everything down. The A/C is only a 2 or 2 1/2 ton unit, I will have to check. The house is only 1,300 sq ft, so it is not large. | |||
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| Ammoholic |
Next time turn off all breakers and turn on, one at a time and only what you intend on using. Check your A/C Nameplate. This will tell you LRA - approx startup draw and RLA or min wiring ampacity which will give you approx running draw. For 2.5 ton My guess is 80 and 20. Which multiplied by 240 gives us 4,800w running and 19,000 watts starting. ETA amp draw above is probably too high of a guess, check your actual unit. Also Jimmy is correct. Run A/C as he described. Turning all other loads off to turn A/C on.This message has been edited. Last edited by: Skins2881, Jesse Sic Semper Tyrannis | |||
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Also given how close your generator is in sizing. Once the a/c is running, make sure it stays running (without cycling) by setting the thermostat really low, then manually shut off the a/c, when turning the a/c back on, you'll have to shed/turn off all of the other loads and start a/c by itself and get it running for a minute before turning on other items. | |||
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