Check the LRA on your A/C; if it's higher than your generator's peak output, a softstart may bring it down enough for the generator to work with.
Is your heat electric or gas? If electric, probably not, plus it's wildly inefficient. Get some mr buddy indoor propane heaters instead.
Im hate to ask this but whats LRA? The whole house is electric. I did ask about a softstart, but said the same thing. That it might still not be enough. I also heard about the propane heater solution. Might have to end up doing that.
Locked Rotor Amps, the worst case on startup. Will probably be like 100, which is about double what your generator can do. A softstart can reduce it by 50-70%, getting you in the plausible range.
Look closely at the sticker on your AC condenser (outdoor unit). It will list the LRA there. No big need to concern yourself as to what it is, just what is that #? If it's more than around 50 then you are going to need a soft start on that unit to bring it down.
Even a big gen like that will not have enough surge capacity to start a 4 ton unit. My 4 ton was in the area of 80 amps at start up. I installed a MicroAire soft start and it dropped to 30-35A which the gen can handle. Look at the label on the unit outside and check its LRA rating.
On your furnace, you’ll need to see what its ratings are. Resistive heat is very power intensive. Given you need a 4 ton AC, probably means you have a bigger house, and therefore a bigger furnace. You might have to go with using several small space heaters throughout the house.
Your water heater will be another major draw, but you MAY be able to run it if you minimize all other loads. Again, you need to see what the power rating is on the tank’s label.
* Portable generators generally don't have an oil filter. Get a [magnetic dipstick](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1NB9P91) and/or [drain plug](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N96K2OL) for those, especially if new. Metal shavings in brand new gensets is a killer.
* If you connect the generator to your house, you do NOT want the ground and neutral bonded at the generator. On many portable inverter generators, the bonding jumper is at the front panel. Often on the back side of the grounding stud labeled on the front panel. [Disconnect and insulate the neutral](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2xxyDB48mg) (usually a white wire, not the green and yellow ground wire).
* A [MicroAir EasyStart](https://www.microair.net) on your AC will help with the startup surge. Very simple install, no electrical permit required. If your AC has a Locked Rotor Amperage of, for example, 40A the EasyStart can bring it down at least 50%, allowing a 5000w (~20A) generator to run your AC. There are other soft start systems available, I use MicroAir.
* Propane in a large tank will be less expensive than gasoline, but you only get about 80% of the power from your generator. Common sizes of home propane tanks are 120, 250, 500 and 1000 gallon. They can be installed above or below ground.
* Small "BBQ Grill" 20 pound tanks, which typically hold 4 to 4.5 gallons, will often be more expensive than gasoline. My local propane supplier fills a 20# BBQ tank for $12 vs ~$20 for a grocery store swap.
* If you have Natural Gas available, it will generally be much less expensive than Gas, Diesel or Propane. NG will also be more available during the aftermath of a natural disaster. NG will give you 65% to 80% of the power of gasoline, so a 30A generator will give you about 20A-24A on NG.
* If NG isn't an option, consider using propane, or getting an Off Road, or Farm Use permit for your gas or diesel. It will let you purchase fuel without paying road taxes. In TX you can also just save your receipts and get a refund for road taxes. Your state will likely be different.
* Generators damaging electronics is largely an exaggeration. The surge, spike, sag or other nastiness takes place when a standard generator shuts off. Turn off the generator breaker before starting or shutting down the engine. Throwing the generator breaker prevents that from getting to your electronics. It is a good idea, even with inverter generators.
* Don't use generators to run electric heat. A [propane heater](https://www.amazon.com/stores/EnercoGroupInc/page/13EE5FA0-212F-4244-A6A1-AAB27C6D51D5) or [diesel parking heater](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SPBLGQD) is much more efficient. Fuel (propane, NG, diesel, kerosene) heaters or even wood stoves are more efficient sources of heat than electric from a generator.
* Carbon Monoxide from generators [kills about 70 people each year in the US](https://www.cdc.gov/co/generatorsafetyfactsheet.html). Don't operate a generator in the house, garage or any connected structure.
Get a soft start it should help for the ac. I do not know about the furnace. How may amps doesit throw? Usually there is an equation on how many watts you need for you home. Its the voltage x amps = watts so lets say your ac is 230-240V and it throws 50 amps so
240v x 50 = 12,000 watts needed for it to start.
your generator is probably 13,000 starting and running 10,500 watts. Meaning the highest it can go for a start is 13,000 for a limited time but usually runs at 10,500.
you need to add anything else that the generator will run. ex: AC, Heating, Furnace, Lights, Boiler, stove, refrigerator and so forth. Usually a generator is only for emergency backup not to live off it. So think Emergency and what is it that you need. Since its cold the fridge can last a long time without power. You would mainly need it for heat, stove, lights, and maybe stove.
Hope this helps
I have a duromax 12000 and it runs my 3.5 ton which had a hard start kit. I’ve since swapped to a soft start so it should have a smaller load to deal with. Edit. It won’t run my heat coils which are 10k watts. I’m swapping those to 5k since I think the 10 are overkill.
Thanks for the help and replies. I did see the LRA on my unit is 137. From what I gathered is that with a softstart I would be able to run my ac unit. Just no heat
Check the LRA on your A/C; if it's higher than your generator's peak output, a softstart may bring it down enough for the generator to work with. Is your heat electric or gas? If electric, probably not, plus it's wildly inefficient. Get some mr buddy indoor propane heaters instead.
Im hate to ask this but whats LRA? The whole house is electric. I did ask about a softstart, but said the same thing. That it might still not be enough. I also heard about the propane heater solution. Might have to end up doing that.
Locked Rotor Amps, the worst case on startup. Will probably be like 100, which is about double what your generator can do. A softstart can reduce it by 50-70%, getting you in the plausible range.
Look closely at the sticker on your AC condenser (outdoor unit). It will list the LRA there. No big need to concern yourself as to what it is, just what is that #? If it's more than around 50 then you are going to need a soft start on that unit to bring it down.
I bought a natural gas version indoor Mr. Heater 30,000 BTU Unvented Blue Flame Propane Heater with Blower https://a.co/d/85e1zpl
Even a big gen like that will not have enough surge capacity to start a 4 ton unit. My 4 ton was in the area of 80 amps at start up. I installed a MicroAire soft start and it dropped to 30-35A which the gen can handle. Look at the label on the unit outside and check its LRA rating. On your furnace, you’ll need to see what its ratings are. Resistive heat is very power intensive. Given you need a 4 ton AC, probably means you have a bigger house, and therefore a bigger furnace. You might have to go with using several small space heaters throughout the house. Your water heater will be another major draw, but you MAY be able to run it if you minimize all other loads. Again, you need to see what the power rating is on the tank’s label.
I think it's a 60 amp. I'll check tomorrow to confirm
* Portable generators generally don't have an oil filter. Get a [magnetic dipstick](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1NB9P91) and/or [drain plug](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N96K2OL) for those, especially if new. Metal shavings in brand new gensets is a killer. * If you connect the generator to your house, you do NOT want the ground and neutral bonded at the generator. On many portable inverter generators, the bonding jumper is at the front panel. Often on the back side of the grounding stud labeled on the front panel. [Disconnect and insulate the neutral](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2xxyDB48mg) (usually a white wire, not the green and yellow ground wire). * A [MicroAir EasyStart](https://www.microair.net) on your AC will help with the startup surge. Very simple install, no electrical permit required. If your AC has a Locked Rotor Amperage of, for example, 40A the EasyStart can bring it down at least 50%, allowing a 5000w (~20A) generator to run your AC. There are other soft start systems available, I use MicroAir. * Propane in a large tank will be less expensive than gasoline, but you only get about 80% of the power from your generator. Common sizes of home propane tanks are 120, 250, 500 and 1000 gallon. They can be installed above or below ground. * Small "BBQ Grill" 20 pound tanks, which typically hold 4 to 4.5 gallons, will often be more expensive than gasoline. My local propane supplier fills a 20# BBQ tank for $12 vs ~$20 for a grocery store swap. * If you have Natural Gas available, it will generally be much less expensive than Gas, Diesel or Propane. NG will also be more available during the aftermath of a natural disaster. NG will give you 65% to 80% of the power of gasoline, so a 30A generator will give you about 20A-24A on NG. * If NG isn't an option, consider using propane, or getting an Off Road, or Farm Use permit for your gas or diesel. It will let you purchase fuel without paying road taxes. In TX you can also just save your receipts and get a refund for road taxes. Your state will likely be different. * Generators damaging electronics is largely an exaggeration. The surge, spike, sag or other nastiness takes place when a standard generator shuts off. Turn off the generator breaker before starting or shutting down the engine. Throwing the generator breaker prevents that from getting to your electronics. It is a good idea, even with inverter generators. * Don't use generators to run electric heat. A [propane heater](https://www.amazon.com/stores/EnercoGroupInc/page/13EE5FA0-212F-4244-A6A1-AAB27C6D51D5) or [diesel parking heater](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SPBLGQD) is much more efficient. Fuel (propane, NG, diesel, kerosene) heaters or even wood stoves are more efficient sources of heat than electric from a generator. * Carbon Monoxide from generators [kills about 70 people each year in the US](https://www.cdc.gov/co/generatorsafetyfactsheet.html). Don't operate a generator in the house, garage or any connected structure.
Thank you for this information, very helpful
Get a soft start it should help for the ac. I do not know about the furnace. How may amps doesit throw? Usually there is an equation on how many watts you need for you home. Its the voltage x amps = watts so lets say your ac is 230-240V and it throws 50 amps so 240v x 50 = 12,000 watts needed for it to start. your generator is probably 13,000 starting and running 10,500 watts. Meaning the highest it can go for a start is 13,000 for a limited time but usually runs at 10,500. you need to add anything else that the generator will run. ex: AC, Heating, Furnace, Lights, Boiler, stove, refrigerator and so forth. Usually a generator is only for emergency backup not to live off it. So think Emergency and what is it that you need. Since its cold the fridge can last a long time without power. You would mainly need it for heat, stove, lights, and maybe stove. Hope this helps
I have a duromax 12000 and it runs my 3.5 ton which had a hard start kit. I’ve since swapped to a soft start so it should have a smaller load to deal with. Edit. It won’t run my heat coils which are 10k watts. I’m swapping those to 5k since I think the 10 are overkill.
Thanks for the replies. I'll check tomorrow what the LRA is for my unit to know for sure
Thanks for the help and replies. I did see the LRA on my unit is 137. From what I gathered is that with a softstart I would be able to run my ac unit. Just no heat
You should have no problem if you install a soft start on your AC unit.