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Generator Wattage Calculator for Air Conditioning

Formula

The formula to calculate the starting wattage is:

$\text{Starting Wattage} = (\text{LRA} \times 0.70) \times (\text{Voltage} \times 0.70)$

What is Generator Wattage for Air Conditioning?

To calculate the true starting wattage of your air conditioner, you need to adjust for the voltage drop that occurs when using a generator. Large motors like those found in your AC can temporarily tolerate up to a 30% drop in voltage. When the voltage drops at the compressor, so does the current draw.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Locked Rotor Amperage (LRA): 90 amps
Voltage (V): 240 volts

Step 1: Adjust the current and voltage:

$\text{Adjusted Current} = 90 \times 0.70 = 63 \text{ amps}$

$\text{Adjusted Voltage} = 240 \times 0.70 = 168 \text{ volts}$

Step 2: Calculate the starting wattage:

$\text{Starting Wattage} = 63 \times 168 = 10,584 \text{ watts (10.58 kW)}$

Therefore, the starting wattage for the air conditioner is approximately 10.58 kW.