I want to buy a generator to power 2 x small wall air conditioners and the refrigerator when we no doubt have power failures again this summer.

The generator I am looking at is an inverter generator at 4.2kva (approx 3000watt).

The 2 x aircon units run at 745watt each. Not sure what the refrigerator is but it's not overly big.

I know the 3000 watt will cover those 3 appliances but someone told me that I will have problems when I am trying to start the aircon units, that they will draw too much power.

Is this true? They are not the inverter type either, but the generator is.

Will I be able to use the 4.2kva or should I be looking at something a bit bigger, say 6.8kva?

Please help as I want to make sure that I am spending my money wisely.

Hi,
We seldom use kVA here in the US, so I had to look about a bit. Generally you allow a 20% overhead except in the case where a surge occurs for a motor start situation. Basically you have three motors that could all potentially start simultaneously. This would indicate, if I remember right from my electrical training that is over thirty years old, that you ought to figure a load of about 60-67% of rated capacity. It appears that your choice may be sufficient though all wattages have not been give.
A site I happened upon, using kVA to boot, addressed this. It is Australian, I think< so may be more apropos:
Macfarlane Generators - Gentech Generators from 4 kVA to 16 kVA
Peace,
Clarke

G'day Clarke,
Thanks very much for your answer and for going to all the trouble to find that site for me. I checked it out and it was very helpful in determining what wattage I am dealing with and what generator was recommended to deal with the load.

So far I am presuming that I need to go to about 6kva to cover the appliances that I want to hook up.

Cheers!

G'day Clarke,
Thanks very much for your answer and for going to all the trouble to find that site for me. I checked it out and it was very helpful in determining what wattage I am dealing with and what generator was recommended to deal with the load.

So far I am presuming that I need to go to about 6kva to cover the appliances that I want to hook up.

Cheers!