Harbor Freight Predator 9500 Watts Inverter Generator Running a 5-TON AC

Predator 9500 Inverter Generator

RV Generator Adapter Cord - L14-30P Locking Male Plug to 14-50R Female with Handle, 4 Prong 30 Amp to 50 Amp for Generator to RV Trailer Camper, 7500W STW 10AWG

Reliance Controls 30310A Pro/Tran 10-Circuit 30-Amp Indoor Generator Transfer Switch

50 Amp Generator Power Inlet Box, ETL Listed NEMA SS2-50P Power Inlet Box for 3 Prong Generator Cord, 125/250 Volt, 12500 Watts Generator Transfer Switch Weatherproof, Outdoor Use

Heavy Duty Generator Cord, 25 Feet Generator Power Cord, 50AMP ETL Listed Cord, 12000 Watts Black Cable

[landaq]

Gavin, many thanks for the “go with 50amp if you want to parallel down the line…” Thats what I’ll be doing - thanks

[michaela]

That's very cool. The problem would be finding gas in a grid down situation

[felaxchow]

Excellent demonstration as usual. Hindsight was 20/20 in my part, I highly recommend a 50 amp generator input for your home. The materials cost now days is not that much compared to 8+ years ago, you can scale up if your needs change. The only limiting factor is your generator supplying the power, however in a grid down situation using less is definitely more when it comes to fuel consumption.

If you're handy, I highly recommend that you build and install a digital electric monitor for both L1 and L2 next to main breaker panel for the generator input. That way you can monitor your energy usage in your home real time and staying within the power limits of your generator.

For those who have grid tied solar, normally you have to disable your solar feed when on generator mode. If you're able to segment the arrays to bite sized pieces, most 120/240 inverter generators will accept and synchronize to it. In order to pull it off, your static load has to be more than what your solar is able deliver to your isolated home "grid" thus having a real time energy monitor comes to good use.

I was able to run my 2.5 ton HVAC and critical loads in the house supplemented by my 3.2 kWp solar subarray. I did have to drop the thermostat to the lowest set temp so that the power load was constant while the solar subarray was online; if the A/C cycled off for any reason, it would've tripped the generator offline and put it into overload fault. As long as sun was still out, the generator pretty much ran at almost idle speed in ECO mode. I was able to ride it out for 4+ hours with A/C when it was 96°F outside with the feels like temperature around 119°F and hardly used any gas. My neighbors was not too thrilled about it to say the least...

[barrthom]

I ran 12 hours the other day at my house with 5 ton ac (with micro air hard start), 1 upright freezer, 2 full size refrigerators, 1 beverage frig, and two frigs in our travel trailer. Worked all of it on our 9500 predator. Very impressed with ours.

I noticed your getting around 18 amps continuously with your 5 ton ac. I’m seeing around 15 amps on mine. 2018 13 seer unit. I also had a similar LRA start up like yours around 43amps.

[Danimalpm]

Great video, though I have to say living in Florida where storm power outages are common, I can’t say running a washer and dryer or oven was ever a priority during an outage, though I suppose every situation is different. Give me my lights, refrigerator and AC and I’m happy.

[paullawrence]

Gavin, I received 50 to 30 watt adapter last week. I finally had time today to try it. Works like a dream! Thank you so much its powers the house basically with one predator 9500. I have two predator 9500s. Your other video about augmenting a Duramax parallel kit came in handy. I did have to build onto it. I couldn’t find the materials that you had. So I had to improvise. And I am in the process of finishing that up. As soon as I finish that I’m sure I will be able to parallel and use the air-conditioning unit without the soft start kit I hope? I mean two 9500s, should be more than enough to run a house. Thank you again for your wisdom and insight. You sure do make it easy for the average guy to understand how all this works!

[martinmi]

I don't know why but I really enjoy watching these videos!

[jameswagoner]

Excellent video, Gavin... my brother and I were just talking about the Predator line of generators and which one we should get to run a house in times of emergency.. you are right on time!

[wildbillc]

Keep in mind a lot of stuff in your home doesn't run continuously. The refrigerator, freezer, AC unit, etc. That stuff cycles on and off as the thermostats dictate them to, the dryer and oven is the same way, the heating elements cycle on and off as thermostats dictate.

Its interesting to see how much a generator can handle and most likely you could run everything at once if you wanted and the generator would handle it as each appliance would cycle on and off at different times.

Most times during a power outage you will not be using everything anyways, a few lights, maybe furnace or AC unit depending on the time of the year, a refrigerator, deep freeze, etc. I'd stop running a dryer and washer during a power outage anyways, its not necessary. I live out in the country, so my main things to keep running would be refrigerator and freezer, maybe the AC in the summer, water heater maybe, and the well pump. I have a wood stove for heat so wouldn't need to worry about running the furnace which would only be the fan portion as its a propane furnace. I only have a window AC unit unfortunately, but could certainly live without it in a power outage...wouldn't be the first time. I don't have a generator, and if I did, it would be a standby generator not a portable unit anyways, if I was going to spend the money I'd just have a stationary standby generator installed with a transfer switch and not have to worry about what I could or couldn't run.

For an emergency a portable generator is a huge asset for sure, and like you were showing, you would definitely need to know what each appliance is pulling because you could certainly overload your portable generator in a hurry, especially the smaller units.

I also have the ability to run a PTO powered generator from my tractor if I had a generator like that as I have a tractor...the issue with that is your tractor is now tied up powering your home, so in the case of a storm needing to plow snow you would then need to disconnect the tractor and be without power until you are done plowing LOL.

[michaelwilkerson]

Very interesting! I have a 12k a-Ipower genny with a 4 ton & 2 ton a/c units. I would connect just the 4ton since that cools the downstairs where everyone stays. For winter I have natural gas and have both 120v air handler fans configured in with my 50amp inverter to give me full heating coverage in the winter time. Thanks for demo!!

[markcopenhaver]

Gavin,
This is priceless information. Even though I do not have this particular generator, I do have one with the same wattage output and features. All I need to do then is get kitted out for the electrical hook up. Thanks for putting out this video!

[Pk_Garage]

Thanks for another great video. I like how you showed the power of the generator. Having it connected to your house control panel, is really the only way to utilize all the power it has.

Having the Micro-Air East Start (Soft Starter) is a must, for any AC system. I finally got around to installing the 368 on our 3-ton unit. It works great. I'll share the details, in the comments, on your East Start video.

[rcrdps]

Great video! This generator has been tempting me. And I already bought a soft start for my 5ton a while back. Haven't installed it yet. My plan is to maybe get this generator and install a natural gas kit. Gasoline is scarce after a hurricane. Right now I have a 6k diesel. Ran it with 3 window units after Ida, but ended up leaving town after a few days. Didn't want to do the gas station juggle for two weeks.

[RawFitChris]

Thanks for making this. This video is gold information to those of us planning to buy and install a home generator system. For comparison, we ut in a Kohler 20K whole house unit on my mom's house several years ago but service is a bitch, especially this last time when it's 4 months and 3 (count them three) pro companies still can't figure out how to fix it. I would never go that route again! Setting up a system where the generator is a separate unit that could be changed out if needed is a much better way to go.

[TheTravelingTechGuy]

I bought a 9500 last year and had problems with it on day one mainly, the low oil sensor was bad. I found out which wires needed to be disconnected to bypass that sensor and a few days later, was boon docking in my camper for a week. Even without a soft-start on the compressor, it started and ran my A/C in the camper with no problems! I my only "real" complaint.... This thing is friggin' heavy!!! :) Great video!

[ChinoLatino]

Thanks Gavin, don’t know anything about electrical work, just got my predator and at least now I have a guide on what to buy and how to proceed to make it work with my a/c which is why I bought it in the first place. You earned a sub 👍🏼 also bought that magnetic dipstick, I saw it on other videos and thought it was worth mentioning

[paullawrence]

Thank you so much! You have made this so easy! You make it simple and understandable for the average guy to do this. I am working on building my Parallel kit from your Duromax Parallel kit video. But now to know, I can still run my house with one of my Predator 9500’s. I am excited to know that. I am thinking that with two 9500s, I don’t need the soft start kit for my AC? Everything seems to be lining up. I will check and see what other videos you have out there about ACs and 9500’s. Thank you so much!

[scottscott]

Thanks for the good info on running the AC just what I was looking for.

[shangri-lahomestead]

Thank you for this video! Unfortunately got Hurricane Ian bearing down on us and my new 9500 Predator Generator is still in the box. So much for preparing ahead of time. Lol.

[RShivesy]

Great video Gavin! Show us your skills doing the same test with 2-4500 watt generators in parallel. That's the video I'm waiting on. 🙂