Answer
Can the Predator 3500 Super Quiet Inverter run BLACK+DECKER BDM05C 5,000 Btu/h window air conditioner?
Runs
Runs. Running draw 347 W fits within 3,000 running watts. Startup watts were not published; 3,500 starting watts is at least 3× the running draw, the common planning allowance for a compressor or pump start.
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The comparison
| Predator 3500 Super Quiet Inverter | BLACK+DECKER BDM05C 5,000 Btu/h window air conditioner | |
|---|---|---|
| Running watts | 3,000 W | 347 W |
| Starting / surge watts | 3,500 W | Not published |
| Type | inverter, Gasoline | Cooling |
| Published runtime | 11 hr at 25% load | |
| Sources | Generator source | Appliance source |
Questions
Can the Predator 3500 Super Quiet Inverter run BLACK+DECKER BDM05C 5,000 Btu/h window air conditioner?
Runs. Running draw 347 W fits within 3,000 running watts. Startup watts were not published; 3,500 starting watts is at least 3× the running draw, the common planning allowance for a compressor or pump start.
What watts were compared?
Generator: 3,000 running W and 3,500 starting W on gasoline. Appliance: 347 W running, startup not published.
How long will it run?
Fuel runtime depends on total load. Published runtime: 11 hr at 25% load.
Where did the numbers come from?
Harbor Freight (71358): 3000 running / 3500 starting; 212cc; 120VAC 25A and 12VDC 8A; 56 dBA at 25%; 11 hr at 25%; 2.64 gal (older 59137: 2.33 gal). Receptacle types not verified, so no 30A outlet is credited. ENERGY STAR lists 5,000 Btu/h, CEER 14.4, 115 V, variable-speed compressor, and 260.4 kWh/year. Rated input is 5,000 ÷ 14.4 = 347.2 W. That matches the listed annual energy at the DOE room-AC assumption of 750 hours (347.2 × 750 ÷ 1,000 = 260.4). The 347.2 W figure is the draw while cooling at the rated condition, not a whole-year average. Startup watts are not published.
Safety first
- Run a generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from doors, windows and vents. Never in a garage, basement, shed or crawlspace, even with the door open.
- Carbon monoxide is odorless and can kill in minutes. Keep battery CO alarms working inside the home.
- Never backfeed a house by plugging a generator into a wall outlet or dryer receptacle. It can energize utility lines and kill a lineworker or a neighbor.
- Connecting to home wiring requires a transfer switch or a listed breaker interlock with a power inlet box, installed by a licensed electrician and permitted where your jurisdiction requires it.
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