Generator won't run residential fridge

[corn18]

My 5er has a residential fridge. It runs on 120v when hooked up and through a 1200W inverter when on batteries. I installed a Microair easy start today on my rear a/c unit (15,000 BTU) and ran it on my Champion 2500W genset and it worked great. I had the fridge breaker off for the 5 starts that Microair recommends to go through the learning cycle on the easy start. I thought I would try the a/c and fridge and that was a non starter. So I shut off the a/c and turned on the fridge. When the fridge compressor kicked in, the genset rev'd up just like it does with the a/c but then the fridge shut down. Tried this again and same result. I then unplugged the genset and ran the fridge off the 1200W inverter and it worked fine.

So, what's going on? Why will my genset run a 15,000 BTU a/c but not my residential fridge? I understand running both at the same time is too much, but if it can run the a/c I would think it could run the fridge.

Appreciate your feedback.

Corn

[fonzie]

Shut your fridge off for 10 minutes and then try your generator again. Fridge needs gas to equilise between high and low pressure.

[corn18]

Originally Posted by fonzie

Shut your fridge off for 10 minutes and then try your generator again. Fridge needs gas to equilise between high and low pressure.

Good call. I will give it a go tomorrow with just the fridge on the genset.

[fonzie]

Also make sure water heater is off by opening breaker in panel.

[CHICKDOE]

Also turn off the converter. Try it with just the refrigerator running from the generator. Since it runs off a 1200 watt inverter it surely should run off a 2500 generator. But the water heater and converter can also place loads on the generator.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by CHICKDOE

Also turn off the converter. Try it with just the refrigerator running from the generator. Since it runs off a 1200 watt inverter it surely should run off a 2500 generator. But the water heater and converter can also place loads on the generator.

Residential refrigerators are just like A/C units and have a much higher inrush current than run current.

With that smaller generator there's only about 20 amps available and a running A/C (even with MicroAire unit) will take 75% of that. That only leaves about 500 watts to START and run the refrigerator.

[corn18]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Residential refrigerators are just like A/C units and have a much higher inrush current than run current.

With that smaller generator there's only about 20 amps available and a running A/C (even with MicroAire unit) will take 75% of that. That only leaves about 500 watts to START and run the refrigerator.

But the a/c was off for the later tests.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by corn18

My 5er has a residential fridge. It runs on 120v when hooked up and through a 1200W inverter when on batteries. I installed a Microair easy start today on my rear a/c unit (15,000 BTU) and ran it on my Champion 2500W genset and it worked great. I had the fridge breaker off for the 5 starts that Microair recommends to go through the learning cycle on the easy start. I thought I would try the a/c and fridge and that was a non starter. So I shut off the a/c and turned on the fridge. When the fridge compressor kicked in, the genset rev'd up just like it does with the a/c but then the fridge shut down. Tried this again and same result. I then unplugged the genset and ran the fridge off the 1200W inverter and it worked fine.

So, what's going on? Why will my genset run a 15,000 BTU a/c but not my residential fridge? I understand running both at the same time is too much, but if it can run the a/c I would think it could run the fridge.

Appreciate your feedback.

Corn

Have you tried running the fridge with the generators Eco mode switched off. This will cause the genset to run at full speed and eliminate any lag in power when the motor has to increase speed.

This will provide more power for that inrush when the compressor starts.

The MicroAire on the A/C may be making the difference.

[corn18]

Originally Posted by fonzie

Shut your fridge off for 10 minutes and then try your generator again. Fridge needs gas to equilise between high and low pressure.

Fonzie, that was the issue. I hooked up the genset and took it out of eco mode. The fridge turned on and started no problem. Worked great!

Then I went crazy and turned on the a/c. That started and ran fine as well with the fridge running. Now I know the fridge cannot start up with the a/c running, but at least I can run the fridge or the a/c off the single genset. If I want to run both, I will need another genset and parallel kit.

Thanks for the help!

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by corn18

Fonzie, that was the issue. I hooked up the genset and took it out of eco mode. The fridge turned on and started no problem. Worked great!

Then I went crazy and turned on the a/c. That started and ran fine as well with the fridge running. Now I know the fridge cannot start up with the a/c running, but at least I can run the fridge or the a/c off the single genset. If I want to run both, I will need another genset and parallel kit.

Thanks for the help!

Will the refrigerator start with Eco mode on, with no other loads? Just curious.

[corn18]

Originally Posted by chriscowles

Will the refrigerator start with Eco mode on, with no other loads? Just curious.

DIdn't try that. The fridge drew 12A when the compressor kicked on for the first time. Once the compressor was on, it only drew 2A. They should make a soft start for a residential fridge.

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by corn18

DIdn't try that. The fridge drew 12A when the compressor kicked on for the first time. Once the compressor was on, it only drew 2A. They should make a soft start for a residential fridge.

They do. Most energy start units have built in inverters and run at variable speed. Then do their own soft start.