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If you are new to the world of indoor cooling, you may wonder, “How big of a generator do I need to run a 5,000 BTU air conditioner?” The best air conditioners, after all, require energy to run, and if you don’t have access to a standard electrical grid, you’ll need a generator. So what is the best size of generator to choose for this type of AC unit, and what are other options to increase efficiency? Keep reading to find out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Living off the electrical grid is not easy if you wonder what size air conditioner is needed for a 14×70 mobile home. However, once you decide what size central air conditioner to get or what size window unit you need, the next step is to figure out the energy considerations.
Insider Tip
If you have a hard limit of 5,000 BTUs, that means you will need a window unit or portable AC, as central units are more powerful.
Luckily, a 5,000 BTU air conditioner is on the smaller side, so you won’t have to worry and wonder why does my air conditioner run all of the time. Any medium-sized generator should be able to handle it, even if you are comparing Gree vs Midea air conditioners.
Just saying “any medium-sized generator” might not cut it, though, so here is how we arrived at that conclusion. 5,000 BTUs translates to an air conditioner of around 0.42 tons, which requires around 1,000 watts of electricity for power. Medium-sized generators start at around 3,000 watts, so you’ll be able to power your AC with plenty of energy to spare for other appliances. You could even go with a small generator of just 1,000 watts, but that would be cutting it close.
Air conditioners are known energy hogs, so here are some tips to keep them in check.
STAT: A 5-ton AC unit generates an outstanding 60,000 BTU of cooling power. This is enough to cool down up to a 3,000-square-foot home. (source)