u/ecksray67

I’ve probably overthought this, but I’m down to these two generators and would appreciate some input from people who have actually done this.

I’m having a 50A inlet and interlock installed and will be connecting a tri-fuel inverter generator. The plan is to run primarily on natural gas, with propane available if needed.

My house has a 3.5-ton Carrier (42,000 BTU). I just had a Micro-Air EasyStart Flex 398 installed.

The HVAC tech measured:
Before EasyStart: 17.1A
Startup after EasyStart: 11.8A
Running: 10.8A

First question: Do those numbers look right? I’ve read enough to know measuring startup amps isn’t always straightforward. Does it sound like the EasyStart is doing what it’s should?

My goal isn’t to run my entire house.

Summer outage:
Central A/C
Refrigerator
Router/Internet
TV
Lights
A ceiling fan

I’ll manage loads if I need to. I’m not trying to run the microwave and coffee maker while the A/C is on.

Winter outage:
Gas furnace
Refrigerator
Router
TV
Lights

I also have a Rinnai RL94 tankless water heater, a gas cooktop, and a 275 CFH gas meter. I have a plumber coming out to install a quick connect off the gas main next week and look at everything, but I’ve noticed several posts from people saying they’re running an iGen12000TFc on a 275 CFH meter without issues.

I’m trying to decide between:
Westinghouse iGen8200TFc, 5,280W running on natural gas and about 135 lbs or a
Westinghouse iGen12000TFc 7,200W running on natural gas and about 190 lbs. I would be rolling them out of my garage and across 50’ of grass to the NG connection. On propane or gas they would sit on the back porch.

The 8200 seems like it would be easier to move during an outage, but the 12000 gives me a lot more headroom on natural gas.

I asked about generator weight a few days ago and got a lot of helpful feedback. Since then I’ve had the EasyStart installed, so now I’m trying to figure out if the 8200 is enough or if I should go with the 12000.

For those of you with a similar-sized A/C and an EasyStart, would the 8200 reliably start and run it, or would you spend the extra money and live with the extra weight of the 12000?

Thanks in advance.

I’m looking for advice from people who own heavy portable generators.

I’m deciding between two tri-fuel inverter generators:

• 8,200 watts (~135 lbs)
• 12,000 watts (~190 lbs)

The primary goal is to run my 3.5-ton (42,000 BTU) Carrier A/C during Texas summer outages. I’m having a Micro-Air EasyStart installed and the generator will connect to my house through a 50A interlock. I understand the larger generator gives me more power and startup margin.

My concern is the weight, not the cost.

If the power goes out at 2:00 a.m. during a storm, I’ll be rolling the generator out of the garage by myself, connecting propane or natural gas, plugging in the power cord, and putting it away when the outage is over. I expect to keep this generator for at least 10 years.

For those of you who own generators around 180–200 lbs:

• Do you regret buying the heavier generator?
• Has the weight ever made you less likely to use it?
• If you had to do it over again, would you still buy the larger generator, or would you choose the lighter one and manage your electrical loads instead?

I’m not looking for recommendations on different brands or models. I’m specifically interested in whether the extra 50–60 pounds turned out to be a bigger issue—or a non-issue—after years of ownership.