That's something that crossed my mind, but this furnace is from 1974. If it were newer, it would be a concern.
Bought a Powermate 5500 Generator
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Originally Posted by khittner
I've been warned by electricians and HVAC specialists to be careful about what sort of generator you connect to your furnace fan, particularly if you have an electronically-controlled variable-speed furnace fan, as many high-efficiency furnances now do. You need an inverter generator that produces a very "clean" power stream, without significant spiking. Something works well enough for powering up a few lights or an old freezer may cook the electronic controls of a high-efficiency furnace. I don't know anything about a Powermate 5000, but you don't want your inexpensive "solution" to become a source of more expensive problems. FWIW.
That's a valid concern. I have a Carrier Infinity system installed in 2012. The furnace blower runs just fine on the dirty power from my traditional open frame Champion. The drives on furnace blowers have come a long way in the past few years, so I would worry about anything much newer than my furnace also equipped with a variable speed drive. I also have a pair of modern front loading washer and drier, Kenmore brand but made by LG, which will not run on that dirty power from the Champion. I'd be willing to bet that they would run just fine on the clean power from my Predator 3500 inverter. Hopefully I won't ever need to find out.
I've been warned by electricians and HVAC specialists to be careful about what sort of generator you connect to your furnace fan, particularly if you have an electronically-controlled variable-speed furnace fan, as many high-efficiency furnances now do. You need an inverter generator that produces a very "clean" power stream, without significant spiking. Something works well enough for powering up a few lights or an old freezer may cook the electronic controls of a high-efficiency furnace. I don't know anything about a Powermate 5000, but you don't want your inexpensive "solution" to become a source of more expensive problems. FWIW.
That's a valid concern. I have a Carrier Infinity system installed in 2012. The furnace blower runs just fine on the dirty power from my traditional open frame Champion. The drives on furnace blowers have come a long way in the past few years, so I would worry about anything much newer than my furnace also equipped with a variable speed drive. I also have a pair of modern front loading washer and drier, Kenmore brand but made by LG, which will not run on that dirty power from the Champion. I'd be willing to bet that they would run just fine on the clean power from my Predator 3500 inverter. Hopefully I won't ever need to find out.
Originally Posted by khittner
I've been warned by electricians and HVAC specialists to be careful about what sort of generator you connect to your furnace fan, particularly if you have an electronically-controlled variable-speed furnace fan, as many high-efficiency furnances now do. You need an inverter generator that produces a very "clean" power stream, without significant spiking. Something works well enough for powering up a few lights or an old freezer may cook the electronic controls of a high-efficiency furnace. I don't know anything about a Powermate 5000, but you don't want your inexpensive "solution" to become a source of more expensive problems. FWIW.
Frequency (60 hz) and total harmonic distortion are two things to keep in mind. You can drift the frequency (1 - 2 hz) a little and be okay but THD should be less than 3 to 5 percent. Most conventional non inverter generators are 15 - 20 percent THD. Inverter gens will hold 60 hz perfectly too.
I've been warned by electricians and HVAC specialists to be careful about what sort of generator you connect to your furnace fan, particularly if you have an electronically-controlled variable-speed furnace fan, as many high-efficiency furnances now do. You need an inverter generator that produces a very "clean" power stream, without significant spiking. Something works well enough for powering up a few lights or an old freezer may cook the electronic controls of a high-efficiency furnace. I don't know anything about a Powermate 5000, but you don't want your inexpensive "solution" to become a source of more expensive problems. FWIW.
Frequency (60 hz) and total harmonic distortion are two things to keep in mind. You can drift the frequency (1 - 2 hz) a little and be okay but THD should be less than 3 to 5 percent. Most conventional non inverter generators are 15 - 20 percent THD. Inverter gens will hold 60 hz perfectly too.
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