safe to run a pc and tv from a generator?
- Thread starter sloppy joe
- Start date
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Yeah, but the generators that the military use are much larger and designed to run entire LSA's or DFAC's or even a CASH.
I dont know the real answer to the OP's question but my guess would be as long as it doesnt overload the gen.
I dont know the real answer to the OP's question but my guess would be as long as it doesnt overload the gen.
Wolfgang1952
LOCAL Fla. Par, Cha. Pres
As long as you have a good surge protector
Suburbazine
01001000 01101001 0011111
May the digital gods have mercy on your hardware.
Short answer: NO
Long answer: Only if the genset makes steady 60hz, 110vAC power. Fluctuations are the death of 110vAC to 5/12vDC transformers and hardware on the low voltage side. Surge protectors ONLY work to shunt overvoltage to ground, which with a generator isn't going to work. You could (potentially) get yourself a power filter (not a surge protector) and hook that between your computer and genset. If you go this route I would actually recommend getting an APC BackUPS RS1500 with AVR to automatically protect your computer from both high and low voltage and Hz surge.
Easily 90% of the emergency generator market is made up of non-computer-safe gensets. Most of the portables will not make clean power. The exception will be the inverter generators which are generally dead on and smooth power. The military doesn't use Chinese-built portables, I guarantee you that a mil-spec generator will provide the best, most accurate power available along with EM interference supression. Dead hardware and military ops just don't mix well.
Short answer: NO
Long answer: Only if the genset makes steady 60hz, 110vAC power. Fluctuations are the death of 110vAC to 5/12vDC transformers and hardware on the low voltage side. Surge protectors ONLY work to shunt overvoltage to ground, which with a generator isn't going to work. You could (potentially) get yourself a power filter (not a surge protector) and hook that between your computer and genset. If you go this route I would actually recommend getting an APC BackUPS RS1500 with AVR to automatically protect your computer from both high and low voltage and Hz surge.
Easily 90% of the emergency generator market is made up of non-computer-safe gensets. Most of the portables will not make clean power. The exception will be the inverter generators which are generally dead on and smooth power. The military doesn't use Chinese-built portables, I guarantee you that a mil-spec generator will provide the best, most accurate power available along with EM interference supression. Dead hardware and military ops just don't mix well.
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That's a pretty good idea. :-) My brother in Beaumont has blown up 3 TVs running them on a generator post- Katrina / Rita... I wouldn't do it.
-Neal
nickatnite
Crybaby Hater...
^^^^^^^
This.
WIth the way electronics are built, if your generator is not an inverter, I would not do it....
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Scott.Thornton
Well-Known Member
I've been running a sony lcd and a samsung lcd for 2 days now off of a generator. No problems at all. Been doing the same thing with both of them for 3 years now on the same husky 5k generator. Ran my old tv off of the same generator the first year here, but sold those and got the new flatscreens. I think ya'll are over complicating things.
Suburbazine
01001000 01101001 0011111
LCD isn't super sensitive like a desktop computer or plasma screen tv. You still risk burning out the power supplies if you run a fridge or medium motor load in conjunction.
Scott.Thornton
Well-Known Member
Well I'm screwed since I have my deep freeze and 2 fridges on the same generator, then I unplug one and run my window units in 2 rooms. I guess I'm rolling the dice and have been for a long time. I need an upgraded tv anyway. a 60 inch would look awesome in my living room.
Scott.Thornton
Well-Known Member
I've read up on that myself, and still don't have an answer.
Scott.Thornton
Well-Known Member
All of these have been on my computer, while watching tv, with the window unit running, and the fridge plugged up while running on generator. Thankfully the P.L.C. guys are out front right now fixing to sink a new pole. Hope to shut off that generator. I've burned 13 gallons the last day and half. Still cheaper than a pissed off pregnant wife though.
I took a chance and ran my LCD tv and my fridge, which has a led display and some kind of electronics control panel thingy on my Generac 5k portable. Didn't have any problems. Also ran a standard fridge, 6k btu ac, 1/2 hp water well pump. Did ok
flamatrix99
Well-Known Member
During Gustav I ran my fridge, portable AC, plasma tv and DirecTv box on our 6KW generator with no issues. This time the power wasn't out very long.
I have to wonder if you just didn't see any problems YET, but the damage is done(?) Personally, I didn't need TV that much, got news/weather reports on my IPhone as needed.
