generator and house fridge

[lewy]

Is my cheap chinese non inverter generator likely to damage my house fridge,

[slug_burner]

It will depend on how fancy your fridge is. If it is a a simple fridge with an electric motor driving a compressor I'd say you will not have problems as long as your genny can generate the motors start up current. If it is an all singing type fridge that dial up the internet and orders your stuff as you use it up or some other fancy stuff that needs a computer for it to work then you might be susceptible to dirty power.

[lewy]

hmm i am a tad wary as it has a digital readout and controls,Just thinking as there is a possible cyclone on the way i may \will loose power,might have to fire up the old beer fridge and try that.

[Homestar]

You will find that the frequency, voltage and sine wave on a machine like that to be very ordinary. I would stick to running the beer fridge. A cheap genset can fry electronics, which your fridge will have if it is less than 10 years old.

Hope you weather the cyclone ok.

Cheers - Gav

[rick130]

lewy, I'd fire up the old beer fridge, modern electronics don't appreciate an unfiltered power supply.

[lewy]

In hind site,Why would you connect a $2000 dollar fridge to a $200 dollar generator.cheers

[tailslide]

If it is a $200 generator then I would "guarantee" that it wouldn't handle the in rush on the compressor startup. (Well you could try your luck)

I have had an issue with a 3kVA generator that could not start a domestic freezer. The problem was the in rush current was too great and the excitation field collapsed before the compressor started to turn over. This was way before inverter technology...

Cheers
Ron