Safe
0
Best Power Stations for Central AC
We tested 33 portable power stations against the Central AC (3-Ton) (4060W running / 21356W surge). 1 passed our True Surge protocol — 3% compatibility rate.
Tight
1
With Soft-Starter
0
Incompatible
32
○ Device source: Engineering Est.
Derived from variant list (max of variants). Running worst case = Trane 4TWR4036D (4060W). Surge worst case = Goodman GSXN4 03610A (21356W).
This device requires 240V split-phase power
Most consumer portable power stations output 120V only. The Central AC (3-Ton) is incompatible with any 120V-only unit regardless of wattage capacity.
Our Top Picks
1 compatible models rankedNo SAFE picks — ranked from TIGHT candidates. These generators meet the minimum specs but lack the recommended safety buffer.
Best Budget, Overall & Runtime Tight
Delta Pro Ultra X
Running 12,000W
Surge 24,000W
Capacity 6,144 Wh
Weight 187.4 lbs (85.0 kg)
Carry Two-person recommended
Runtime 1.1h
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Our methodology
Top brands for this device: EcoFlow 1 compatible
Runtime at a glance
How long each station runs a Central AC on a single charge (after 0.70 real-world derate)
Tight margin
What to Know About the Central AC (3-Ton)
Power Profile
Running range: 3404W to 4060W across 3-ton central AC condensers. Surge range: 5106W to 21356W — the enormous variation reflects the difference between variable-speed inverter compressors (~1.5x running) and conventional single-stage scroll compressors (5-6x from OEM LRA). Voltage: 240V split-phase required for all residential central AC. No consumer portable power station in our database provides 240V at this wattage level.
Real-World Usage
Central AC systems run in thermostat-driven cycles, typically 8+ hours daily in summer. Daily energy consumption at full load ranges from 27,000 to 32,500 Wh. Even variable-speed units draw 3,400W+ continuous — combined with the 240V requirement, this places central AC outside the capability of every portable power station we test.
Pro Tip
Central AC is not a realistic portable power station load. The 240V split-phase requirement alone eliminates nearly every consumer unit, and those few with 240V output lack the sustained wattage or surge capacity. For power outage cooling, consider a window AC unit (120V, 800–1,400W) or a portable AC — both are compatible with mid-range power stations. For whole-home backup, a standby generator with a transfer switch is the standard solution.
Full Compatibility Matrix
All 33 generators tested against the Central AC (3-Ton) (4060W / 21356W).
| Power Station | Running W | Surge W | Capacity | Weight | Verdict | Runtime | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Pro Ultra X | 12,000 | 24,000 | 6,144 Wh | 187.4 lbs Two-person recommended | Tight | 1.1h | View |
| Delta Pro Ultra | 6,000 | 12,000 | 6,144 Wh | 182.1 lbs Two-person recommended | Fail | N/A | View |
| Zendure SuperBase V4600 | 3,800 | 3,800 | 4,608 Wh | 121.3 lbs Two-person recommended | Fail | N/A | View |
| DELTA Pro 3 | 4,000 | 8,000 | 4,096 Wh | 113.5 lbs Two-person recommended | Fail | N/A | View |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 3,840 Wh | 132.3 lbs Two-person recommended | Fail | N/A | View |
| Yeti Pro 4000 | 3,600 | 7,200 | 3,993.6 Wh | 115.7 lbs Two-person recommended | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| Delta Pro | 3,600 | 7,200 | 3,600 Wh | 99.2 lbs Two-person recommended | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| Pecron E3600LFP | 3,600 | 7,000 | 3,072 Wh | 79.4 lbs Two-person recommended | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| Explorer 3000 Pro | 3,000 | 6,000 | 3,024 Wh | 63.9 lbs Two-person recommended | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| Elite 200 V2 | 2,600 | 3,600 | 2,073 Wh | 53.4 lbs Heavy carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| AC200L | 2,400 | 3,600 | 2,048 Wh | 62.4 lbs Two-person recommended | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| AC200MAX | 2,200 | 4,800 | 2,048 Wh | 61.9 lbs Two-person recommended | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| DELTA 2 Max | 2,400 | 4,800 | 2,048 Wh | 50.7 lbs Heavy carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| Explorer 2000 Plus | 3,000 | 6,000 | 2,042 Wh | 61.5 lbs Two-person recommended | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| Explorer 2000 v2 | 2,200 | 4,400 | 2,042 Wh | 39.5 lbs One-person carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| Yeti 1500X | 2,000 | 3,500 | 1,516 Wh | 45.6 lbs Heavy carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| DELTA (Gen 1) | 1,800 | 3,300 | 1,260 Wh | 30.9 lbs One-person carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| AC180 | 1,800 | 2,700 | 1,152 Wh | 36.2 lbs One-person carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,500 | 3,000 | 1,070 Wh | 23.8 lbs One-person carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| SOLIX C1000 | 1,800 | 2,400 | 1,056 Wh | 28.4 lbs One-person carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| DELTA 2 | 1,800 | 2,700 | 1,024 Wh | 26.5 lbs One-person carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| DELTA 3 Plus | 1,800 | 3,600 | 1,024 Wh | 27.6 lbs One-person carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| VTOMAN Jump 1500X | 1,500 | 3,000 | 828 Wh | 36.2 lbs One-person carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| SOLIX C800 Plus | 1,200 | 1,600 | 768 Wh | 24.0 lbs One-person carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| AC70 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 768 Wh | 22.5 lbs One-person carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| RIVER 2 Pro | 800 | 1,600 | 768 Wh | 18.3 lbs Easy carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| Explorer 500 | 500 | 1,000 | 518.4 Wh | 13.2 lbs Easy carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| RIVER 2 Max | 500 | 1,000 | 512 Wh | 13.4 lbs Easy carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| SOLIX C300 | 300 | 300 | 288 Wh | 9.0 lbs Easy carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| Explorer 300 Plus | 300 | 600 | 288 Wh | 8.4 lbs Easy carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| EB3A | 600 | 1,200 | 268.8 Wh | 10.1 lbs Easy carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| RIVER 2 | 300 | 600 | 256 Wh | 7.7 lbs Easy carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
| RIVER 3 | 300 | 600 | 245 Wh | 7.7 lbs Easy carry | Voltage Fail | N/A | View |
Why 97% of Power Stations Fail
32 of 33 generators tested cannot safely run this device. Here's why.
Voltage mismatch
This device requires 240V. 28 of 33 generators output a different voltage and cannot power it regardless of wattage.
Startup surge too high
The Central AC (3-Ton) draws 21,356W at startup, 5.3× its running watts. Most portable power stations can't handle this inrush.
Continuous draw exceeds capacity
At 4,060W continuous, this device exceeds the output of most mid-range portable power stations (typically 1,000–2,000W).
What to consider instead
- ▸ Consider a 120V alternative (window AC instead of central AC, gas dryer instead of electric) 120V vs 240V guide →
- ▸ A whole-home battery system (like Tesla Powerwall) or gas generator may be more appropriate for this load
- ▸ Only 1 station can handle this device. Check our top picks above for the best options
Model Variants
Different models have different power requirements. Check the specific report for your exact model.
Lennox SL28XCV-036 (3-Ton, 28 SEER Variable-Speed)
Running: 3,404W
Surge: 5,106W
Frequently Asked Questions
How many power stations can run a Central AC?
Out of 33 portable power stations we tested, 1 can safely run a Central AC (0 with full safety margin, 1 at tight margin). 32 are incompatible.
What specs should I look for to run a Central AC?
Your power station needs at least 4,060W continuous output and 21,356W surge capacity at 240V split-phase. We recommend a safety buffer of 25% above these minimums for reliable operation.
How do we test compatibility?
Every pairing is evaluated using our True Surge protocol: we compare OEM-verified running watts, surge watts, and voltage requirements against each power station's published specs, with load-profile-specific safety buffers applied. Read our full methodology.
Can a portable power station run central AC?
No. Central AC requires 240V split-phase output at 4060W continuous and up to 21356W surge. No consumer portable power station provides this combination. For outage cooling, a window AC or portable AC unit on a mid-range power station is the practical alternative.