Appliance · Hvac
How many watts does a 5,000 BTU window air conditioner use — and what can run it?
A 5,000 BTU window AC (Frigidaire FFRA051WAE): 450 W cooling, about 1,200 W to start. Which power stations and generators run it, and for how long.
Compressor cycles with the thermostat; no published daily average (ENERGY STAR annual kWh for room ACs is a seasonal figure, not a 24-hour one), so the calculator uses the 450 W running draw.
The representative model is the Frigidaire FFRA051WAE, a 5,000 BTU window unit. Its specifications sheet lists 450 W and 4.6 A in cooling at 115 V — a wattage straight from the maker, used as the running figure. Frigidaire gives no locked-rotor current, so the 1,200 W starting figure is the top of the 900–1,200 W range for a 5,000 BTU window AC on the Champion generator wattage chart. The same chart's running range for this size, 450–600 W, starts at Frigidaire's figure.
What changes the draw
The compressor runs until the room reaches the thermostat setting, then the unit cycles. A hot afternoon, sun on the window, a room larger than the unit is meant for or a low set temperature all keep the compressor on longer. ENERGY STAR's annual figure for room air conditioners covers a cooling season, not a day, so no hourly average is given and the tables use 450 W throughout.
Why the starting draw matters
Every time the compressor restarts, it draws a short burst well above 450 W. A station must cover that burst plus anything else connected (how loads are added). A 500 W station can carry the running load but not the start.
Reading the tables
Runtime assumes the compressor never cycles off — the hot-day case. At the page's 8 hours a day that is 3,600 Wh. Example: the EcoFlow DELTA 3 record has no maker factor, so the default 0.85 applies: 1,024 Wh × 0.85 ÷ 450 W = 1.9 hours.
Power stations that can run it
Pass = continuous output ≥ 450 W and peak output ≥ 1200 W. Runtime = capacity × maker's factor ÷ 450 W, nothing else plugged in. Method.
| Model | Fits | Runtime at 450 W | Capacity | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARBERO 88Wh Portable Power Station (M82) | No | — | 89 Wh | $119.99 |
| DARAN R100 (89.6Wh) | No | — | 90 Wh | $149.99 |
| Bluetti EB3A | Yes | 29 min | 269 Wh | $219 |
| EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus | Yes | 32 min | 286 Wh | $299 |
| Anker SOLIX C300 | No | — | 288 Wh | $429.99 |
| Anker SOLIX C300 DC | No | — | 288 Wh | $349.99 |
| Jackery Explorer 300 | No | — | 292 Wh | $289 |
| Goal Zero Yeti 500 | No | — | 499 Wh | $499.95 |
| Bluetti AC70 | Yes | 1.5 h | 768 Wh | $359 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | Yes | 1.9 h | 1,024 Wh | $499.99 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 | Yes | 1.9 h | 1,024 Wh | $699 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic | Yes | 1.9 h | 1,024 Wh | $599 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | Yes | 1.9 h | 1,024 Wh | $799 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000X | Unclear — no peak figure | — | 1,056 Wh | $469.99 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | Yes | 2 h | 1,070 Wh | $559 |
| Bluetti AC180 | Unclear — no peak figure | — | 1,152 Wh | $499 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus | Yes | 2.4 h | 1,264 Wh | $699 |
| Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | Yes | 2.8 h | 1,505 Wh | $1,499.95 |
| Goal Zero Yeti 1500X | Yes | 2.9 h | 1,516 Wh | $1,124.89 |
| EcoFlow DELTA Max (2000) | Unclear — no peak figure | — | 2,016 Wh | — |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | Yes | 3.9 h | 2,042 Wh | $999 |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus | Yes | 3.9 h | 2,043 Wh | — |
| Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 | Yes | 3.9 h | 2,048 Wh | $899.99 |
| Bluetti AC200L | Yes | 3.9 h | 2,048 Wh | $899 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max | Yes | 3.9 h | 2,048 Wh | $1,299 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max | Yes | 3.9 h | 2,048 Wh | $1,199 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus | Yes | 3.9 h | 2,048 Wh | $1,599 |
| Bluetti Elite 200 V2 | Unclear — no peak figure | — | 2,074 Wh | $899 |
| Jackery HomePower 3000 | Yes | 5.8 h | 3,072 Wh | $1,499 |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus | Unclear — no peak figure | — | 3,840 Wh | $2,599.99 |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 | Yes | 7.7 h | 4,096 Wh | $3,299 |
Generators that can run it
| Model | Fits | Load | Published run time | CO sensor | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 100396 3400W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter | Yes | 15 % (gasoline) | 7.5 h @ 25 % | No | — |
| Champion 201241 13,500W Electric Start Tri Fuel Generator | Yes | 3 % (gasoline) | 8 h @ 50 % | Yes | — |
| Champion 201319 4500W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter | Yes | 13 % (gasoline) | 14 h @ 25 % | Yes | — |
| DuroMax XP13000EH | Yes | 4 % (gasoline) | 17 h @ 25 % · 8 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,299 |
| DuroMax XP9500iH | Yes | 6 % (gasoline) | 21 h @ 25 % · 11 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,999 |
| Generac GP8000E (with COsense, model 7715) | Yes | 6 % (gasoline) | 10 h @ 50 % | Yes | — |
| Generac iQ3500 (with COsense) | Yes | 15 % (gasoline) | 14.1 h @ 25 % · 8.9 h @ 50 % | Yes | — |
| Honda EU2200i | Yes | 25 % (gasoline) | 8.1 h @ 25 % · 3.2 h @ 100 % | Yes | $1,199 |
| Honda EU3200i | Yes | 17 % (gasoline) | 8.6 h @ 25 % · 3.3 h @ 100 % | Yes | $2,799 |
| Honda EU7000iS | Yes | 8 % (gasoline) | 16 h @ 25 % · 6.4 h @ 100 % | Yes | $4,899 |
| WEN DF680iX | Yes | 9 % (gasoline) | 6.1 h @ 50 % | Yes | $803.40 |
| WEN GN400i | Yes | 13 % (gasoline) | 7 h @ 50 % | No | $479.99 |
| Westinghouse WGen7500DFc | Yes | 6 % (gasoline) | 11 h @ 25 % | Yes | $1,299 |
| Westinghouse WGen9500DF | Yes | 5 % (gasoline) | 12 h @ 25 % · 8 h @ 50 % | No | $1,249 |
| Westinghouse WGen9500DFc | Yes | 5 % (gasoline) | 12 h @ 25 % · 8 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,399 |
| Westinghouse WGen9500DFc EFI | Yes | 5 % (gasoline) | 15 h @ 25 % · 10 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,549 |
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a 5,000 BTU air conditioner use?
Can a 500 W power station run a 5,000 BTU window AC?
How long will a power station run a small window AC?
Sources
Page updated 2026-10-31.