Can You Run a Portable Air Conditioner on a Surge Protector?

Surge Protector

• Running a portable air conditioner off a surge protector requires confirming that the surge protector is able to carry the electrical supply demanded by the air conditioner. A surge protector allows only so much electricity to flow through it, and the amount depends on the surge protector model. Even if the circuit breaker that supplies electricity to the surge protector is able to carry a large load of electricity, the surge protector wiring might not support the load. Even if the surge protector can support the air conditioner’s electrical demand, it might only just be able to do so, which means no other devices should be plugged into the surge protector or its electrical outlet; any extra devices plugged into the surge protector or electrical outlet might cause the circuit breaker to trip and stop the air conditioner from working.

Circuit Breaker

• The circuit breaker, which allows electricity to flow to the portable air conditioner and, if necessary, the surge protector, is the air conditioner's first line of defense against a power surge. At the first sign of a power overload, the breaker will trip, opening the circuit and severing the line of power from the breaker to the air conditioner.

Plug Overload Device

• Some portable air conditioners feature a power surge protector in their power plug, which prevents power surges from flowing from the electrical outlet to the air conditioner if a power surge makes it past the circuit breaker. Like a circuit breaker, the plug trips and severs the flow of electricity from the circuit breaker to the portable air conditioner. Attaching a surge protector between the portable air conditioner and the circuit breaker is akin to installing a surge protector between two surge protectors. If the plug’s surge protector device is tripped, you can reset it using its “Reset” button.

Internal Overload Device

• The last stand for a portable air conditioner against a power surge is the appliance's compressor. After the unit is turned off, it requires about three minutes of standby time for the compressor to start when reactivated. This factor prevents a power surge from reaching the compressor and burning the air conditioner's motor. It is another reason why a surge protector isn’t required for a portable air conditioner.