Can an AVR support air conditioners or refrigerators?

Air conditioners and refrigerators have a compressor, which is a motor. At the moment it starts, the compressor draws a current several times higher than normal for a few seconds, often three to five times more. If the stabiliser is chosen only on the appliance's rated consumption, it may trip on overloadGlossary · Protection and installationOverloadA condition where the connected load exceeds the UPS’s rated output in VA or W. protection or let the output voltage sag right at start-up.

For example, an air conditioner that draws about 1 kW in normal operation needs a stabiliser with considerably more power so that it can handle the starting peak. Also check whether the AVRGlossary · Power qualityAutomatic Voltage Regulator (AVR)A device that automatically maintains a constant voltage level to protect electrical equipment from fluctuations. has a restart delay: after a power cut, a short wait before the compressor is powered again protects it from starting against pressure in the refrigerant circuit.

Good practice is to compare the starting current in the appliance's technical data with the stabiliser's overload capacity, not just the watts. The most common mistake is connecting several compressor appliances to one small AVR, where they may all start at the same time as soon as the power returns.