i have a bet. a 12000 watt generator is wired into the house. The
generator is rated at 15000 watt surge power but 12000 watts normal
usage. you have a 24000 btu central air conditioner with a rated
wattage of 3800 watts while running. the start up or surge wattage
though is 15000 watts. before turning on the air conditioner, you have
on the generator  an electric range rated at 1500 watts. the range is
not turned on, but is it still drawing some wattage? if so,
approximately how much wattage. also on the generator is 2
refrigerators with rated wattage of 1000 watts but surge wattage of
2000 watts. Also on the generator before applying the airconditioning
is the normal lights, a television, a hot water heater ( rated wattage
 4000 watts and surge wattage of 4000 watts, not being used at the
moment. but would be used during the normal course of the day.)Does
the hot water heater draw watts when not using hot water?  I am not
interested in an answer that says "maybe you should disconnect some of
the appliances and not use them before applying the air conditioning."
i am interested in knowing if there is any way a 12000 watt generator
rated at 15000 surge power could withstand all of this load without
shutting down. I, of course do not think so and that is why there is a
bet. Please supply at least 2 confirmations and if this question is
not understood, please let me know and will try to simplify it. I have
rambled on....thank you

The only power used by an electric range when it is not being used
would be the power consumed by the clock or any lights. An electric
water heater consumes no power when the element is not heating.
However, the thermostat can come on at any time, not just when there
is a demand for hot water. I would say that the generator you describe
would not work unless you isolated the A/C unit from the rest of the
house.

redhoss.... thank you but i said all power goes to the generator. i
need the answer as described in my question. no matter how
unreasonable the question is....