I'm familiar with the concept of the power requirements and the extra surge voltage needed when the compressor kicks on, but I was wondering if anyone here has run a window unit off a generator and what their experiences were. Thanks!
Prepare your site carefully. You need to run the generator outside and away from structures and combustibles, with the exhaust not coming towards your house and particularly not towards the air conditioner. Portable generators shouldn't be run in the rain, so if you don't have a car port or similar way to keep rain off without containing the exhaust, consider putting up a canopy where you want to run the generator.
Use an appropriately rated (heavy) extension cord to get the power to the load. Use the shortest extension cord that will work for your application.
Along with the battery-powered fan, consider filling a large cooler with ice. A fan, a cold drink, and an ice pack on the forehead and the back of the neck can work wonders.