Question 1

Home & Backup Power

Accepted Answer

Appliance
            Running Watts
            Starting Watts
          
        
        
          
            Refrigerator
            150–400W
            800–1,200W
          
          
            Freezer
            100–500W
            500–1,000W
          
          
            Window AC (5,000 BTU)
            450–600W
            900–1,200W
          
          
            Window AC (10,000 BTU)
            900–1,200W
            1,800–2,400W
          
          
            Central AC (2 ton)
            2,000–2,500W
            3,500–4,500W
          
          
            Central AC (3 ton)
            3,000–3,500W
            5,000–6,000W
          
          
            Central AC (4 ton)
            4,000–5,000W
            6,500–8,000W
          
          
            Electric water heater
            3,000–4,500W
            —*
          
          
            Furnace fan (1/2 HP)
            300–800W
            800–1,600W
          
          
            Sump pump (1/3 HP)
            500–800W
            1,000–1,600W
          
          
            Sump pump (1/2 HP)
            800–1,050W
            1,300–2,150W
          
          
            Well pump (1/2 HP)
            750–1,000W
            1,500–2,000W
          
          
            Well pump (1 HP)
            1,000–2,000W
            2,000–4,000W
          
          
            Washing machine
            500–1,000W
            1,000–2,300W
          
          
            Electric dryer
            4,000–6,000W
            —*
          
          
            Dishwasher
            1,200–2,400W
            —*
          
          
            Microwave
            600–1,200W
            —*
          
          
            Electric range (one burner)
            1,200–2,400W
            —*
          
          
            Space heater
            750–1,500W
            —*
          
          
            Window fan
            50–200W
            —*
          
          
            Ceiling fan
            15–75W
            —*
          
          
            TV (32"–55")
            80–400W
            —*
          
          
            LED lights (per bulb)
            8–15W
            —*
          
          
            Phone/laptop charger
            20–100W
            —*
          
          
            CPAP machine (without heat)
            30–60W
            —*
          
          
            CPAP machine (with heated humidifier)
            60–120W
            —*
          
          
            Home security system
            15–40W
            —*
          
          
            Internet router/modem
            10–20W
            —*
          
        
      
    
  
  * These appliances do not require extra starting watts. Size based on running watts only.

Question 2

Job Site

Accepted Answer

Appliance
            Running Watts
            Starting Watts
          
        
        
          
            Circular saw (7-1/4")
            1,200–1,800W
            2,400–3,600W
          
          
            Table saw (10")
            1,800–3,000W
            3,600–6,000W
          
          
            Miter saw (10")
            1,200–1,800W
            2,400–3,600W
          
          
            Reciprocating saw
            960–1,200W
            1,920–2,400W
          
          
            Angle grinder (4-1/2")
            900–1,800W
            1,800–3,600W
          
          
            Electric drill (1/2")
            400–600W
            800–1,200W
          
          
            Hammer drill
            900–1,200W
            1,800–2,400W
          
          
            Belt sander
            800–1,200W
            1,600–2,400W
          
          
            Air compressor (1 HP)
            1,500W
            4,500W
          
          
            Air compressor (2 HP)
            2,500W
            7,500W
          
          
            Air compressor (3 HP)
            3,500W
            10,500W
          
          
            Pressure washer (1,500 PSI)
            1,200–1,500W
            2,400–3,000W
          
          
            Pressure washer (2,500 PSI)
            2,000–2,500W
            4,000–5,000W
          
          
            Work lights (LED, 100W equivalent)
            15–25W
            —*
          
          
            Work lights (halogen, 500W)
            500W
            —*
          
          
            Battery charger (heavy duty)
            1,500–2,000W
            —*
          
          
            Welder (120V)
            1,800–2,500W
            3,600–5,000W
          
          
            Welder (240V)
            3,000–8,000W
            6,000–16,000W
          
          
            Portable heater (job site)
            1,500–3,000W
            —*
          
        
      
    
  
  * These appliances do not require extra starting watts. Size based on running watts only.

Question 3

Outdoors & Recreation

Accepted Answer

Appliance
            Running Watts
            Starting Watts
          
        
        
          
            RV air conditioner (13,500 BTU)
            1,500–2,000W
            2,800–3,500W
          
          
            RV air conditioner (15,000 BTU)
            2,000–2,500W
            3,500–4,500W
          
          
            RV microwave
            600–1,200W
            —*
          
          
            RV refrigerator
            150–600W
            400–1,000W
          
          
            RV water heater
            1,200–1,500W
            —*
          
          
            Electric grill
            1,650W
            —*
          
          
            Portable induction cooktop
            1,200–1,800W
            —*
          
          
            Electric smoker
            800–1,200W
            —*
          
          
            Mini fridge/cooler
            50–100W
            400–600W
          
          
            Box fan
            50–200W
            —*
          
          
            String lights/LED camp lights
            50–200W
            —*
          
          
            TV (portable/camping)
            50–150W
            —*
          
          
            Phone/laptop charger
            20–100W
            —*
          
          
            CPAP machine (without heat)
            30–60W
            —*
          
          
            Portable power tool charger
            25–100W
            —*
          
          
            Tailgate blender
            300–600W
            600–1,200W
          
          
            Portable projector
            100–300W
            —*
          
        
      
    
  
  * These appliances do not require extra starting watts. Size based on running watts only.

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About

Generator Wattage Chart: Common Appliances & Tools

How Much Power Do Your Appliances Need?

Home & Backup Power

Job Site

Outdoors & Recreation

Support

About

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Refrigerator	150–400W	800–1,200W
Freezer	100–500W	500–1,000W
Window AC (5,000 BTU)	450–600W	900–1,200W
Window AC (10,000 BTU)	900–1,200W	1,800–2,400W
Central AC (2 ton)	2,000–2,500W	3,500–4,500W
Central AC (3 ton)	3,000–3,500W	5,000–6,000W
Central AC (4 ton)	4,000–5,000W	6,500–8,000W
Electric water heater	3,000–4,500W	—*
Furnace fan (1/2 HP)	300–800W	800–1,600W
Sump pump (1/3 HP)	500–800W	1,000–1,600W
Sump pump (1/2 HP)	800–1,050W	1,300–2,150W
Well pump (1/2 HP)	750–1,000W	1,500–2,000W
Well pump (1 HP)	1,000–2,000W	2,000–4,000W
Washing machine	500–1,000W	1,000–2,300W
Electric dryer	4,000–6,000W	—*
Dishwasher	1,200–2,400W	—*
Microwave	600–1,200W	—*
Electric range (one burner)	1,200–2,400W	—*
Space heater	750–1,500W	—*
Window fan	50–200W	—*
Ceiling fan	15–75W	—*
TV (32"–55")	80–400W	—*
LED lights (per bulb)	8–15W	—*
Phone/laptop charger	20–100W	—*
CPAP machine (without heat)	30–60W	—*
CPAP machine (with heated humidifier)	60–120W	—*
Home security system	15–40W	—*
Internet router/modem	10–20W	—*

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Circular saw (7-1/4")	1,200–1,800W	2,400–3,600W
Table saw (10")	1,800–3,000W	3,600–6,000W
Miter saw (10")	1,200–1,800W	2,400–3,600W
Reciprocating saw	960–1,200W	1,920–2,400W
Angle grinder (4-1/2")	900–1,800W	1,800–3,600W
Electric drill (1/2")	400–600W	800–1,200W
Hammer drill	900–1,200W	1,800–2,400W
Belt sander	800–1,200W	1,600–2,400W
Air compressor (1 HP)	1,500W	4,500W
Air compressor (2 HP)	2,500W	7,500W
Air compressor (3 HP)	3,500W	10,500W
Pressure washer (1,500 PSI)	1,200–1,500W	2,400–3,000W
Pressure washer (2,500 PSI)	2,000–2,500W	4,000–5,000W
Work lights (LED, 100W equivalent)	15–25W	—*
Work lights (halogen, 500W)	500W	—*
Battery charger (heavy duty)	1,500–2,000W	—*
Welder (120V)	1,800–2,500W	3,600–5,000W
Welder (240V)	3,000–8,000W	6,000–16,000W
Portable heater (job site)	1,500–3,000W	—*

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
RV air conditioner (13,500 BTU)	1,500–2,000W	2,800–3,500W
RV air conditioner (15,000 BTU)	2,000–2,500W	3,500–4,500W
RV microwave	600–1,200W	—*
RV refrigerator	150–600W	400–1,000W
RV water heater	1,200–1,500W	—*
Electric grill	1,650W	—*
Portable induction cooktop	1,200–1,800W	—*
Electric smoker	800–1,200W	—*
Mini fridge/cooler	50–100W	400–600W
Box fan	50–200W	—*
String lights/LED camp lights	50–200W	—*
TV (portable/camping)	50–150W	—*
Phone/laptop charger	20–100W	—*
CPAP machine (without heat)	30–60W	—*
Portable power tool charger	25–100W	—*
Tailgate blender	300–600W	600–1,200W
Portable projector	100–300W	—*