What Can (and Can’t) You Run With a 2000-Watt Generator?
Generators back up your home’s electricity supply and protect against power outages. They’re also great additions to any camping trip, outdoor barbeque, or beach day. A 2,000-watt generator is enough to power most small household items, including toaster ovens, coffee makers, lights, and computers. But is it enough power to run a dishwasher or freezer?
This article will help you determine what you can and can’t run off a 2,000-watt generator and how to supplement your backup energy supply to achieve energy resilience.
Starting Watts and Running Watts of a 2,000-Watt Generator
When it comes to household applications, electricity is measured in watts. A generator rated at 2000W indicates it can run appliances that require 2000W of continuous power or more if you’re measuring the surge power. You can determine the power output capabilities of your generator by determining the difference between the generator’s running watts and starting watts.
Running Watts
Running watts, also called rated or continuous watts, are the amount of power a generator can continuously produce over a long period. The generator’s output capacity typically indicates its running watts.
To avoid an overload — which happens if you exceed a generator’s running wattage limitations — make sure the sum total wattage of any devices or appliances plugged into the generator and switched on doesn’t exceed its running watts rating. Many generators have overload protection, but it’s better not to trigger this.