What will a 3500-watt Generator Run (+Watts Breakdown)
Are you looking for a new generator? I’m sure you’re wondering how much power your generator will require and what it will run.
When we talk about the capacity of generators, there’s a lot of confusion, and this article will clarify things.
The most common and famous portable generator is the 3,500-watt generator.
But what will a 3500-watt generator run? Let’s answer this question in detail.
A 3,500-watt generator has more options than a 2,000-watt generator but does not incur the additional noise or gasoline use that bigger generators do.
Is a 3500 Watt Generator the Right Choice?
To answer that question, let’s compare what you want to run against what 3,500 watts of power can offer.
This article will look at how much wattage common appliances and tools use.
Generators are frequently associated with only being used as a power backup in the event of a power outage, but they may be utilized for a variety of purposes.
Having a portable generator may allow you to keep the luxuries of a home far away from your power outlets or power equipment and gadgets in your yard or at a job site.
A generator is more dependable than ever before. You can rest confident that your generator will provide you with electricity wherever you go.
We will cover everything in this article:
Understanding the Wattage of a Generator
There are two different power ratings to consider when it comes to generator wattages: surge wattage and continuous wattage.
Surge wattage, often abbreviated as S.W., is the maximum amount of power that a generator can handle for an instant before shutting down.
The surge rating is typically 1.5 times greater than the continuous wattage. If the label reads, “2500 watts continuous/3750 watts surge”, it means you can expect to have a total of 3125 watts available for usage at any given time.
Continuous wattage, often abbreviated as C.W., is how much power a generator can consistently produce regularly over an extended period.
A continuous wattage rating will give you a more accurate representation of what you can expect to run at any given time.
A common misconception is that the surge and continuous ratings are interchangeable – they aren’t.
While they are often similar, many appliances require additional surge wattage to start or work properly, so it’s wise to check your specific appliance for the actual power requirements.
Knowing this information means you’ll be able to make a better decision without having to do extensive research on what might work best with your particular devices.
| Appliances | Rated Watts |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator/Freezer | 700W |
| Microwave Oven – 625 Watts | 625-1000W |
| Coffee Maker | 800W |
| Electric Stove | 1500W |
| Dishwasher | 300W |
| Food Processor | 400W |
| Toaster Oven | 1200W |
| Toaster | 850W |
| Iron | 1200W |
| Washing Machine | 500W |
| Clothes Dryer – Electric | 3000W |
| Clothes Dryer – Gas | 700W |
| Light bulb – 60 Watts | 60W |
| Sump Pump | 1140W |
| Water well pump | 575W |
| Space Heater | 1800W |
| Humidifier | 175W |
| Furnace Fan Blower | 700W |
| Heat Pump | 4700W |
| VCR | 100W |
| Stereo | 450W |
| TV | 200W |
| Video Game System | 40W |
| Security System | 500W |
| Hair Dryer | 1250W |
| Curling Iron | 1500W |
| Electric Grill | 1650W |
| AM/FM Radio | 100W |
| CD/DVD Player | 100W |
| Mobile Phone Charger | 10W |
| Computer | 800W |
| Laptop | 300W |
| Laser Printer | 950W |
| Fax Machine | 65W |
| Copy Machine | 1600W |
| Quartz Halogen Work Light | 300-1000W |
| Airless Sprayer | 600W |
| Electric Drill | 440W |
| Belt Sander | 1200W |
| Air Conditioner | 1000-4000W |
| Air Compressor – 1/4HP | 975W |
| Air Compressor – 1 HP | 1600W |
| Hammer Drill | 1600W |
| Circular Saw | 2100W |
| Chain Saw | 1500W |
| Reciprocating Saw | 960W |
| Bench grinder | 1400W |
| Planer/Jointer | 1800W |
| Electric Leaf Blower | 1000W |
Choosing the Right Wattage for Your Needs
If you need a generator, it’s important to know what watts will best meet your power needs. Follow these things for the best choice:
1. The more items you intend on powering at the same time, the higher wattage you’ll need.
2. The longer you intend to use it, the higher wattage you’ll need.
3. If your appliances are high-energy users (e.g., well pump), you’ll need a larger generator than those of low-energy users (e.g., lights).
4. If you need your generator for more than a few hours per day, it will require an engine larger than 3500 watts.
5. The size of the generator is often proportional to its horsepower, which in turn determines the power output. The larger the generator, the more expensive it will be.
Once you’ve got an idea of how many watts you’ll need to run your appliances, you can start looking for a generator that suits your home, commercial or residential needs.
Plugging your devices into an outlet tester can help ensure that each device uses the wattage required to function precisely.
What Can a 3500 Watt Generator Run?
For Power Outage at Home:
3,500 watts generator is just enough to power several lights, a T.V., and perhaps a coffee maker.
A 3500-watt generator can run a window A.C. unit but not a central A.C. unit.
A 3,500-watt generator will power the essentials for most homes, including lights, fans, T.V.s, and some small appliances.
For Party:
3,500 watts would be enough to power lights, fans, and T.V.
A small fridge or freezer can be run off of a 3,500-watt generator and possibly a coffee maker and other appliances that aren’t too power-hungry.
If you’re using the generator for lighting and devices like fans and T.V.s at a summer party, then this sized generator will work just fine.
Or, if you want to power basic appliances like your fridge or freezer, it can also work.
For Tailgating:
A 3,500-watt generator can run heaters and lights for tailgating. But you’d need multiple generators to power things like air conditioners and T.V.s.
If you’re trying to power larger devices like air conditioners, microwaves, toasters, blenders, or hair dryers, you’ll run into issues.
Although the generator could run some of these items with fewer power-hungry appliances plugged into it simultaneously, you’ll need a more powerful generator for this type of use.
A 3,500-watt generator cannot power a grill, a heater, and a T.V. simultaneously with enough power to operate them.
For Winter Storm Power Outage:
A 3,500-watt generator can run lights and fans to make it bearable in the store during a power outage.
Using heavier appliances like a heater or microwave oven will require more wattage from the generator.
A 3,500-watt generator cannot power larger appliances like water pumps or A.C.s.
If you need to run these types of items in addition to lights and fans in the store during a power outage, then it will not be enough wattage in the generator alone.
For Hurricane
A 3,500-watt generator can power lights and fans for a short time after a hurricane, but a bigger one is more efficient for longer outages.
It’s not going to cut it on its own. You’ll need to power more appliances than just lights and fans with a size generator.
A 3,500-watt generator can run most of the appliances in a large house during a hurricane without recharging the device frequently.
It’s a good choice if you also want to run multiple appliances simultaneously and need them for an extended period.
For Small Business
A 3,500-watt generator can run a few lights and fans in a home office after a natural disaster, but it is not enough wattage for anything larger.
It can run most appliances in a small office during an extended power outage.
If you want to operate several appliances simultaneously, getting a generator with more wattage makes more sense.
However, a 3,500-watt generator is not enough wattage for larger items like A.C.s.
For Camping Trip
For camping, a 3500-watt generator is a good option.
You’d need a bigger generator to power things like air conditioners and T.V.s.
A 3,500-watt generator can run fans and lights for camping trips, but you’ll need more wattage from the generator if you want to use other appliances.
If you want to run one item at once, then it’s fine, but you’ll need to use multiple generators if you want to run more than one appliance at a time.
A 3,500-watt generator can power most appliances for camping trips.
For Rv
3500watts generator for R.V. is ok. For R.V. 3,500-watt generator is enough to run the essentials.
A 3,500-watt generator can run lights and fans for R.V.s, but you’ll need more wattage from the generator if you want to use other appliances as well.
If you want to run one item at once, then it’s fine, but you’ll need to use multiple generators if you want to run more than one appliance at a time.
A 3,500-watt generator can power most appliances for R.V.s.
For Boating
A 3500-watt generator is adequate for a fishing trip.
A 3,500-watt generator can run fans and lights for boating & fishing trips, but you’ll need more wattage from the generator if you want to use other appliances.
If you want to run one item at once, then it’s fine, but you’ll need to use multiple generators if you want to run more than one appliance at a time.
A 3,500-watt generator can power most appliances for camping trips.
For Hunting
It can run essential for hunting like lights, radio, fans, etc.
A 3,500-watt generator can run lights and fans for hunting trips, but you’ll need more wattage from the generator if you want to use other appliances.
If you want to run one item at once, then it’s fine, but you’ll need to use multiple generators if you want to run more than one appliance at a time.
A 3,500-watt generator can power most appliances for hunting trips.
Benefits of Buying a 3500-watt Generator
- 3500-watt generator is popular in the market because of its efficiency, quiet and long-lasting benefits.
- It provides clean power protection.
- The generator can be used for both commercial and residential purposes. This generator is ideal for both residential and commercial usage.
- The generator’s affordable price is one of the main reasons it has so many fans.
- With its high power output, it can run essential appliances simultaneously.
- You may use this generator to power all of your household’s lighting and smaller gadgets.
- It can power medium-sized appliances and allows you to operate your household routines with ease.
- Since it is light, a portable platform is easy to carry from one spot to another. 3500watts generators are usually lightweight and simple to transfer from one location to another.
Generator Usage Tips
When it comes to powering appliances, there are a few tips to keep in mind for getting the most out of your generator:
1. When you start it up, avoid using any motorized appliance. They create a high surge in demand that the engine isn’t built to handle and can cause damage.
In that situation, let the generator run for 5 minutes before turning anything on to avoid this problem entirely.
2. If the appliances you’re using require an inverter to change D.C. into A.C., it’s good not to turn them on until after the engine has reached its running RPM.
By then, most of the initial surge demand will be gone, and if there is still an issue, your generator isn’t large enough to power the appliances.
3. If you’re using something with a heating element, such as an oven or a toaster, be careful not to run it for more than an hour at a time so that the generator doesn’t overheat.
What will a 3500-watt Generator Run?
Conventional vs. Inverter 3,500-watt Generators
Inverter generators typically have a surge wattage well over the 3,500 mark. For example, a 5,000-watt inverter generator has a surge wattage of about 13,500 watts.
You will need a circuit with a 15 or 20-ampere breaker to keep it from overheating.
If you have a 30-ampere breaker, you can run about 60% of the generator’s capacity on that circuit and keep it from overheating, but running larger items like good pumps and air conditioners will require a larger generator.
On the other hand, conventional generators produce standard power at 3,500 watts. They are cheaper than inverter generators, but they also have some issues.
For one, their power is unstable; the power will abruptly cut out when too much load is put on the unit.
If you plug in your 3,500-watt microwave oven to the generator’s outlet, for example, it may shut off the power, leaving you with a nice melted bowl of mac and cheese.
Conventional generators also produce a high-pitched hum that can be quite annoying when operating all day.
They are also extremely loud, they emit fumes into the air, and they can be expensive to refuel.
Inverter generators tend to be more reliable and have a longer lifespan than conventional generators.
They are also quieter, cleaner, and more efficient. While the initial cost for inverter generators is higher than standard units, they will ultimately save you money in repairs and fuel costs.
Final Verdict
We recommend that you get the 3500-watt generator if you’re thinking of buying one.
This is the ideal product for people who need power during an emergency or a blackout at home.
There’s no way better than going over online reviews before making up your mind because what other people say can help guide your decision as well! Remember not to panic when buying anything – always.
I hope our blog post about what will a 3500-watt generator run help you in buying a new beast for your home.
