Starting Watts vs Running Watts: Choosing the Right Generator Power

Generators, without a doubt, are the perfect backup power source during outages and for off-grid living. Understanding power ratings of appliances you want to run with a generator is crucial, as it determines how many appliances you can connect at once.

When we talk about the power rating, two terms are commonly used: starting watts and running watts. They both show the power consumption of appliances at different times. This article presents a detailed discussion on starting watts vs running watts.

If you carefully consider the running and starting wattage of all appliances, it will help you choose the right generator, which helps you avoid outages and electrical overloads. Moreover, in this article, you will also learn to calculate the power requirements of your RV or home to select the right size generator.

What are starting watts?

Are you wondering what does starting watts mean on a generator? Well, some devices come with compressors (like refrigerators) and motors (like washing machines, air conditioners, and water pumps). They need extra power to start their operations. This additional power is commonly called starting watts. It is also known as peak watts or surge watts.

For example, refrigerators and air conditioners installed in your homes consume more power when they start compared to the power they consume during routine operations. The surge watts are higher than the running watts (we will discuss it in the section below).

Since surge or peak watts are only required when appliances start, they are consumed for a short period. Let's look at some common appliances with higher starting wattage.

Appliance	Starting watts (W)
Garage door opener	1,400
Coffee maker	1,750-2,400
Freezer	1,800
Electric frypan	1,300
Small window AC	Up to 8,000
Sump pump	1,300-2,000
Well pump	2,000
Dishwasher	1,800
Washing machine	2,300
Dryer	7,000
Vacuum cleaner	2,500

What are running watts?

A steady power supply that a generator delivers to keep the appliances going is called running wattage. It is also known as continuous power or rated wattage. Like generators, the running watts of any appliance is the amount of power it needs to keep its momentum from falling.

For instance, if your refrigerator consumes higher starting watts while starting its operations, its power consumption will go down and become steady after a short period. This steady power will now be called continuous wattage. It is several times lower than the starting watts.

For example, if a water pump has starting wattage of 3,000 watts, it will have running watts as low as 1,000W-1,500W. Let's look at some commonly used appliances that need low running watts to perform their routine operations.

Appliance	Running watts (W)
Light bulb	12-60
Laptop	50
LED TV	30-100
Ceiling fan	65-175
Mini fridge	100
Clock radio	10
Window fan	55-250
DVD	20-25
Cordless phone	2-5
Smartphone	5-20
Electric lint remover	5-10

The running watts of a solar generator mean how much power it can deliver continuously to run or charge various appliances or devices. A 1000W solar system will easily run a 600W refrigerator, but operating a 1,500W appliance with this generator will exceed the maximum capacity. Every time the power requirements exceed the generator's capacity, it will likely shut it down.

Starting watts vs Running watts: What's the difference?

As stated earlier, starting watts is the surge power required to start motor-powered or similar appliances. In comparison, running wattage refers to the amount of continuous power required to operate an appliance for regular operations.

To understand the differences between running watts vs peak watts, let's first talk about the magnitude of power. Starting watts are typically several times higher than the running wattage. They determine the additional power needed to start a device. Whereas, running watts refer to power required for a device's continuous operations.

When it comes to the duration of power output, a generator should supply the running watts as long as the appliances are in operation. For example, refrigerators, ceiling fans, and washing machines keep consuming continuous power until we turn them off. On the other hand, starting watts are only required for a shorter period when a specific appliance starts. Once an appliance starts, its power consumption will become equivalent to the running wattage.

Both running and starting watts are essential for different devices. For example, running watts are important for each device that consumes power continuously, such as ceiling fans, light bulbs, and other electronics. Starting watts are essential for appliances with electric motors or compressors, including washing machines, air conditioners, water pumps, power tools, refrigerators, and the list continues.

Considering both running and starting wattage is crucial when selecting a generator to run your home appliances during outages. The running wattage of the generator will tell you how many appliances you can run for long hours. In contrast, the surge power of the generator refers to the maximum peak power it can handle to start high-power devices.

Let's further talk about why considering peak and running watts matter, how you can calculate your power needs, and how you can select the right size generator based on your energy consumption requirements.

Why does understanding watts matter when choosing a generator?

Now that you know the difference between peak watts and running watts (required for a short period and continuously, respectively). It is time to understand how knowing this difference helps you select the right generator to run various appliances or devices at homes, worksites, RVs, and camping.

For example, if you want to choose a generator to get home backup power, you should see if the generator's running wattage is higher or equivalent to the total running wattage of all appliances you want to run. At the same time, the generator's ability to handle the surge power should be higher or at least equal to the highest starting wattage of an appliance. The same concept works for other environments: camping, fishing, RVs, and working sites.

Many people make a common mistake when buying a generator for backup power. What they do is they only consider the running wattage. In that case, the generator can perfectly run small and low-power appliances. But, when you try to run high-power appliances, like water pumps, refrigerators, air conditioners, and electric heaters, the generator will either not be able to run any of them or will shut down immediately.

The generators mostly get overloaded or shut down when they can't bear the peak or surge power required to start energy-hungry devices.

How to calculate the power needs for your home or RV?

Do you want to calculate how much power you need to run your RV or home appliances? First, calculate or determine the running and starting wattage. Now, the question coming to your mind would be, "Where to find these watts." Right?

Well, you can simply look at the nameplates or rating plates to see the starting and rated power of all appliances. If you can't find any of them on the nameplate, review the manufacturer's specifics or manual. You will surely find them over there. Visiting the manufacturer's website may also do the job.

In some cases, you will see a single wattage value instead of separate values for peak and running watts. If this is the case, don't worry, as it means both starting and rated power values are equal. For example, you may find a mobile charge with a power consumption of 5W. It means that its surge and continuous power are the same.

Here is how you can calculate the total wattage requirements.

Step 1: Determine the running and starting watts of all appliances you want to power with the generator.

Step 2: Add the running wattage of all appliances to find the total running wattage your generator should supply.

Step 3: Highlight the highest value of the starting wattage among all appliances.

Step 4: Sum up the total running wattage and the highest surge (starting) watts to calculate the total wattage requirements.

Step 5: Last but not least, add an extra 10-25% power as an added safety buffer. It will help the generator handle unexpected surges.

Remember, different makes and models of the same device or appliance may consume different amounts of power. The table below lists the starting and running watts of commonly used home appliances.

Home appliance	Starting watts (W)	Running watts (W)
Ceiling fan	150	70
LED bulbs	15-60	15-60
Television	100	100
Hair dryer	1,800-1,900	1,200-1,400
Washing machine	1,800	600-800
Microwave oven	1,200	1,000-1,200
Electric kettle	1,200-1,500	1,200-1,500
Laptop	60	50-60
Resistance heater	1,500	1,500
Dishwasher	2,400	1,200-1,500
Iron	1,000-1,200	1,000-1,200

Selecting the right generator based on wattage requirements

Let's use a real-life example to better understand how you can select the right generator based on the wattage needs. Suppose you want to run a 60W ceiling fan (with 150W starting wattage), 350W refrigerator (with 700W starting wattage), 30W LED bulb, 1,000W water pump (with 2,000W starting wattage), and a 50W laptop with a generator. In that case, the total running and the starting watts can be calculated as follows.

Total running watts = 60 + 350 + 30 + 1000 + 50 = 1,490W

The highest starting wattage = 2,000W

To run these appliances, you should select a generator that can provide a continuous power of 1,490W and starting watts of 3,490W (1,490 + 2,000). This is how you can select the best generators for home use. If you want to run a few appliances, go for portable generators to get backup power. If you want to run a whole house or business, standby generators will enable you to power everything you need.

Are you looking for dependable solar generators to fulfill your power requirements at a competitive price? Try the Renogy 1.2kW Essential Solar Kit and 12V 400W Complete Solar Kit for different energy needs. They come with high-efficiency PERC panels, reliable batteries, a solar inverter charger, Bluetooth monitoring, and DC circuit protection.

FAQs about starting watts and running watts

How much starting wattage does a fridge need?

The starting watts can be different for different refrigerators. However, most fridges consume around 1,800W to start.

Can I run multiple appliances on a small generator?

Yes, you can power multiple appliances on a small generator, but make sure the power consumption does not exceed the maximum output of the generator.

How do I find the wattage requirements for my appliances?

The rating plate or nameplate will help you find the wattage requirements of your appliances. If not, you can either visit the manufacturer's official website or review the given user manual or specifications.

Conclusion

Both starting and running watts are crucial to consider when selecting a generator for various power requirements. A proper understanding of wattage requirements and the concept of additional safety buffers enable you to choose an ideal backup power source for your needs.

This guide has presented a detailed discussion on peak watts vs running watts. Moreover, it has explained how you can calculate the wattage requirements for homes, offices, and RVs, and choose a perfect generator based on them.