What will a portable generator run?
The number in a portable generator's name is sometimes its running rating and sometimes its peak rating, and the difference decides what it can start. These pages take six current models from 2,200 to 9,500 W and show what each carries.
| Size | Example | Running | Peak | Starts alone | Outage list, running W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,200 W | Honda EU2200i | 1,800 | 2,200 | 17 of 30 | 788.2 |
| 3,000 W | Honda EU3000iS | 2,800 | 3,000 | 21 of 30 | 788.2 |
| 5,000 W | Westinghouse iGen5000 | 3,900 | 5,000 | 26 of 30 | 2,793.2 |
| 7,000 W | Honda EU7000iS | 5,500 | 7,000 | 27 of 30 | 4,793.2 |
| 7,500 W | Champion 201040 | 7,500 | 9,375 | 30 of 30 | 6,293.2 |
| 9,500 W | Westinghouse WGen9500DF | 9,500 | 12,500 | 30 of 30 | 7,793.2 |
Read the label, not the name
Honda names its EU2200i, EU3000iS and EU7000iS by their maximum output and Westinghouse names the iGen5000 by its peak. Champion and Westinghouse name their open-frame dual-fuel models by running watts. A "7,000 W" Honda therefore runs 5,500 W continuously, while a "7,500 W" Champion runs 7,500 W. Compare the running rating against your running total, and the peak rating against running total plus the largest starting surge.
To size for your own list, tick what you need in the calculator.
Inverter or open frame
Four of the six are inverter generators (the three Hondas and the Westinghouse iGen5000); the Champion and the WGen9500DF are open-frame dual-fuel models that also run on propane, at lower ratings. On propane the Champion drops from 7,500 to 6,750 W running and the Westinghouse from 9,500 to 8,500 W, which can push a starting surge that fitted on gasoline over the limit. Each page shows the propane figures where the maker publishes them.
How long a tank lasts
Run time depends on load. The makers publish it at a quarter, half or full load, and the figures are on each page: the EU2200i's 0.95-gallon tank lasts 3.2 hours at rated load, while the WGen9500DF lists 8 hours at half load from 6.6 gallons. For an outage of several days, multiply by the refuelling you are prepared to do, and keep fuel stored safely away from the house.
All six must run outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents — see the placement guide. To feed a furnace, well pump or other hard-wired circuit you also need a transfer switch.