What will it run / 2,200 W
What will a 2,200 watt generator run?
Taking the Honda EU2200i as the example: it is rated 1,800 W running and 2,200 W max. In this site's outage order it carries 3 kinds of load at once — 788.2 W running, with room to start the biggest motor in the list for a total of 2,188.2 W — and it can start 17 of the 30 devices in the tables on their own.
The 2,200 in the name is Honda's maximum output; the rating it can hold continuously is 1,800 W. Honda lists only a 120-volt output for it, so it cannot feed a 240-volt well pump or water heater even if the watts were there.
Its 0.95-gallon tank runs 3.2 hours at rated load and 8.1 hours at a quarter load, by Honda's figures, so overnight use means refuelling or running light.
An outage list it can carry
| Load | Qty | Running W | Extra to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnace fan blower, 1/3 hp | 1 | 700 | 1,400 |
| CPAP machine (ResMed AirSense 11) | 1 | 73.2 | — |
| LED light bulb, 15 W | 1 | 15 | — |
| Total | 788.2 | + 1,400 = 2,188.2 |
The list is filled in a fixed order — refrigerator, sump pump, furnace fan, well pump, CPAP, lights and chargers, then television, laptop, microwave, coffee maker, space heater and window air conditioner — skipping anything that would push the running total past 1,800 W or the starting total past 2,200 W. It leaves 1,011.8 W of running capacity and 11.8 W of starting capacity unused. The highlighted row has the biggest starting surge, which is the one added to the running total.
What it can start on its own
Sump pump, 1/3 hp; Furnace fan blower, 1/3 hp; Microwave, 1,000 W; Coffee maker; Toaster; Toaster oven; Air fryer; Slow cooker; Space heater; CPAP machine (ResMed AirSense 11); Oxygen concentrator (Philips EverFlo); LED light bulb, 15 W; Television, LED; Laptop; Desktop computer with monitor; Cell phone charger; AM/FM radio.
Too big even alone: Refrigerator/freezer (2,900 W to start); Sump pump, 1/2 hp (3,200 W to start); Well pump, 1/3 hp (3,000 W to start); Well pump, 1/2 hp (3,100 W to start); Furnace fan blower, 1/2 hp (3,175 W to start); Garage door opener, 1/2 hp (3,225 W to start); Electric range, one 8-inch element (2,100 W to start); Dishwasher (2,700 W to start); Washing machine (3,450 W to start); Window air conditioner, 12,000 BTU (7,200 W to start); Central air conditioner, 24,000 BTU (2 ton) (8,750 W to start); Heat pump (9,200 W to start); Electric water heater (4,500 W to start).
A refrigerator and a 1/2 hp sump pump together need 1,750 W running and 3,950 W to start — more than this generator's max rating.
Compared with the other sizes
Run time: 8.1 hours at 1/4 load, 3.2 hours at rated load from a 0.95-gallon tank, by the maker's figures. Keep it outdoors at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents (why).
Ratings: Honda Power Equipment, EU2200i specifications. Appliance figures: Generac GP brochure, EWEB and Champion tables (see methodology). Other sizes: 3,000 W · 5,000 W · 7,000 W · 7,500 W · 9,500 W.