What Can a 3500 Watt Generator Run? – [Tested Results]
The goal of this article is to answer all of your burning questions about “What Can a 3500 Watt Generator Run?” How many appliances I can run simultaneously? and will a 3.5kw machine be enough for my household, RV, or job site?
A 3,500-watt generator would be enough for a household or RV that has a bunch of low-power-hungry appliances like microwaves, small sump pumps, refrigerators, Window air conditioners, Vacuums, Washing machines, etc.
What Can a 3500 Watt Generator Run?
As per the tests conducted with my brother’s Predator 3,500-watt Super Quiet Inverter Generator, the following appliance runs smoothly with a 3,500-watt machine.
- Window Air Conditioner (10,000 BTUs)
- Electric Kettle
- Space Heater
- Sump Pump (1/2 HP)
- Washing Machine
- Toaster Oven
- Dishwasher
- Water Pump, ½ hp
- Coffee Maker
- Refrigerator
- Miter Saw (10″)
- Rebar Cutter (1″)
- Airless Sprayer
- Air Compressor (0.25 HP)
- Hair Dryer
- Microwave
- Blender
- RV Air Conditioner (7,000 – 15,000 BTU)
- Food Processor
- Belt Sander
Understanding the Generator Wattages
Every generator comes with two different wattage ratings one is starting and the other is runtime
Running Watts: The number of watts a generator can produce for a longer time to run an appliance smoothly without any frequency or voltage fluctuation. Running watts will always be lower compared to the starting watts.
Starting Watts: The number of watts a machine can produce for a small time to power up motorized appliances like sump pumps, air conditioners, air compressors, etc. Starting watts will always be higher compared to running watts.
What Appliances You Can Run With a 3500 Watt Generator?
List of Home Appliances:
| Appliance | Starting Watts | Running Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Window Air Conditioner (10,000 BTUs) | 1800 | 1200 |
| Electric Kettle | 3000 | 1200 |
| Sump Pump (1/2 HP) | 2150 | 1050 |
| Washing Machine | 2250 | 1150 |
| Space Heater | 0 | 1800 |
| Toaster Oven | 0 | 1200 |
| Dishwasher | 1500 | 1500 |
| Water Pump, ½ hp | 2000 | 900 |
| Iron | 0 | 1200 |
| Toaster | 0 | 1200 |
| Coffee Maker | 0 | 1200 |
| Refrigerator | 1200 | 200 |
| Hair Dryer | 0 | 1250 |
| Microwave | 0 | 600-1200 |
| Blender | 0 | 500 |
| Phone Charger | 0 | 10 |
| 50 Inch LCD TV | 0 | 150 |
| Light Bulbs | 0 | 20 |
| Garage Door Opener (1/2 HP) | 875 | 2350 |
| Laptop | 0 | 60 |
| InstaPot | 0 | 1000 |
List of RV Appliances:
| Appliances | Starting Watts | Running Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Stove 2kW | 0 | 2000 |
| RV Air Conditioner (7,000 BTU) | 1700 | 900 |
| RV Air Conditioner (10,000 BTU) | 2000 | 1200 |
| RV Air Conditioner (13,500 BTU) | 2500 | 1600 |
| RV Air Conditioner (15,000 BTU) | 2700 | 1700 |
| Food Processor | 400 | 0 |
List of Power Tools:
| Appliance | Running Watts | Starting Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Belt Sander | 1,200 | 2,400 |
| Miter Saw (10″) | 850 | 21,00 |
| Rebar Cutter (1″) | 1700 – 2800 | 0 |
| Airless Sprayer (0.33 HP) | 600 | 1,200 |
| Jointer/Planer | 1,800 | 1,800 |
| Charger (Cordless Drill) | 70 | 80 |
| Concrete Vibrator (0.75 HP) | 850 | 1,900 |
| Orbital Sander | 1,200 | 2,600 |
| Air Compressor (0.25 HP) | 975 | 1,600 |
| Table Saw (10″) | 1,800 | 2,700 |
| Concrete Vibrator (1.00 HP) | 1,100 | 2,500 |
| Electric Drill | 600 | 900 |
| Chain Saw 12” (1.5 HP) | 900 | 0 |
| Impact Wrench (1″) | 1,200 | 1,400 |
| Drain Cleaner | 250 | 0 |
| Disk Sander (9″) | 1,200 | 2,600 |
| Bench Grinder | 1,400 | 2,500 |
| Hammer Drill | 1,000 | 3,000 |
| Radial Arm Saw | 2,000 | 2,000 |
Recommended Guide: What appliances can a 8,000 watt generator run?
How Many Appliances Can a 3500-Watt Machine Run Simultaneously?
It depends on the wattage ratings of the appliances you are going to use. If you are going to operate three 1,000-watt appliances simultaneously you can’t plug another one as you have drawn 100% of capacity, however within the limit of 0 – 3,500 watts you can run any appliance you want.
Note: We don’t recommend drawing 100% of the load from a generator, keeping a margin of 10 – 20% so that the generator could work more efficiently.
The small margin will not only save you from the ongoing cost of maintenance and repair down the road but also keep your voltage-sensitive appliances away from the intake of contaminated power.
How to Determine the Power Needs?
- Make a list of the appliances you are going to run and write down their running and starting wattages in a separate column. You can find the power rating from the energy labeling, if you have found the power ratings In amperes make sure to convert them to watts with the help of Ohm’s Law
Ohm’s Law: W (watts or kilowatts) = Volts (V) X Amp (Ampere)
E.g.: An appliance/equipment is consuming about 11 starting and 10 running amps at 220 volts.
With the help of Ohm’s Law
W (watts or kilowatts) = Volts (V) X Amp (Ampere)
Running Watts = 2200
Starting Watts = 2420 watts
- Sum up the starting and running wattages and compare them with the power ratings of the generator you are going to purchase.
Practical Example:
| Appliances | Running watts | Starting watts |
|---|---|---|
| 50” LED TV | 150 | 0 |
| Camping Refrigerator | 350 | 500 |
| Electric Drill | 500 | 800 |
| Window Air Conditioner (10,000 BTUs) | 1200 | 1800 |
| Coffee maker | 1200 | 0 |
| Total | 3400 | 3100 |
From the above calculation, we got 3400 running and 3100 starting watts, hence a brandable 3,500-watt machine like a Predator 3500-watt inverter generator would be enough for this quotation.
Can a 3500 Generator Run a House?
It depends on the requirements, typically 3,500 watts could be an ideal power for those who just want to operate their low-power-hungry appliances like microwaves, lighting, TVs, home theater systems, refrigerators, etc.
However, if you want them to operate simultaneously or you want to operate the higher-wattage central ACs, sump pumps, etc. you may have to consider a bigger machine of at least 7,000 watts ( Here is the Guide about what appliances will a 7 000 watt generator run).
Will a 3500 Watt Generator Run an AC (Air Conditioner) Unit?
It depends, a Standard Window or RV Air conditioner wouldn’t be a problem for a 3.5kw machine, however higher higher-wattage central air conditioner may need a bigger machine.
Will a 3500 Watt Generator Run a Washing Machine?
Yes, a washing machine needs about 1,500 – 2250 wattages depending on the size.
Will a 3500 Watt Generator Run 2 Refrigerators?
Yes, a standard-sized refrigerator with a freezer needs only 1000 – 1200 watts, hence they both consume about 2400 watts, on the other hand, a 3,500-watt generator is capable of generating 3,500 – 4,000 starting and 3,200 – 3,500 running watts.
Will a 3500 Watt Generator Run a Camper?
It depends, Though a 3,500-watt machine runs almost every essential of the camper including a small air conditioner, refrigerator, microwaves, lighting, washing machine, TVs, charging devices, etc. still if you want to run them simultaneously or you want to run a higher wattage electric water heater, a dryer, central air conditioner, etc. you should have to consider a bigger one.
Verdict
A 3,500 machine would be considered an ideal size for a camper, small RV, household, and camping as well because of the normal weight, fuel consumption, and huge variety of machines available in the market.
However, you have to keep in mind that it isn’t capable to run all household or RV appliances at once, make sure to do a thorough wattage calculation by following this section of the article before making any buying decision.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Will a 3500 Watt Generator Run on a Tank of Gas?
It depends on the fuel tank size, load, efficiency, and brand of the generator.
If you are going to draw 90% of the load you may hardly get 4 – 5 hours of runtime with a single tank of 2 – 3 gallons, however at 25% – 30% load you may get 7 – 8 hours of runtime. Additionally, an inverter generator provides more runtime compared to the ordinary one.
How Long Will a 3500 Watt Generator Run on a Gallon of Gas?
It depends on the load, at 25% – 30% a 3,500-watt machine can provide about 2.5 – 3 hours of runtime, however at 85% – 90% load you may hardly get 1.5 – 2 hours or less in some cases if the generator is not maintained properly.
Will a 3500 Watt Generator Run a Welder?
No, a standard welder needs at least 4 – 5kw of starting wattage which isn’t practically possible for a 3.5kw machine.
Kashif has been a valuable asset to the electric generator industry for over 5 years. Now, As a skilled energy engineer, he’s been on the front lines of diagnosing problems, fixing broken parts, and performing routine maintenance tasks to keep generators running smoothly.