What Can a 5500 Watt Generator Run? – Unleashing The Potential
This article is all about answering your queries about “what can a 5500 watt generator run? How many appliances can I run simultaneously and will it run my air conditioner, Sump pumps, and other power-hungry appliances?
A 5500-watt generator can run almost every essential of a small household, RV, or job site including microwave, refrigerator/freezer, Air conditioner, Oven, Electric water heater, washing machine, sump pump, well pump, welder, circular saw, electric drills, etc.
Understanding the Basics of Generator Wattage
Starting/Peak watts: The maximum wattage a generator can produce for a shorter time to power up the motorized tools/appliances.
The purpose of peak watts is to provide initial inertia to the motor/compressor-based appliances/tools rest of the work will be handled by the running watts.
Starting watts will always be higher compared to running watts.
Running/Rated Watts: The maximum wattage a generator can produce to run an appliance/tool in a stable condition. Rated watts will always be lower compared to the starting watts.
Note: Starting and running watts (power ratings) can be found in the specification section of the machine.
What Appliances will a 5500 Watt Generator Run?
Below is the list of Household, RV, or job site tools/appliances that can be smoothly run with a 5.5kw generator.
House Hold Appliances:
| Appliance | Running Watts | Starting Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Toaster Oven | 1200 | 0 |
| Window AC 12.000 BTU | 1500 | 2300 |
| Microwave Oven 1000 W | 1000 | 0 |
| Electric Grill 1.6 kW | 1600 | 0 |
| Central AC 10.000 BTU | 1500 | 2400 |
| Sump Pump 1/2 HP | 1050 | 2200 |
| Window AC 12.000 BTU | 1500 | 2300 |
| Furnace Fan 1/2 HP | 800 | 2350 |
| Coffee Maker | 1000 | 0 |
| Electric Stove 2kW | 2000 | 0 |
| Window AC 15.000 BTU | 1900 | 2900 |
| Hair Dryer 1.5 kW | 1500 | 0 |
| Toaster | 900 | 0 |
| Window AC 5.000 BTU | 600 | 900 |
| Sump Pump 1/3 HP | 800 | 1300 |
| Furnace Fan 1/3 HP | 700 | 1400 |
| Iron (Waffles) | 1200 | 0 |
| Dishwasher | 1300 | 1800 |
| Vacuum Cleaner 12 Amps | 1440 | 2500 |
| Box Fan 20″ | 200 | 350 |
| Refrigerator/Freezer | 700 | 2200 |
| Window AC 12.000 BTU | 1500 | 2300 |
| Light LED Bulb 10 W | 10 | 0 |
| Deep Freezer | 500 | 1500 |
| Security System | 500 | 0 |
| Curling Iron | 1500 | 0 |
| Garade Door Opener 1/2 HP | 900 | 2400 |
| Aquarium | 200 | 250 |
| Clothes Iron | 1500 | 0 |
| Light Bulb 60 W | 60 | 0 |
| Microwave Oven 600 W | 600 | 0 |
| Well Pump 1/2 HP | 1000 | 2100 |
RV Appliances:
| Appliance | Running Wattage | Starting Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee Maker | 1000 | 0 |
| Electric Stove 2kW | 2000 | 0 |
| Blender | 300 | 800 |
| Dishwasher | 1300 | 1800 |
| Deep Freezer | 500 | 1500 |
| Electric Grill 1.6 kW | 1600 | 0 |
| Furnace Fan 1/2 HP | 800 | 2350 |
| Furnace Fan 1/3 HP | 700 | 1400 |
| Space Heater 2 kW | 2000 | 0 |
| Light Bulb 60 W | 60 | 0 |
| Light Bulb 75 W | 75 | 0 |
| Light LED Bulb 10 W | 10 | 0 |
| Microwave Oven 1000 W | 1000 | 0 |
| RV Air Conditioner 13,500 BTU | 1600 | 2500 |
| RV Air Conditioner 10,000 BTU | 1200 | 2000 |
| RV Air Conditioner 7,000 BTU | 900 | 1700 |
| RV Air Conditioner 15,000 BTU | 1700 | 2700 |
| Television 27″ | 500 | 0 |
| Toaster | 900 | 0 |
| Vacuum Cleaner 12 Amps | 1440 | 2500 |
| Washing Machine | 1200 | 2300 |
| Ceiling Fan | 100 | 300 |
| Curling Iron | 1500 | 0 |
| Iron (Clothes) | 1500 | 0 |
| Food Processor | 400 | 0 |
Job Site Tools:
| Appliance | Running Wattage | Starting Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Air Compressor 1 HP | 1600 | 4500 |
| Electric Drill 1/2 inch 5.4A | 600 | 900 |
| Circular Saw 7 1/4 inch | 1400 | 2300 |
| Halogen Work Light 300 W | 300 | 0 |
| Reciprocating Saw | 900 | 1300 |
| Halogen Work Light 500 W | 500 | 0 |
| Table Saw 10 inch | 2000 | 2800 |
| Planer/Jointer 6 inch | 1800 | 2500 |
| Halogen Work Light 1 kW | 1000 | 0 |
| Air Compressor 1/4 HP | 900 | 1600 |
| Electric Drill 3/8 inch 4 A | 450 | 700 |
| Airless Sprayer | 600 | 1200 |
| Miter Saw 10 inch | 1800 | 2500 |
| Belt Sander | 1200 | 2400 |
| Hammer Drill 1.2 kW | 1200 | 3500 |
| Electric Drill 1/2 inch 5.4A | 600 | 900 |
Recommended Read: What Can a 6500 Watt Generator Run?
How Many Appliances Can I Run Simultaneously With a 5.5KW Machine?
Depends on the power ratings of the appliances you are going to use. Typically a 5.5kw generator can handle 7 – 10 appliances of standard wattages, however, if you want to plug an appliance of 5,000 – 5,200 watts you have access to plug another one of 500 – 1000 watts.
The bottom line is within the range of 0 – 5500 watts you can plug any appliance/tool you want.
NOTE: We encourage our readers to keep a margin of 10 – 15% load so that the generator can run comfortably. Don’t ever pull 100% of the load from a generator e.g. a 5.5kw machine should be restricted to 5kw – 5.1kw.
The small margin will not only keep you gen–set away from the overloading but also save your future costs of costly repairs and maintenance.
Determining the Powering Needs:
- List down the appliances of your household/RV with their power ratings (starting and running watts). You can find the power ratings from the energy labeling.
- If you found the power rating in amperes make sure to convert them into watts with the help of Ohm’s law.
Ohm’s Law: W (watts or kilowatts) = Amps (ampere) X V (voltage)
E.g. an appliance/tool is consuming 10 running and 14 starting amps at the voltage of 220V.
W (watts or kilowatts) = Amps (ampere) X V (voltage)
Running = 10 X 220 = 2200 watts
Starting = 14 X 220 =3080
Note: You can do the calculation in amps if you are comfortable.
- Sump up the starting and running wattages of the appliances/tools, and make sure to keep them in a separate column.
- Compare it with the generator you want to purchase.
Practical Example:
| Appliances | Starting Watts | Running Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 1200 Watts | 200 Watts |
| Deep Freezer | 1300 Watts | 700 Watts |
| Washing Machine | 0 Watts | 1200 Watts |
| Vacuum Cleaner 12 Amps | 2500 | 1440 |
| TOTAL | 5000 Watts | 3540 Watts |
From the above calculation, we got 5000 starting and 3540 running watts, hence a solid 5.5kw generator would be more than enough for the above quotation.
Will a 5500 Watt Generator Run a Well Pump?
It depends on the power ratings of the well pumps you own, below are some of the well pumps that can be easily operated with a 5500w generator.
Will a 5500 Watt Generator Run a Heat Pump?
It depends on the size and energy ratings of the heat pump you own, a modern heat Pump of 500 – 5000w will not be a problem for a 5.5kw unit, however, I recommend you to skim the user manual of your heat pump before making a buying decision.
Below are some of the heat pumps that can be easily run with a 5.5kw generator.
| Size of heat Pump | Wattages |
|---|---|
| 1.5 ton | 1000 – 1400 watts |
| 2 ton | 1600 – 1800 watts |
| 2.5 ton | 2200 – 2600 watts |
Will a 5500 Watt Generator Run a Welder?
A normal welder of 18 – 20 amps at the voltage of 220V is not a big deal for a 5.5kw machine, however, we recommend always checking the power ratings of the welder from the energy labeling and choosing the generator accordingly.
Recommended Read: What size generator do I need for welding?
Will a 5500w Generator Run My AC?
An RV or window air conditioner of 5,000 – 18,000 BTUs is not a big deal for a 5.5kw machine, however, if you have a central air conditioner with more than 6000 starting watts, you should have to consider a bigger generator of 8 – 10kw.
Can a 5.5kw Generator Run a Hot Water Heater?
Yes, a standard water heater needs about 4 – 5kw which can be easily handled by a 5.5kw generator.
Can a 5500-watt generator Run a Furnace?
It depends, a normal household or RV furnace will not be a problem for a 5500w generator, however, if you have a bigger furnace of 10 – 20kw, you should have to consider a bigger generator of 12 – 25kw.
Below are some of the furnaces of different sizes you can run with a 5500w unit.
Will a 5500 Watt Generator Run a 50 amp RV?
Though a 50 amp RV requires 12500 watts (250V X 50Amp = 12500) of power to run everything, still a 5.5kw generator would be sufficient to run small to medium power appliances/equipment.
Here is the detailed guide about What Size Generator for 50 Amp RV?
Note: You may need an adopter or plug that can convert 30amp to 50amp.
How Long Will a 5500-Watt Generator Run on a Tank of Gas?
It depends on the size of the fuel tank, its efficiency, and how much power you are pulling. Typically a 5.5kw generator should provide at least 8 – 10 hrs. of runtime at 25% load.
NOTE: an inverter generator provides more runtime compared to the normal one.
How Much Gas Does a 5500 Watt Generator Use per Hour?
Again it depends on how much load you are pulling and how efficient a generator is. Normally a brand-able efficient generator will consume about 0.5 – 1 gallons of fuel/hour depending on the load you are pulling.
Verdict
Though a 5.5kw generator would be ideal for a normal household, RV, or Job site, still we recommend doing the wattage calculation of your household/RV or job site by following this section of the article.
The wattage calculation will not only save your initial cost but also your future cost of fuel and maintenance.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Will a 5500 Watt Generator Run a House?
Yes, a small household with standard appliances or tools will not be a problem for a 5.5kw machine, however, if you own some of the power-hungry appliances like central air conditioners, dryers, etc. you may have to consider a bigger unit.
Will a 5500-watt generator Run a 3-ton AC Unit?
It depends on the type of air conditioner and their SEER. A window/RV air conditioner of 3 – tons with even 14 SEER could be smoothly run with a 5.5kw machine, however, if you have a central air conditioner of 3 – tons with 6,000 – 8,000 watts, you may have to consider a bigger one.
How Many Amps Are 5500 Watts at 220 Volts?
According to Ohm’s law, a 5,500-watt generator will provide you with about 25amps at the voltage of 220V.
Will a 5500 Watt Generator Run a Camper?
It depends on the power requirement, generally, a camper with normal appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines, and window air conditioners will not be a problem, however, if you have a bunch of power-hungry appliances and you want to operate them at the same time, you should consider a bigger generator of at least 10 – 15kw.
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.