What Can an 8000-Watt Generator Run? – [Tested Results]
This article aims to unleash the actual potential of an 8,000-watt generator.
After multiple tests with our 8,000-watt machine, we are now ready to answer your burning queries about What Can an 8000 8,000-watt generator Run? Can I run most of the appliances simultaneously and will it fill my needs?
An 8,000-watt generator is capable of running almost every essential of small – medium households, RVs, or job sites including refrigerators, microwaves, Air conditioners, coffee makers, sump pumps, electric drills, circular saws, etc.
As per our tests, if you manage the load appropriately, an 8kw machine is more than enough for a whole household.
What Can an 8000-Watt Generator Run?
As per the conducted with Champion 8000-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator, the following appliances/equipment Perform pretty well.
Starting and Running Watts
Running watts: The number of wattages a machine could produce for a longer time to run an appliance/equipment continuously. Running will always be lesser compared to the starting watts.
Starting watts: The number of wattages a machine could produce for a short time to fire up the motorized appliances. Motorized appliances need initial inertia and that can’t be possible without the starting wattages.
Starting wattages will always be higher compared to running watts.
Wattage Requirements of Typical Appliances/Equipment
| Appliance | Running Watts | Starting Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Drill 3/8 inch 4 Amps | 450 | 700 |
| Electric Drill 1/2 inch 5.4 Amps | 600 | 900 |
| Circular Saw 7 1/4 inch | 1400 | 2300 |
| Miter Saw 10 inch | 1800 | 2500 |
| Planer/Jointer 6 inch | 1800 | 2500 |
| Belt Sander | 1200 | 2400 |
| Table Saw 10 inch | 2000 | 2800 |
| Hammer Drill 1.2 kW | 1200 | 3500 |
| Reciprocating Saw | 900 | 1300 |
| Air Compressor 1/4 HP | 900 | 1600 |
| Air Compressor 1 HP | 1600 | 4500 |
| Airless Sprayer | 600 | 1200 |
| Halogen Work Light 500 W | 500 | 0 |
| Halogen Work Light 1 kW | 1000 | 0 |
| Halogen Work Light 300 W | 300 | 0 |
| Coffee Maker | 1000 | 0 |
| Cell Phone Battery Charger | 25 | 0 |
| Ceiling Fan | 60-70 | 0 |
| Central AC (10,000 BTU) | 1500 | 4500 |
| Clock Radio | 50-200 | 0 |
| Clothes Dryer (Electric) | 5400 | 6750 |
| Clothes Dryer (Gas) | 700 | 1800 |
| Copy Machine | 1600 | 0 |
| Curling Iron | 1500 | 0 |
| Deep Freezer | 500 | 1500 |
| Dishwasher | 1500 | 1500 |
| Electric Can Opener | 170 | 0 |
| Electric Kettle | 1200 | 3000 |
| Electric Mower | 1500 | 0 |
| Electric Stove (8″ Element) | 2100 | 0 |
| Electric Strimmer | 300 | 500 |
| Electric Water Heater | 4000 | 0 |
| Fax | 60-80 | 0 |
| Food Dehydrator | 800 | 0 |
| Fryer | 1000 | 0 |
| Furnace Fan Blower (1/2 HP) | 800 | 2350 |
| Furnace Fan Blower (1/3 HP) | 700 | 1400 |
| Garage Door Opener (1/2 HP) | 875 | 2350 |
| Heat Pump | 4700 | 4500 |
| Home Internet Router | 5 | 15 |
| Home Phone | 3 | 5 |
Can an 8000 Watt Generator Run a House?
Typically an 8kw machine is more than enough for even a medium household, however, if you need to operate multiple power-hungry appliances like a central air conditioner, washing machine, electric grills, sump pumps, etc. simultaneously, you may have to consider even bigger machine of 12kw – 15kw depending on the needs.
We highly recommend doing the calculations mentioned in this article so that you don’t have to change your machine again.
Recommended Guide: What Can a 9000-Watt Generator Run?
How Many Appliances Can I Run Simultaneously With an 8KW Unit?
It depends, if you are going to power up multiple 1,800-watt appliances/equipment at once, you can only run 3 – 4 of them.
On the other hand, 10 – 20 lower-wattage devices/appliances like lights, TVs, home theater systems, microwaves, refrigerators/freezers, etc. could run smoothly with an 8,000-watt machine.
NOTE: Within the limits (0 – 8,000 watts) you can run any appliance you want, however keeping the margin of 10% – 20% load would be a lifesaver for the generator’s inner components and also save your voltage-sensitive appliance from any fluctuating voltage.
The bottom line is you don’t have to operate your gen – set to its 100% capacity/load and keep a margin so that the machine could work more comfortably.
How to Determine Your Power Needs?
- List the appliance you want to run with their starting and running watts, you can find the power rating (running and starting watts) from the energy labeling. If you found them in amps make sure to convert them into watts with the help of Ohm’s law
Ohm’s law:
W (Watts or Kilo Watts) = Volts (V) X Amps (ampere)
E.g.: An appliance is consuming 20 running and 22 starting amps at the voltage of 220V
W (Watts or Kilo Watts) = Volts (V) X Amps (Ampere)
Running Watts = 4400 watts
Starting Watts= 4840 watts
- Sum up the appliance’s starting and running wattage and keep them in a separate column.
- Compare the sum of running and starting watts with the machine you are going to purchase.
Practical Example:
| Appliances | Starting Watts | Running Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 1200 Watts | 200 Watts |
| Dishwasher | 1500 Watts | 1500 Watts |
| Deep Freezer | 1300 Watts | 700 Watts |
| Washing Machine | 0 Watts | 1200 Watts |
| Microwave | 0 Watts | 800 Watts |
| Table Saw 10 inch | 2800 Watts | 2000 Watts |
| TOTAL | 6,800 Watts | 6,400 Watts |
From the above calculations, we got 6,800 starting and 6,400 running watts, hence a brandable 8,000-watt generator is more than enough for this quotation.
Recommended Guide: What appliances will a 7,000-watt generator run?
Will an 8000-watt generator Run Central Air?
Depends on the wattage of the central air conditioner you own. As per our tests, a central air conditioner of 10,000 – 14,000 BTUs would run smoothly with an 8kw unit.
How Many Amps Can an 8000-Watt Generator Run?
At 220 volts an 8,000-watt unit provides 36.36amps, however at 120 volts 66.6 amps.
How Long Will an 8000-Watt Generator Run?
It depends on the size, brand, and efficiency of the generator you are going to purchase. Read our guide about the generator’s runtime for a better understanding.
Verdict
Though An 8,000-watt generator is ideal for those who want to run multiple low-power-hungry appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, home theater systems, coffee makers, etc. simultaneously, still we recommend doing the calculation before making a buying decision.
Proper power calculation will not only save the initial cost but also the ongoing cost of fuel and maintenance as well.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Will an 8,000 Watt Generator Run a Welder?
Yes, a welder needs about 4,000 – 6,000 watts depending on the size and power, however, an 8kw machine generates about 7,500 – 8,000 of running and 8,000 – 8,500 which is more than enough to run a welder smoothly.
How Much Does an 8000-Watt Generator Cost?
An 8,000-watt generator costs about $500 – $3,000 on average depending on the brand and features you are going to avail.
Will an 8000 Watt Generator Run a Furnace?
It depends, a standard household furnace wouldn’t be a big problem for an 8kw unit, however, you should consider a bigger machine to run the giant furnaces of 10kws – 20kws.
Read more about the furnace power consumption from the energy sage.
How Long Will an 8000-Watt Generator Run on Propane?
It depends on the tank size of propane, the load, and the generator’s efficiency. On average, a 20lbs propane tank provides 5 – 6 hours of runtime.
How Long Will an 8000-Watt Generator Run On 5 Gallons of Gas?
Depending on the load and efficiency of the generator, if you are going to draw a 25% – 40% load you will get higher runtime compared to the 80% – 90% load. Also if the generator is less efficient with no eco mode you may have to compromise on fuel.
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.