Published Date: September 5, 2020
Last Updated on June 22, 2023 by Camper Front
A generator is a machine that runs on gas to produce electricity, and they come in different capacities from a 4-watt generator to 18,000 megawatts. In this article, we’ll be talking about what you can run on a 2000-watt generator.
2,000-watt portable generators have become a popular class of generators thanks to their compact sizes, convenient outlets, and ample power.
But before we get into the main topic, let’s talk about some terms that will allow you to understand and determine the appliances your generator is capable of running.
Table of Contents
What Determines the Amount of Load a Generator Can Power?
There are two terms that will allow you to understand and determine the appliances your 2000-watt generator is capable of running in your camper trailer, which include:
Starting watts
This is the wattage needed to get any device working and continue functioning over a period of time in order to create enough momentum needed by a device to keep running.
A generator can generate this wattage for a short period of time in a short surge. You may hear that starting watts are known as “surge or peak watts.”
Running watts
This is the wattage needed to keep a device running, and keep it working continuously over time to maintain its momentum and prevent it from falling. A generator will be able to continuously provide this wattage.
What Can You Run on a 2000 Watt Generator?
Now that you understand this, let’s get into the topic of the day, what appliances can you run on a 2000-watt generator?
The first thing you might want to note is, 2000 watts isn’t that much power, so you might have to draw a scale of preference and choose the most essential appliances to run, and depending on the location of use, your needs might vary.
Let’s say you are out camping; you are going to need electricity for basic things like powering your cooking equipment, lightbulb, or even fans or heaters.
Let’s say you have two bulbs and some string lights, the two bulbs take up 100 watts each, and the string bulb takes up 50 watts. If you plug in your phone or laptop, that takes another 200 watts of power.
The key to getting the most out of your 2000 watts generator is finding out how many watts each appliance you use takes and summing them up, this way you get to determine how many appliances you can use at once.
Now moving on to the kitchen, a 2000-watt generator can power a 500-watt refrigerator and an element of your electric stove. You can even run a mid-size refrigerator that has 1200 starting watts and then drops to 200 running watts.
But you might need to put out everything else first before running the refrigerator; then, after the power surge, you can put them back on, just to be on the safer side.
You can also run a 650-watt microwave; items like an electric grill use 1700 watts of generator power, so if you use a grill, you might have to do it in the dark as there won’t be much power left to turn on the lights, or you can opt to use a slow cooker which uses only 300 watts.
With a 2000 watts generator, you can power a sump or well pump, which has 1200 starting watts before dropping down to 800 watts. And while the sump pump is running, you can also power up a water well pump, which only needs 1000 watts of power.
Now coming to air conditioners and heaters, a 2000-watt generator can handle the load of a 15,000 BTU RV air conditioner and a 10,000 BTU window air conditioner.
These devices usually require a 2200 starting watt and afterward use only 1500 watts of continuous power, which will allow you to turn on a few lights or even charge your phone or laptop.
But a 2000 watts generator cannot rub a 15,000 BTU RV air conditioner, again ensure to check and confirm the watts of any appliances before using a generator to power them.
A 2000 watts generator also has the ability to run a 1300-watt radiant portable heater, and you can run it simultaneously with a refrigerator after allowing it to drop to its running watts.
This generator also has enough power to run a third of a horsepower furnace fan with a surge wattage of 1400 watts and a running power of 700 watts.
However, a 2000-watt generator cannot power a half-horsepower furnace, which requires up to 2400 starting watts, and unless your generator is an inverter generator with a high starting load.
But with lower units of furnaces or radiant heaters which your generator can power successfully, you can even run a couple of lightbulbs and even charge your phone alongside.
A 2000-watt generator cannot possibly run a dryer or a washer, so if you want a generator that can power them, you should seek a generator with higher watts of power.
Read Also: Best Ultra-Light Travel Trailers With Outdoor Kitchen
Estimated Wattage Of Household Appliances
Let’s look at some estimated wattage of common household items to enable you to determine what appliances you can run on your RV on a 2000-watt generator.
Conclusion
What can you run on a 2000-watt generator? Hopefully, you already have the answer to that question. A 2000-watt generator is a producer of ample electricity, and knowing the appliances in your RV it can power will enable you to get the most out of it.
Remember, always check the watt power of any appliances before running them on your generator to avoid using an overpowering device on your generator, which could damage both the generator and the device itself.
