The wattage rating of your generator dictates how much of a load the generator can carry per single time. The wattage on your devices, on the other hand, determines how much power the appliance will draw from the generator per unit time.
A 2000-watt generator can run a cook with a 650 watt microwave of not more than 1000 watts and a few lights all connected. It can run a single mid-sized fridge of not more than 1200.It can also run a couple of other small devices all connected.
It is important to understand that for the generator to power up a device, the number of Watts supplied must at least match the power needed by the appliance. It must, first of all, match the starting wattage of the appliance followed by the running wattage.
As their names suggest, the starting wattage is the power needed to start the device while the running wattage is the power needed to keep the device running. In most cases, the starting wattage is either more or equal to the running wattage.
Appliances run by a 2000-watt generator
If you have a generator with an output of 2000 watts, you can start and run all devices with a starting and running wattage that’s equal to or less than 2000 watts. These include the following:
| Appliance | Running Watts | Starting Watts |
| Light bulb – 60 Watt | 60 | 60 |
| Light bulb – 75 Watt | 75 | 75 |
| Sump pump – 1/3 HP | 800 | 1300 |
| Water well pump – 1/3 HP | 1000 | 2000 |
| Space heater | 1800 | 1800 |
| Humidifier – 13 Gallons | 175 | 175 |
| Furnace fan blower – 1/3 HP | 700 | 1400 |
| Window AC – 10,000 BTU | 1200 | 1800 |
| Iron | 1200 | 1200 |
| Quartz halogen work light 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Quartz halogen work light 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Quartz halogen work light 1000 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Airless sprayer 1 1/3 HP | 600 | 1200 |
| Reciprocating saw | 960 | 960 |
| Electric drill – 3/8”, 4 Amps | 440 | 600 |
| Electric drill – ½”, 5.4 Amps | 600 | 900 |
| Miter saw – 10” | 1800 | 1800 |
| Electric grill | 1650 | 1650 |
| AM/FM radio | 100 | 100 |
| CD/DVD player | 100 | 100 |
| Box fan – 20” | 200 | 200 |
| Clothes dryer – gas | 700 | 1800 |
| Microwave oven – 625 Watts | 625 | 625 |
| Microwave oven – 1000 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Coffee maker | 1000 | 1000 |
| Dishwasher – hot dry | 1500 | 1500 |
| Food processor | 400 | 400 |
| Toaster oven | 1200 | 1200 |
| Toaster | 850 | 850 |
| Electric can opener | 168 | 168 |
| VCR | 100 | 100 |
| Stereo receiver | 450 | 450 |
| Color N – 27” | 500 | 500 |
| PlayStation, Xbox, Game Cube | 40 | 40 |
| Security system | 500 | 500 |
| Curling iron | 1500 | 1500 |
| Hair dryer – 1250 Watt | 1250 | 1250 |
| Planer/jointer – b” | 1800 | 1800 |
| Table saw/radial arm saw – 10” | 2000 | 2000 |
| Air compressor – 114 HP | 975 | 1600 |
| Personal computer – 17” monitor | 800 | 800 |
| Laser printer | 950 | 950 |
| Fax machine | 65 | 65 |
| Inkjet printer | 80 | 80 |
| Copy machine | 1600 | 1600 |
| Color N – 13” | 150 | 150 |
| Outdoor light string | 250 | 250 |
| Cell phone battery charger | 25 | 25 |
| Inflator pump | 50 | 150 |
You can run more than one appliance as long as the total wattage is equal to or less than 2000 Watts.
Top 2000-watt generators (brands)
| Generator | Wattage | Features |
| Yamaha EF2000iSv2 2000W Generator | 2000 | Starting wattage of 2000W and running wattage of 1600W. Quiet operation at 51.5 to 61 decibels. Less than 45 pounds weight. Clean and stable power output. 10.5 hours runtime. Modular compatibility. |
| WEN 56200i 2000-watt Inverter Generator | 2000 | Weighs 50 lbs. 53 decibels of sound. 2000 starting Watts and 1600 running Watts. Has 12V DC, 120V AC and 5V USB outlets. Provides clean and safe energy. |
| Lifan Energy Storm ESI2000i Gas Powered Portable Generator | 2000 | 125cc 4 stroke engine. 60 decibels maximum noise level. 7 hours of runtime at 50% load on a 0.92-gallon tank. 2 120V outlets. |
| Honda EU2200i 2000-watt Generator | 2000 | Modular compatibility. Nosie level between 53 and 62 decibels. Weighs less than 47 lbs. Provides stable and safe power. |
| Generac 6866 2000W | 2000 | Starting wattage of 2000 Watts and running wattage of 1600W. Run time of 5.7 hours on a 1.06-gallon tank at 50% load and 7.7 hours at 25% load. Modular compatibility. Has economy, standard and turbo modes to save on fuel. |
Any one of these generators will serve you well as long as your total load is less or equal to 2000 watts.
FAQ
Will a 2000-watt generator run an air conditioner?
No. The average air conditioner has a wattage of 3500 watts. The starting wattage is even higher than that.
Will 2000-watt generator run a refrigerator?
Yes, but in most cases small to medium size fridges; not more than 1200 watts
Will a 2000-watt generator power my RV?
Definitely yes but it all depends with the number and energy requirements of the appliances in your RV.
Further Reading