what will a 20000 watt generator run

A 20000-watt generator can be used for a variety of purposes and can power many devices, but can it power your desired equipment? If you are going to buy a new one, or already own one and want to know what it can run. 

A 20000-watt generator is a powerful machine which can power a centralized heating system, air conditioning system and backup solution for businesses. It is best for construction sites, Home backups, Backup solutions for businesses, food trucks, Cabins, Job sites, welding, outdoor entertainment, and more. 

Further next in this article, we listed single devices along with their starting and running watts. We also make different combinations of devices with wattage tables, which you can use together with a 20000-watt generator. We made all calculations based on starting watts of the generator.

Before going further deep some preliminaries are necessary for better understating, what we are discussing. 

Read: What will a 1000-watt generator can run
Read: What will a 5000-watt generator can run

Preliminaries 

Either you should power a single device or a combination of devices but their combined power in terms of starting watts should not surpass 19,950 watts. 

Starting Watts 

A device needs extra power for starting, which is referred to as starting watts.

Running Watts

For the device to run smoothly, it requires a relatively stable amount of electricity (called running watts).

Single PowerFul Devices

Single Devices handled by 2000 watt generator alone

Here are the single large appliances along with starting and running watts, that can be used with a 20000-watt generator. 

Devices Running WattsStarting Watts
Refrigerator700W1500W
Sump Pump 2HP2300W4000W
Airless Sprayer 1 HP1800W3600W
Furnace Fan Blower 1HP1600W4700W
Halogen Lamp 300-1000300-1000W300-1000W
Steam Iron2000W2000W
Washing Machine1000W1700W
Microwave Oven1000W1000W
Coffee Maker900W900W
Coffee Grinder700-1200W700-1200W
Dishwasher1500W1500W
Toaster850W850W
Bread Maker800W800W
Hair Dryer1250W1250W
Hair Roller400W400W
Heat Gun1800W1800W
Juicer800W800W
Mixer750W750W
Planner950W950W
Electric Grill1400W1400W
Air Fryer1500W1500W
Well Pump2000W3500W
Water Heater2000W3000W
Welder (250A)8000-12000W8000-12000W
Centralized Air Conditioning System5000-10000W6000-12000W
Single Devices

Combinations Of Devices that can be operated together

Here we listed some basic possible combinations of devices that can be operated on the 20000-watt generator simultaneously, and similarly you can also make your own combination by adding watts of desired appliances both in terms of the surge and running.

1st Combination

The first basic combination of appliances is a Refrigerator, 2 x fans, 3 x lights, a 2-ton air conditioner, a steam iron, a microwave oven, a washing machine, Cloth Dryer, a dishwasher, a juicer, a humidifier, a hair dryer, and a laptop charging that needs approximately 13625W as surge watts and 11115W as running.

Devices Running WattsStarting Watts
1.5-ton Air Conditioner1600W2600W
Refrigerator700W1500W
3 x Light75×3 = 225W75×3 = 225W
4 x Fan100×3 = 300W100×3 = 300W
Laptop25W25W
Steam Iron2000W2000
Microwave Oven1000W1000W
Washing Machine1000W1700W
Dryer 540W1350W
Dishwasher1500W1500W
HumidFier 13 Gal175W175W
Juicer800W800W
Hair Dryer1250W1250W
Total 11115W13625W

2nd Combination

The second combination of appliances is 5 x fans, 5 x lights, hair straightener, hair crimper, hair roller, 2-ton air conditioner, refrigerator, massage chair, coffee maker, iron, computer, and shaving machine that needs approximately 8125W as surge watts, and 6325W as running.

Devices Running WattsStarting Watts
Refrigerator 700W1500W
2-ton air conditioner1600W2600W
Coffee Maker900W900W
5xLight75×5 = 375W75×5 = 375
4xFan100×5 = 500W100×5 = 500W
Hair Crimper100W100W
Hair Roller400W400W
Hair Straightener150W150W
Shaving Machine100W100W
Massage Chair250W250W
Iron1000W1000W
Computer 250W250W
Total 6325W8125W

3rd Combination

The third basic combination of appliances is a refrigerator, 2-ton air conditioner, 4 x fans, 3 x lights, 4 x sewing machine, 4 x embroidery machine, 4 x overlocking machine, and one iron that needs approximately 7300W as surge watts, and 5500W as running.

Devices Running WattsStarting Watts
Refrigerator700W1500W
2-ton air conditioner1600W2600W
4xLight75×4 = 300W75×4 = 300W
3xFan100×3 = 300W100×3 = 300W
Sewing Machine100×4=400W400W
Embroidery Machine200×4=800W800W
Overlocking Machine100×4=400W400W
Iron1000W1000W
Total 5500W7300W

4th Combination

The fourth basic combination of appliances is 1xfans, 1xlights, a drill machine, a screwdriver, a planner, a grinder, Airless Sprayer – 1/3 HP, a belt sander, and a circular saw that needs approximately 6825W as surge watts and 6015W as running.

Devices Running WattsStarting Watts
1xLight75W75W
1xFan100W100W
Electric Drill – 3/8”440W600W
Screw Driver350W400W
Airless Sprayer – 1/3 HP600W1200W
Planner750W750W
Grinder800W800W
Circular Saw1300W1300W
Belt Sander800W800W
Jig Saw800W800W
Total 6015W6825W

Situations In Which 20,000 Watt generator is best

A 20,000-watt generator can be used for various purposes, some of which we discuss below.

Welder

best generator for welding

Welding machines whose current is up to 250A, need 14,000W of energy for their smooth operation. Generators for welding machines are needed when we have to do welding at a remote location.

Food Truck

A generator for the food truck business is necessary because we need a microwave oven, air conditioner, toaster, coffee maker, coffee grinder, blender, refrigerator, lights, air fryer, dishwasher, bread maker, juicer, and mobile charger which together draw 11275 starting watts and 10425 running watts. 

Devices Running WattsStarting Watts
Microwave Oven1000W1000W
1.5-ton Air Conditioner1200W2000W
Toaster850W850W
Coffee Maker900W900W
Coffee Grinder800W800W
Air Fryer15001500
Blender800W25W
UnderCounter Refrigerator300W600W
Mobile25W25W
Dishwasher1500W1500W
Bread Maker800W800W
Juicer800W800W
Total 10425W11275W
Watts Consumption at the food truck

Cabin

best generator for off grid cabin

For a cabin, we have lights, fans, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a blender, a washing machine, a dishwasher, a steam iron, Microwave Oven, a laptop, and a phone, which draws 10,225 starting watts and 8525 running watts. 

Devices Running WattsStarting Watts
2 Ton Air Conditioner1600W2600W
1xLight75W75W
1xFan100W100W
Refrigerator300W750W
Coffee Maker900W900W
Microwave Oven1000W1000W
Washing Machine1000W1700W
Steam Iron2000W2000W
Dishwasher1500W1500W
Phone25W25W
Laptop25W25W
Total 8525W10,225W
Watts Consumption at the cabin

Construction Site

For the construction we need a drill, screwdriver, grinder, heat gun, Circular saw, belt sander, planner, well pump, and Jig Saw, which draws 9850 starting watts and 8190 running watts. 

Devices Running WattsStarting Watts
Electric Drill – 3/8”440W600W
Screw Driver300W300W
Heat Gun1000W1000W
Grinder800W800W
Circular Saw1300W1300W
Belt Sander800W800W
Planner750W750W
Jig Saw800W800W
Well Pump2000W3500W
Total 8190W9850W
Watts Consumption for Construction

Personal Office

In a personal office, we need a computer or laptop, refrigerator, air conditioner, printer, wifi router, television, fans, cameras, photocopier and lights, which draw 7050 starting watts and 6050 running watts.

Devices Running WattsStarting Watts
Computer250W250W
Refrigerator 700W1500W
2-ton Air Conditioner1600W2600W
Printer900W900W
Wifi Router15W15W
Fan 100W100W
Lights75W75W
Camera10W10W
PhotoCopier1600W1600W
Television 65W65W
Total 6050W7050W
Watts Consumption for Personal Office

Outdoor Concert

For outdoor concerts, we need lighting and sound equipment which required almost 9000 watts of power.

Devices Running WattsStarting Watts
Lighting 4000W4000W
Sound System5000W5000W
Total 9000W9000W

Home Backup Power

In a home, we need a Refrigerator, fans, lights, an air conditioner, a steam iron, a microwave oven, a washing machine, a cloth dryer, a dishwasher, a juicer, a humidifier, and a laptop charging that needs approximately 12,575W as surge watts and 9465W as running.

Devices Running WattsStarting Watts
1.5-ton Air Conditioner1200W2000W
Refrigerator700W1500W
3 x Light75×3 = 225W75×3 = 225W
4 x Fan100×3 = 300W100×3 = 300W
Laptop25W25W
Steam Iron2000W2000
Microwave Oven1000W1000W
Washing Machine1000W1700W
Cloth Dryer540W1350W
Dishwasher1500W1500W
HumidFier 13 Gal175W175W
Juicer800W800W
Toaster850W850W
Total 10315W13425W

Conclusion

The 20000-watt generator can be used for many situations such as construction sites, Home backups, RV, food trucks, Cabins, Job sites, welding, outside sports, outdoor entertainment, backup solution for businesses and more. It almost can power any single device.

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