Being without electricity for a couple of hours is annoying but tolerable. But what if there is a huge storm that lasted for a few days? In such situations, you will not have access to power for days. Now, this can cause a lot of damage to both homeowners and small businesses. A portable home generator is a very useful device during prolonged blackouts and power outages. It supplies electrical power so that you can run all the important electrical appliances without depending on the grid. There are several sizes and types of backup generators. If you want a balance between budget and power, then a 7,500-Watt Generator is a decent option. But an important question is what can you run on a 7,500-Watt Generator?
If you are planning to buy a 7,500-Watt Generator or shortlisted a popular 7,500-Watt Generator, then you will be wondering what appliances can you run using this generator.
A good rule is to calculate the size of the generator based on your requirements beforehand so that you won’t spend too much on a large generator or get a small generator that couldn’t handle the devices.
Nonetheless, if you are interested in knowing what can you run on a 7,500-Watt Generator, then this guide is just for you. Whether you want to use the generator to power essential appliances in your home or run various power tools in a worksite, then go through this guide.
A Brief Note on Generators
Portable gas-powered Generators are one of the simplest devices that produce electricity. In its basic form, a generator consists of a gasoline engine, an alternator, and some additional electrical components and outputs 120V AC Supply.
Generators are also the cheapest way to provide a backup power supply for your home or business. You don’t need complex installation or wiring. You can access the power from the generator using good-quality extension cords.
Choosing a Generator
Wattage! While there are several factors and parameters of a generator, the power rating in Watts is the main way to classify generators. You can get portable generators in several power ratings starting with as little as 1,000 Watts and going all the way to 15,000 Watts.
So, how to choose a generator? We already made a guide on Sizing Portable Generators. Check that out for more information. But essentially you need to make a small calculation using the Running Watts and Starting Watts of all the appliances you want to run and also the corresponding rating of the generator.
If you are unfamiliar with the terms Starting Watts and Running Watts of a generator, then here is a brief overview. The Running Watts of a Generator are the continuous power it can deliver for sustained periods.
The Starting Watts of a Generator are the surge power (or sudden jolt of power) that it provides while starting a motor-based appliance. Some common motor-based devices are Air conditioners, Refrigerators, Water Pumps, some power tools (saws, drills, hammers, etc.), Dish Washer, etc.
When the motor in these devices starts from a complete stop position, it will draw a large current (which can be two or three times that of the normal current) to kick-start the rotation. As a result, the power draw while the motor starts is also twice or thrice its normal power consumption.
The generator must be able to deliver this power (or choose the generator with a sufficient Starting Watts rating), even though this high power draw will be only for a couple of seconds.
Coming to the 7,500-Watt Generator, this rating can be the Running Watts or the Starting Watts. Does it make any difference? Yes. A big difference. If the 7,500-Watt rating is the Running Watts specification of the generator, then you will have a higher starting watt rating (usually 9,500 Watts or 10,000 Watts).
But if you choose a generator with Starting Watts rating of 7,500 Watts, then the Running Watts will be even lower (usually in the 5,500 Watts to 6,000 Watts range). So, you will be limited to a low continuous power.
We recommend you choose a generator with 7,500 Watts of Running Power (if your budget permits it).
Why 7,500-Watt Generator?
There are larger generators that can produce 10,000 Watts or more power and there are also smaller generators with 5,000 watts or less power rating.
But the 7,500-Watt Generator hits the sweet spot on different aspects of buying a generator. We will see more about that now.
If you want to run larger appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers, heaters, etc. using a portable generator, then the 7,500-Watt Generator can provide the power to run those devices (not all at the same time though).
This might not be possible with a smaller generator, say with a rating of 5,000 Watts. You could run one or two high-powered appliances with a small generator but not more than that.
The next benefit of choosing a 7,500-Watt Generator is savings. Take a look at the price of some popular 7,500-Watt Generators and compare them with higher power generators, something like a 10,000-Watt Generator or more. The price difference is huge.
If you are certain that your power requirements won’t exceed 7,500 watts, then there is no point in spending the extra money for a 10,000-Watt Generator. This way, you could save money while making the initial investment.
What Can You Run on a 7500-Watt Generator?
Coming to the main topic of discussion, if you were to select a 7,500-Watt Generator, then the first question you get is, what can you run on a 7,500-Watt Generator? To answer this question, we have to once again visit the terms Starting Watts and Running Watts.
The following table shows some common household, garage, and workshop appliances, devices, and tools along with their typical power consumption ratings. You can observe that we mentioned both the Continuous Power i.e., the Running Watts of the device, and also the additional Surge Power it draws i.e., the Starting Watts of the device.
| Household Appliances, Devices, or Tools | Rated Power (Continuous Power or Running Watts) | Additional Surge Power (Peak Power or Starting Watts) |
| Incandescent Bulb (100-Watt) | 100 Watts | 0 |
| LED Bulb (9-Watt) | 9 Watts | 0 |
| Ceiling Fan | 80 Watts | 70 Watts |
| Window Air Conditioner (10,000 BTU) | 1,200 Watts | 3,600 Watts |
| Sump or Well Pump (1/2 HP) | 1,000 Watts | 2,000 Watts |
| Room or Space Heater | 2,000 Watts | 0 |
| Furnace Blower (1/2 HP) | 900 Watts | 2,500 Watts |
| Garage Door Opener (1/2 HP) | 850 Watts | 2,200 Watts |
| Coffee Maker | 1,000 Watts | 0 |
| Refrigerator | 700 Watts | 2,100 Watts |
| Microwave Oven (1.1 Cubic Feet) | 1,000 Watts | 0 |
| Deep Freezer | 500 Watts | 1,500 Watts |
| Electric Clothes Dryer | 4,500 Watts | 5,500 Watts |
| Curling Iron | 1,500 Watts | 0 |
| Hair Dryer | 1,200 Watts | 0 |
| Vacuum Cleaner | 250 Watts | 200 Watts |
| Washing Machine | 1,100 Watts | 2,200 Watts |
| 55” OLED TV | 100 Watts | 0 |
| Gaming Console | 100 Watts | 0 |
| Desktop Computer | 800 Watts | 0 |
| Air Compressor (1/2 HP) | 1,000 Watts | 2,000 Watts |
| Sander | 1,100 Watts | 2,200 Watts |
| Circular Saw (7” Blade) | 1,300 Watts | 3,500 Watts |
| Electric Drill | 550 Watts | 800 Watts |
| Table Saw (10” Blade) | 1,600 Watts | 2,500 Watts |
These power ratings are typical values and for exact information on both the Running watts and Starting Watts of a device, do refer to the manufacturer’s manual, catalogs, or website.
Calculating Power
With this information, you can make a list of all the devices you want to run off of a 7,500-Watt Generator and make some simple calculations. Let us take a couple of scenarios and see what can you run on a 7,500-Watt Generator.
In the first case, you want to run all non-motor devices i.e., devices or appliances that do not have any additional Surge Power (or Starting Watts) requirements.
These devices include light bulbs (both incandescent if you are still rocking them or LEDs), TV, Stereo Systems, Infrared Space Heaters, Computer, Laptop Chargers, Electric Iron (Curling Irons, Hair Dryers, etc.), Electric Water Heaters, Humidifiers, and other similar electrical appliances.
Now, after making a list, add the running watts of these devices and make sure that this number doesn’t exceed 7,500 Watts. A good rule is to leave 10% headroom for the generator, so 90% of 7,500 watts is 6,750 Watts. So, the power consumption of all the devices must not exceed this value.
We cannot imagine our day going on without a motor-powered device. Be it refrigerators, freezers, power tools, air conditioners, etc., all these appliances have some form of a motor in them that pull a huge surge power when starting after a complete shutdown.
So, the next scene is going to be very interesting. Even though you use moto-based appliances, there is a good chance that we won’t be using them all at the exact same time. As usual, make a list of all the appliances you want to run with the generator.
Now, take the device with a higher starting watts rating and add it to the sum of the running watts of all the devices. In this way, you can estimate the maximum surge power the generator must provide in the worst case. Make sure that this rating is less than the Starting Watts of the 7,500-Watt Generator (which will usually be in the range of 9,000 Watts to 9,500 Watts).
You can run several small devices and a couple of large motor-powered devices with a 7,500-Watt generator without much worry. Just make sure that you don’t start two power-hungry appliances at the same time and that the total power draw of all the devices doesn’t exceed the rating of the generator.
We know this isn’t the direct answer you are hoping for as it is very difficult to generalize the power consumption of different households. But if you understand the basics of how to estimate the size of a generator, you don’t need to be a genius to calculate the necessary power rating and choose a proper generator size.
In the case of a 7,500-Watt Generator, assuming this rating is the Running Watts of the Generator, just make sure that the overall power draw of all the devices, tools, and appliances doesn’t exceed this number.
Things to Consider Before Choosing a 7,500-Watt Generator
As a bonus, here is a brief overview of all the things you need to consider before choosing a 7,500-Watt Generator.
Starting Watts and Running Watts
The first and most important parameter or specification that you need to focus on is associated with the power rating of the generator. We usually have two ratings in the form of Running Watts and Starting Watts.
We already discussed a great deal about these two ratings but in a nutshell, Running Watts is the power output of the Generator for continuous operation while Starting Watts is the surge power that the Generator can supply when any motor-powered appliance starts.
In the case of a 7,500-Watt Generator, make sure that this refers to the Running Watts and not the Starting Watts. In this way, you can run multiple powerful devices in the event of a power outage. If 7,500 Watts is the Running Watts of the generator, then it will have 9,000 to 9,500 Watts of Surge Power capability.
Type of Generator
There are different types, styles, and sizes of generators. First, there are conventional and inverter generators. Next, we have generators that run solely on gasoline but we also have that run on natural gas and propane.
Nowadays, it is very common to find several manufacturers producing dual-fuel generators that run on either gasoline or propane.
Diesel fuel generators are usually large, heavy, and powerful and are common in commercial applications. For residential, camping, or worksite needs, you need to look at the previously-mentioned fuel options to get a decent generator within budget.
Another important thing you need to consider is the form factor of the generator. As 7,500 watts is neither big nor small, you can get portable generators. The benefit of these generators is you can easily move from place to place or carry from one site to other without any effort.
Ports and Outlets
The main purpose of a generator is to provide electric power to appliances of different sizes. Hence, you need to look at the number and types of outlets the generator offers.
This way, you can plug the appliances directly into the generator without hardwiring it to your home’s electrical system. Some common ports and outlets are 120V 20A household outlets, heavy-duty 120V/240V 30A outlets (L14-30R and L5-30R), and many others.
Others
There are several other factors such as fuel tank capacity, running duration, starting system, noise, efficiency, warranty, etc.
Popular 7,500-Watt Generators You Can Buy
Now that we have seen the essential things about 7,500-Watt Generators, we are providing you with a list of some popular 7,500-Watt Generators that are available in the market.
| Generator | Running Watts | Starting Watts |
| Westinghouse 9500-Watt Dual Fuel Home Backup Portable Generator | 7.500 Watts | 9,500 Watts |
| Champion Power Equipment 201004 9375/7500-Watt Portable Generator | 7,500 Watts | 9,375 Watts |
| Powermate P0081600 PM7500 7500-Watt Gas-Powered Portable Generator | 6,000 Watts | 7,500 Watts |
| FIRMAN P08003 Portable Generator | 8,000 Watts | 10,000 Watts |
| AIVOLT 8000 Watts Dual Fuel Portable Inverter Generator | 6,100 Watts | 8,000 Watts |
Conclusion
Buying a generator is a big deal as it needs a huge investment and there is a recurring cost that applies to properly run and maintain it. So, choosing the right-sized generator can save you a lot of money.
If you are planning to buy a generator, then we recommend you make some simple calculations beforehand in terms of the power consumption and power ratings of the generator.
A 7,500-Watt Generator is a decent-sized generator for residential, camping, small business, or worksite applications. In this guide, we saw the basics of a portable generator and also some important parameters of a typical 7,500-Watt generator.
We also understood what can you run on a 7,500-Watt Generator by considering both the running power and peak power of the devices you want to run as well as the corresponding specifications of the generator.
In the end, we saw some popular 7,500-Watt Generators that you can purchase online. We hope that this guide on the 7,500-Watt Generators could help understand the basics of sizing a generator. If you feel we missed something or want us to add anything, do let us know in the comments. It will not only help us but also other readers as well.
