What Will 3500 Watt Generator Run

A 3500W generator is a powerful unit capable of running most household appliances, shop tools, and virtually any RV appliance you may have. 

How long they will last depends on the type of generator you have, the fuel source, and the type and number of appliances you run on it. 

This article will examine what exactly you can run with your 3500W model, including learning how to calculate your energy needs.

What Is a 3500 Watt Generator? 

A 3500W generator is a robust model that can run most household appliances, supply backup household power during an outage, and run devices in a shop, RV, new construction site, or anywhere else where power is unavailable. 

What you can or cannot run depends on your appliance’s starting watts, also called the surge wattage. It’s the extra surge power it takes to start an appliance, which is higher than its continuous running wattage, which is also important to know. 

The other factor that must be considered is the total energy consumption in watt-hours, the number of watts you need multiplied by the number of hours you need to run it. This is important to determine how long your battery-powered generator will last before recharging.  

There are different types of models available, and what you choose depends on your needs. 

• Most of us are familiar with traditional gas generators since they have been around for a long time. They have the benefit of being cheap to buy, and their fuel source, gas, is readily available. However, they require regular maintenance and fuel purchases to keep them running. They are also not particularly efficient, are very noisy, and cannot be brought indoors due to the toxic fumes they produce. 
• An inverter generator uses gas like a traditional model, but it’s cleaner, quieter, and more efficient. It’s also more compact, making it better for travel, but they do cost more than traditional models. 
• Solar generators like EcoFlow Solar Generators are the newest models, which consist of an EcoFlow portable power station with a backup battery and EcoFlow Solar panels that can be permanently mounted to your home or portable models so that you can move your power around with you. Either way, these are the quietest since there are no moving parts. They are also the safest since they produce no toxic fumes, so you can bring them inside your home, tent, or RV. These are also the most affordable in the long run because you will never have to buy gas or oil, and without moving parts, they require no maintenance and almost never break down. 

What Size Generator Do You Need?

What size you need depends entirely on how you plan to use it. Follow these steps to figure out how much power you need. 

1. Make a list of all of the electrical appliances you need to run.  
2. Check their running wattage and starting watts to determine how much each appliance needs to start up (starting watts) and run continuously (running watts). 

If your appliance is listed in amps or volts instead of watts, you can use the following formula:   

Watts = Amps × Volts 

For example, if you have a table saw that needs 10A and is using a 120V power source, then your watts are: 

Watts = 10A x 120V = 1200W

3. Add up the running wattage you would need to operate the appliances. The total is the minimum size you need. 
4. Find the highest starting watts you have. This is also the minimum size you would need. Keep in mind that if you use the minimum required, you cannot run anything else while that one appliance is starting up. 
5. Determine how long you need to run that appliance, say 4 hours for that table saw. That is 1200W x 4h = 4,800Wh or 4.8 kWh. 
6. If your model has fewer watts than you need for the length of time you need it, you must run fewer appliances, buy a larger unit, or recharge it by adding more fuel or charging it with solar panels.  

What is a 3500 Watt Generator Capable of Running? 

A 3500W model is a very powerful unit that can run most standard appliances. 

Can a 3500 Watt Generator Power a House?

Yes, a 3500W generator can power a home. However, you will need to add up the running and starting wattages of your appliances to see how many you can run at once. 

For example, you can run a fridge (700W) and a washing machine (800W) simultaneously (1500W). However, you cannot start them simultaneously since the refrigerator and washing machine have 2200W and 1600W, respectively, of starting watts, a total of 3600W. 

An EcoFlow DELTA Series Portable Power Station with X-boost surge power allows more flexibility when dealing with starting watts. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro and EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 are the most comprehensive models, capable of powering the majority of household appliances.

Here are some examples of the power used by some common household appliances. 

Is a 3500 Watt Generator Suitable for a Work Site?

Yes, 3500W is perfect for a work site. It’s powerful enough to run most power tools yet still portable enough to move around as needed. Here are some common wattages for work site tools. 

Can a 3500 Watt Generator Power an RV?

Yes, this size is also perfect for RVs since it will run almost any RV appliance you would have. Here are some examples.

How Many Amps Does a 3500 Watt Generator Output?

A 3500W model typically produces about 29A when running at 120V according to the formula W = A x V. Here, A = 3500W/120V = 29.17A. Of course, that will vary if the voltage varies, but 120V is standard in most North American homes and small businesses. 

If you need more amps, EcoFlow’s Smart Generator 4000 is a high-output model capable of producing a maximum of 56A output DC power.

How Long Does a 3500 Watt Generator Last? 

How long your 3500W model will last depends on the model, fuel source, and how many appliances are drawing power from it. Traditional gas models generally last about 8-9 hours, while inverter models should last longer since they are more efficient. Solar models typically last 8-12 hours, depending on what you have plugged into them. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

A 3500W generator is a powerful, robust, and versatile model with enough power for household backup or use at a work site. You can run most household appliances, virtually any RV appliance, and most standard worksite tools. 

In fact, the EcoFlow Smart Generator 4000 can run almost any appliance, and thanks to its dual-fuel options using gas or LPG, you have multiple methods of refueling it so you can keep your appliances running, keep working, or keep having fun!