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Food truck generator size calculator

Fridges, warmers, the hood fan and AC all pull power at once during the lunch rush. Pick your equipment to choose a generator that won't trip in the middle of service.

Updated

1. Pick your appliances

Choose how many of each appliance you want to run and how many hours a day they run. Wattages are typical values: check the label on your own appliances.

  • Microwave (1,000 W)

    1,000 W running · 1,000 W starting

    0 / 10

  • Coffee maker

    1,000 W running · 1,000 W starting

    0 / 10

  • Commercial reach-in fridge

    700 W running · 2,100 W starting

    0 / 3

  • Food warmer / steam table

    1,000 W running · 1,000 W starting

    0 / 3

  • Commercial blender

    1,000 W running · 1,500 W starting

    0 / 10

  • Exhaust hood fan

    800 W running · 2,000 W starting

    0 / 10

  • RV rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)

    1,300 W running · 2,800 W starting

    0 / 2

  • RV water pump

    60 W running · 120 W starting

    0 / 10

  • LED lights (whole house)

    100 W running · 100 W starting

    0 / 10

  • POS terminal + tablet

    30 W running · 30 W starting

    0 / 10

2. Your result

We add up the running watts, then add the single largest starting surge (motors never all start at the same second).

Recommended generator size

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Add at least one appliance to see your result.

Running watts
0 W
Starting peak
0 W
Energy used per day
0 Wh

Power source

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a generator indoors or in the garage?

No, never. The CDC reports more than 400 deaths from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in the US each year, and the CPSC counts about 85 deaths a year from portable gasoline generators alone. The CPSC says to run a generator outside only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from doors, windows and vents.

Why are starting watts higher than running watts?

Anything with a motor or compressor (fridge, AC, pumps) draws 2 to 3 times its running watts for a second or two when it starts. The calculator adds the single largest surge, because in practice motors don't all kick on at the same moment.

Why add a 20% safety margin?

A generator or inverter running at 100% all the time runs hot, wears faster and trips on the smallest surge. Aiming for about 80% of rated output leaves room for a forgotten appliance or a real draw higher than the label.

What's the difference between watts (W) and watt-hours (Wh)?

Watts measure power at a given moment: they size the generator or inverter. Watt-hours measure energy over time: they size the battery. A 60 W CPAP used for 8 hours uses 480 Wh.

Sources