Generators provide an essential power backup during a power outage. Yet not all generators are created equal.
Due to this, it’s essential to know what a generator will be able to power before making a purchase.
Knowing this, there’s a lot of confusion regarding what a 700-watt generator will be able to power. So, I decided to write this short article to answer that question.
What Will a 700 Watt Generator Run?
I clearly remember this storm back in 2010 when the power went out in my house. I rushed to the garage where my 700-watt generator was located to discover that it wasn’t powerful enough to run my family’s most essential devices.
If we had known ahead of time what appliances we needed to keep running during a power outage, we could have been better prepared.
So, to keep you from going to the same frustration, I will give you an approximation as to what will a 700-watt generator run.
Typical Wattage of Appliances
First, I’d like to share this list of devices and their respective wattage needs to give you an idea of how many watts the most common household appliances need.
Appliance | Wattage Needs |
50″ TV | 150 watts |
Small refrigerator | 700 watts |
Laptop | 70 watts |
Monitor | 100 watts |
CPU | 120 watts |
Microwave | 700 watts |
Wi-Fi router | 15 watts |
Phone Charger | 7 watts |
Video Game console | 120 watts |
Night Light | 6 watts |
What Will a 700 Watt Generator Run?
The previous table shows that a 700-watt generator is not powerful enough to power all of your household devices. Still, it will power some of them if they are not plugged in simultaneously.
For example, a 700-watt generator can only power a small refrigerator or microwave if they are the only devices connected to the generator.
Also, because their wattage requirements are generally less than 700 watts (all combined), you can run a 50-inch TV, CPU, monitor, wifi router, game console, and laptop all at the same time.
Now What?
Even though I gave you an estimate of what a 700-watt generator can power, that doesn’t mean you should connect all of your devices to it without hesitation.
In fact, I strongly advise you to check the owner’s manual for each appliance you intend to connect to the generator to get an exact figure of how many watts your devices require.
After you’ve made a list of all the wattage requirements for your devices, add them all up and make sure the total of the required watts is less than 700 watts to have the guarantee your 700-watt generator can power them. That’s all!
The Best 700 Watt Generator
BLUETTI EB55 Portable 700 Watt Generator
This BLUETTI EB55 portable generator is one of the best 700-watt generators available, thanks to its innovative features.
Why?
This generator, with its powerful yet portable motor, produces 700 running watts and 1400 surge watts, which is enough to power some essential household appliances (i.e., small microwave).
Furthermore, it is battery-powered, which is ideal if you care about the environment and don’t want to run to the gas station to power your generator.
Even though it does not have the best battery gauge, it does have other very convenient features, such as the ability to be charged by solar power and electricity simultaneously, allowing it to be fully charged in just 2 hours.
Pros
- 700 running watts and 1400 surge watts
- Battery powered with a solid 537Wh battery (no gas is needed)
- It can be charged with solar power (up to 200w input) and AC simultaneously for 2 hours
Cons
- Not the best battery gauge