What size generator to run a laptop?
Laptop draws about 100W while running, and being a resistive load it has no startup surge. Allowing 20% headroom, size for at least 200W of starting capacity.
Units that cover it
- WEN PP300i
600W starting · 500% headroom · $232
Plenty of room to add loads later.
Check price - Westinghouse iGen1500c
1,500W starting · 1400% headroom · $399
Plenty of room to add loads later, has a CO shutoff sensor, runs at 52 dB.
Check price - Predator 1800 Watt Portable
1,800W starting · 1700% headroom · $349.99
Plenty of room to add loads later, has a CO shutoff sensor.
Check price
Running more than one thing
Most people are not powering one appliance. Add everything you need at once and the calculator works out the real peak — your total running load plus the single largest surge, not the sum of every surge.
Size the whole load