What size generator to run whole-house LED lighting?
LED lighting (whole house) draws about 200W while running, and being a resistive load it has no startup surge. Allowing 20% headroom, size for at least 300W of starting capacity.
Units that cover it
- WEN PP300i
600W starting · 200% headroom · $232
Plenty of room to add loads later.
Check price - EGO Nexus Escape PAD5000
800W starting · 300% headroom
Plenty of room to add loads later.
Check price - Honda EU1000i
1,000W starting · 400% headroom
Plenty of room to add loads later, has a CO shutoff sensor, runs at 50 dB.
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