Generator question

[coyotewhisperer]

what size generator do i need to run a chest freezer. I dont need to run the whole house just a freezer if we would lose power. wondering whats the smallest size that could run a 5 foot long chest freezer.

Thanks for your help

[eeyore]

It would help if there is a tag on it that tells you what the motor draws and what amperage is required to run it. How old it is is a factor, most of the newer ones are some type of energy star stuff, supposed to cast less to run, ergo it takes less energy to run it.

[Pop_45]

I had a coleman 6500 that I ran the freezer, refrigerator. the TV and a game console. I ran it a couple hours at a time about four times a day.

[ssonb]

I have used a 3300w to run a refrig and freezer fans tvs but not at the same time...Look on the sticker on the motor on the unit you wish to run off the genny ...note the running watts then multiply by 3 to get the startup wattage, if it does not add up to over the wattage of the genny then you are good. IE....300w running x3=900w startup plus if you wish to run a few lights add them in also 60 + 25 +25 = 110+900 = 1010w and if you had a 2500 w genny no problems..I like keeping the total startup to under 75% of max .

[slingshot]

I ran 2 freezers and a fridge off of a old 5K genset for eleven days during an ice storm. I didn't start them all at once. I would throw the breaker for 1 freezer, let it start running, then throw the breaker for the next freezer, let it start running, then throw the breaker for the fridge. This procedure avoids the start-up power drain of all 3 appliances at the same time. That old 5K never spluttered 1 time! Whenever the wife would report that contents of the appliances were starting to feel "soft," I would start the genset and let it run for an hour or so. I also ran a 1/2 hp 220 volt well pump with the genset, but I always ran that by itself. That well pump was to important to experiment with. Everything came through that ordeal and are still working today, 2 years later.

[Benn Gleck]

I was able to run a small chest type freezer and my refrigerator at the same time with my little Honda 2000 watt generator.

We used it for 9 days when the remnants of Ike blew through here a couple of years back.

[coyotewhisperer]

thanks for all the replies. now i can pick out a generator

[Lowdown3]

Awesome. Good to see you around again! Don't be a stranger :)