What Can a 1300-Watt Generator Run

What is a 1300W Generator?

A 1300-watt generator is a portable power source that can generate up to 1300 watts of electricity. It can run small to midsize appliances like phones, fans, lights, TVs, coffee machines, refrigerators, etc. Whether you are planning a short camping trip to a nearby remote location or wish to keep essential appliances charged during a power outage, the 1300W portable generator is the way to go!

There are three main types of 1300-watt generators: portable, inverter, and solar models. Let's explain them briefly:

1300-Watt Portable Generator: Portable generators are generally fueled by propane or gasoline, which makes them ideal for outdoor use. They are more powerful than inverters but also emit more emissions and are louder.

1300-Watt Inverter Generator: The inverter generators are also powered by fuel but feature advanced electronics to generate cleaner and more stable power. Compared to traditional gas or propane generators, the 1300W inverter generators are known to be quieter and more fuel-efficient.

1300-Watt Solar Generator: Solar generators like those from Jackery combine a portable power station and solar panels to generate electricity. They are silent, emission-free, and can be recharged with free sunlight. They are eco-friendly solutions, making solar generators ideal for indoor and outdoor use.

Before choosing the 1300-watt generator for your home, RV, or off-grid living, you will come across the three terms:

Starting Wattage: Also called peak wattage, the starting watts are the extra power an appliance draws upon startup. For example, a refrigerator consuming 400W of running wattage will need around 1200W startup wattage.

Running Wattage: Also known as rated wattage, it is the amount of power an appliance needs to run and is generally less than the starting wattage. For instance, a CPAP machine consumes 40W to run continuously, whereas it is around 300W for a blender.

Surge Wattage: Surge wattage is the extra power that a generator offers for a brief period to run motorized appliances such as refrigerators. For example, the surge wattage of the Jackery Solar Generators is twice their rated watts so it can charge motorized, heavy-duty appliances effortlessly.

Watt-Hour: A watt-hour equals one watt of power an appliance consumes in one hour. For instance, a refrigerator (400W) running for 8 hours will consume around 3200Wh.

What Size Generator Do I Need?

The right size of solar generator needed will depend on the appliances you would like to charge and for how long. For example, you need a larger solar generator for hours to run heavy-duty appliances like air conditioners.

On the other hand, a small solar generator is required to charge small appliances during camping or backpacking. Here is a simple step-by-step process to calculate the size of the required solar generator:

Step 1: Note Down the Appliances You Want to Run

A 1300-watt generator can run a variety of small appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, TVs, lights, fans, computers, coffee makers, and other small kitchen appliances. Make sure you list the appliances that you would like to run at the same time.

Step 2: Add the Wattages of all the Appliances

If you want to calculate the appropriate generator size for your needs, you need to consider the starting and running wattage of the essential appliances you plan to power.

The running watts are the amount of power needed to keep a device running continuously, whereas the starting watts are the surge power required to start the appliance initially.

If you can't find the wattage on the appliance itself, you can calculate the watts by multiplying the amps and volts together.

Watts = Volts * Amps

You can note down both the running and starting wattages of the appliances you plan to use simultaneously and then add the running watts. The added running wattage will act like the required rated wattage of the solar generator.

Step 3: Calculate the Surge Watts

If you want to calculate the surge wattage of the solar generator, make sure to add the total running wattage with the highest starting wattage. It will act as the total surge output that the generator should be able to supply to charge those appliances simultaneously.

What Can a 1300-Watt Generator Run?

A 1300-watt generator can run most small to midsize appliances for hours. It can power multiple appliances like phones, lights, fans, computers, speakers, coffee makers, etc.

However, you need to calculate the total running and starting wattage of the appliances you plan to run simultaneously. It will help you ensure you are not overloading the power station.

Will a 1300 Watt Generator Run a House?

Yes, a 1300-watt generator can run basic home appliances like TVs, coffee machines, refrigerators, microwaves, a portable fan, a CPAP machine, and even a slow cooker.

If you are looking for a portable power station that can run essential appliances during brief power outages or blackouts, then you can consider investing in the 1300W portable generator.

On the other hand, if you wish to charge heavy-duty appliances like water heaters, window ACs, or sump pumps, you will need a large 5000-watt or 10,000-watt generator.

What Can a 1300 Watt Generator Run Outdoor Appliances?

A 1300W generator is portable enough to charge appliances while camping, fishing, or backpacking. It's also light in weight, so you can carry the solar generator anywhere you like to power electrical devices.

If you are someone who often does gardening work and wants to charge small outdoor power tools like drills and jigsaws, you can consider investing in a 1300W portable generator.

However, it might not be a viable solution if you want to run heavy-duty power tools such as air compressors, chain saws, and table saws. In that case, you would need a larger one, like a 7500-watt generator.

What Can a 1300-Watt Generator Run in an RV?

A 1300-watt generator can run most small to midsize RV appliances, such as a blender, coffee maker, microwave oven, TV, and even a CPAP machine. It's also capable of charging a mini refrigerator to keep foods and drinks fresh and cool in hot summers.

On the other hand, you can also power a small heater or a portable AC to keep the RV space warm or cool, depending on the weather. Despite its capacity to charge RV appliances, a 1300W generator is compact enough to fit in the vehicle space and ensures it does not compromise your comfort.

Can You Live Off the Grid With a 1300W Generator?

Yes. If you aim to live with some essential off-grid appliances like a TV, mini freezer, CPAP machine, and a few lights, a 1300W generator might be an ideal option.

However, it cannot charge multiple large or heavy-duty appliances at once. If you want to go completely off-grid and switch to a solar generator, you will need at least a 4000-watt or 5000-watt generator.

Jackery 1300W Portable Generators

Jackery currently does not offer a 1300W generator, but you can invest in the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus, which has a capacity of 1264Wh and a rated output of 2000W.

If you want a large solar generator that can act as a whole-home backup solution, you can try the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus. Its large capacity of 2042.8Wh ensures it can run 99% of the indoor or outdoor appliances for long hours.

Based on the different usage scenarios, here are the three best Jackery Solar Generators, which are great alternatives to a 1300W generator.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 is a stronger and faster charging solution for power outages or outdoor trips. It weighs 24.2 lbs and features a foldable handle to easily carry the solar generator to outdoor adventures such as camping, RV living, or boating for charging coolers, lights, and a portable stove. The UPS technology guarantees continuous operation of essential appliances like hard drives, computers, etc., even during a sudden power outage.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus

The robust Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus is a reliable 1300-watt generator alternative. It has a capacity of 1264Wh that can charge 99% of indoor or outdoor appliances for hours. The sturdy, foldable handle and ergonomic design ensure the solar-powered generator can easily be carried to outdoor locations for charging essential appliances. It's also expandable by nature, so you can expand the battery capacity from 1.2kWh to 5kWh with the add-on Jackery Battery Pack 1000 Plus.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 v2

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 v2 is the lightest LFP 2kWh backup power solution that can charge 99% of household or outdoor appliances. It can act as a home backup solution to charge refrigerators, freezers, coffee makers, microwaves, electric stoves, etc., for long hours.

The compact design and foldable handle ensure you have power on the go! Its large capacity makes sure you can charge heavy-duty tools like lawnmowers and leaf blowers to get the work done in the garden.

How Many Amps Does a 1300-Watt Generator Put Out?

You can calculate the amps produced by a 1300-watt generator by dividing the wattage by volts. Here's the mathematical expression:

Amps (I) = Watts (W) ÷ Volts (V)

For 120V:

Amps (I) = 1300W ÷ 120V = 10.8 amps

For 240V:

Amps (I) = 1300W ÷ 240V = 5.4 amps

This means a 1300-watt generator will produce around 5.4 amps when operating at 240V and 10.8 amps at 120V.

Let's take another example of the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus with a battery capacity of 1264Wh and operating volts of 41.6V to understand better:

Amp-hour = Watt-hour ÷ Volts = 1264Wh ÷ 41.6V = 30.3Ah

What is the Quietest 1300 Watt Generator?

Solar generators are considered the quietest among all, as they do not feature moving parts. If you want a quiet 1300-watt solar generator, you can consider the eco-friendly and highly efficient Jackery Solar Generators.

For example, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus has a battery capacity of 1264Wh and emits only 30dB of noise. This ensures you can use the solar generator at home, office, or even in an RV to sleep or work peacefully.

How Long Does a 1300-Watt Generator Last?

The running time of a 1300-watt solar generator will depend on the wattage of the electrical appliances being charged simultaneously and the total time for which they are run. In other words, the higher the total wattage of the appliances, the shorter the running time of the generator.

Suppose you are planning a short camping trip to a nearby remote location and want to charge a portable stove (400W), a cooler (150W), and a fan (50W) at the same time. If you are using the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus to charge these appliances, the running time can be calculated as follows:

Working Hours = Battery Capacity (in Watt-hours) × 0.85 ÷ Operating Wattage of the Appliances = 1264Wh × 0.85 ÷ 600W = 1.7H

Note: We have multiplied by 0.85 because there will be some power loss when charging the appliances.

FAQs

What can I power with a 1300-watt generator?

A 1300-watt generator can power a variety of appliances, including a small refrigerator, a few lights, a TV, a microwave, a small space heater, a fan, several smaller power tools, a computer, a blender, and most basic household electronics.

Will a 1300-watt generator run a refrigerator?

Yes, a 1300-watt generator can run a refrigerator, consuming 400W of running and 1200 starting watts. For example, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus can run a fridge (400W) for 2.6 hours.

Can a 13,000-watt generator run a whole house?

Yes, a 13,000-watt generator can run most household appliances during a power outage or blackout. It can charge a refrigerator, microwave, electric stove, TV, mini freezers, coffee makers, etc., for long hours.

Conclusion

A 1300-watt generator is a versatile and portable charging solution that can charge essential appliances at home, office, or during RV living. It excels in powering small to midsize appliances like fridges, phones, laptops, CPAP machines, etc.

However, if you want to charge power-hungry appliances, you may need to look for higher-capacity solar generators.

The powerful Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus is a reliable power solution that can charge 99% of your essential household or outdoor appliances. It offers whisper-quiet operation under 30dB, so you can sleep peacefully with the solar generator!