Do I need an installed home standby generator or a portable generator?
Your natural gas-, propane-, or diesel-fueled standby generator delivers power quietly and automatically during a power outage. A Cummins gasoline-powered portable is easy to move so you’ll always have power where and when you need it. This chart can help you determine if an installed whole house generator or a portable generator is best for you.
| Cummins Standby Generator | Cummins Portable Generator | |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | Backup power to keep your home running when utility power goes out | Emergency home power, camping, tailgating, outdoor events and more |
| Fuel | Fueled by your home's natural gas or liquid propane line. No refueling required | Run on gasoline or liquid propane, depending on model |
| Maintenance | Automatic maintenance and remote system monitoring | Regular maintenance intervals recommended for readiness and long life |
| Start-up | Switches on automatically when utility company power goes out | Must be connected and switched on manually |
How much generator power do I need?
What home appliances and necessities can you run with a standby or portable generator? You can use our Home Generator Sizing Calculator to determine the size that's right for you.
Evaluate Your Home Generator Needs
The size of your generator depends on how much power you need. The power you need is driven by the essentials you want to power during an outage.
The list below details what a few popular generator sizes can power. For simplicity, these examples use approximate power needs of appliances. The actual power consumption of your appliances could vary.
Here's a general guide to what you can power with different size generators:
What can a 9,000-watt generator power?
This range of power needs mean you can probably use a portable generator instead of a whole house generator. A 9,000-watt portable generator can run one of the following combinations, but not both at the same time:
- Refrigerator, microwave oven, electric stove and dishwasher, OR
- Central AC in smaller homes, washing machine and iron
What will a 13,000-watt generator run?
This size generator is a great entry level generator to power rooms of your choice. A 13,000-watt generator could power all the following basic amenities:
- Central air conditioner
- Electric water heater
- Gas furnace
- Electric garage door
- Refrigerator
- Freezer
- Microwave
What can you run with a 20,000-watt generator?
A 20,000-watt home standby generator is ideal for powering the whole house through an outage, especially if you have a larger home or longer outages. A 20,000-watt generator could power the following essentials in addition to the list above.
- Dishwasher
- Washer
- Dryer (Electric)
- Cooktop (Gas or Electric)