What Size Generator to Run a House (with Chart)

Sudden power outages due to natural calamities can cause a lot of inconveniences, especially when no power source is available. A solar generator is a highly versatile and convenient power source for homes.

Think of it as a solar power source that can charge all home appliances, from electric kettles to large refrigerators. However, different solar power station sizes are available on the market, making it challenging to make an informed choice.

Before investing money into one, you need to ask yourself, what size generator to run a house? In addition, you need to understand which appliances you need to power daily.

This article will help our readers figure out what solar generator size will suit their power needs, how to calculate it, and which solar power generator they should buy.

What Is a Solar Generator For a House?

Before we calculate the right size of solar generator for homes, let us understand the mechanism of a solar power generator.

Solar generators come with solar panels that collect the magnificent sun's energy and convert it into DC (or direct current). The generated current charges the battery or power station so you can access the power even after the sun is down.

As direct current cannot power up the appliances, the solar generator consists of another component called a power inverter. It transforms the direct current into an altering current so you can use that power to charge all your gears.

A reliable, clean, and efficient power source ensures you are never powerless during power outages or outdoor adventures.

What Size Generator Do I Need For My House?

Determining the right generator size depends heavily on which appliances you need it for. You can use the power generated by the solar generator to recharge different appliances and electronics, which will determine which solar generator you should invest in.

For example, many people buy solar generators during power outages to power their small electronic devices like laptops, electric kettles, etc. They can choose a small 1000W solar generator. Meanwhile, people wanting to charge all their appliances can choose a 1500W-3000W power station.

Jackery solar generators come in different sizes that help you recharge lights, electric stoves, and everything in between. The top models available are Jackery Solar Generator 1000W, 1500W, 2000W and 3000W.

What Size Generator Do I Need For My House Chart

You'll need to perform some simple calculations to define what size generator to run a home. The first step is determining the essential appliances you need to power up. This may include phone charges, hairdryers, laptops, kitchen appliances, etc.

Find out how much energy each of your chosen appliances needs. You can check the appliance to get information about the power it consumes. Most importantly, determine how long you use the specific device daily.

Once you have that information handy, it's time to calculate the watt-hour of each appliance and choose the right size generator.

To help you understand better, we've compiled a table with the common appliances, their usage hour, power consumption, and more.

Typically, a 2000W solar generator and above would be sufficient to cater to a typical home's needs. Using solar panels to recharge the power station, you can get renewable solar power for your house.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro is the right combination for those wanting to go off-grid. The best feature of the solar generator is that you can plug it with solar panels and recharge appliances simultaneously. In addition, the handy display will indicate how much power you're putting in and using to protect the solar generator.

Best Generator For Large Homes: Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro

Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro has a highly efficient and powerful 3024Wh battery capacity and massive 3000W power output. It lets you charge 99% of your home appliances, including washing machines, refrigerators, heaters, ACs, etc.

The unique feature of Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is the smart app to maximize the battery capacity. It weighs only 63.93 lbs, making it 30% lighter than other similar-capacity products available in the market. If you want a power solution that is lighter yet powerful, Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is the ideal solution.

 Key Features

• Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro has an industry-grade BMS technology that provides 12 layers of battery protection.
• The advanced technology makes the solar generator resilient in cold temperatures.
• With 6*SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels, you can charge the Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro within 2.8 hours.

 Customer Review

"We live in the mountains of North Carolina. Losing power happens often. Jackery has become our go-to power source. The 3,000 is the best of all. We take them outside monthly and quickly charge one of the Jackery. It's an exercise in ensuring we are both able to keep the power on no matter how long the power is out." — Xskygod.

Best Expandable Generator For Homes: Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is best known for its expandable nature. It combines Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station and SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels to charge 99% of home appliances.

If you want more power, you can add Jackery Battery Plus 2000 Plus and expand the battery capacity from 2kWh to 24kWh. The solar generator is built to charge heavy-duty appliances up to 6000W, making it the ultimate power solution for homes.

Key Features

• The ChargeSheild fast charging technology boasts a battery life of 50%.
• It features a LiFePO4 battery with 4000 charge cycles and long-lasting reliability.
• With 6*SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels, you can charge the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus in only 2 hours.

Customer Review

"Purchased for home backup, but I also take these out with me on long camping trips. It will easily power whatever you plug in it, and the 30 amp RV plug is a nice addition. Additional batteries can be added depending on your needs and can handle up to 6 Solar Saga 200 panels. Very impressed with what Jackery has done here." — Chris.

Best Generator For Home: Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro is one of the most efficient and versatile solar generators available on the market. Not only is the solar generator user-friendly, but it is capable of charging all small and large home appliances. Below are a few things that make Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro an excellent choice for anyone

• Capacity

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro is a popular choice among homeowners due to its large storage capacity. The solar power kit comes with lithium-ion batteries that can store 2,160Wh of energy and power all your gadgets with 2200W (4400W Peak) AC output.

When Explorer 2000 Pro and 6x SolarSaga 200W solar panels are combined, the high-powered solar generator system generates 2000W solar power in only 2.5 hours during the daytime. Thus, it helps you to charge large appliances like refrigerators, electric blankets, etc., for hours without recharging.

• Input/Output Ports

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro is the ideal choice for someone who wants to charge multiple appliances simultaneously. Multiple input and output ports enable you to power various devices with a solar generator without purchasing a bunch of adapters.

The input and output ports available include AC input, DC input, carport, AC output, USB-A output, and USB-C output.

• Charging Options

With Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro, you can charge all your home appliances efficiently. Be it a hand grill, air conditioner, microwave, refrigerator, electric grill, blender, mini cooler, hot plate, or coffee maker, you can charge anything and everything. Most importantly, this solar generator can power up to eight electric devices simultaneously.

• Inverter

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro for house features a built-in AC inverter. All the AC and DC current generated from the solar panels, car outlet, or wall socket pass through the inverter and charge all your home appliances. In addition, due to a powerful in-built AC inverter, the Jackery power station supplies a larger voltage to power all the major electronic devices.

• Solar Charging Time

The solar power generator has the fastest charging time. Depending on the charging mode, you can power up the solar generator in 2.5 hours fastly. For instance, you can recharge lithium-ion batteries by connecting them to solar panels. This will take around 2.5 hours and is an appropriate charging method during power outages. If you have access to a wall outlet (standard), it will take 2 hours to recharge the battery pack.

• Price

Jackery products are known for reliability, safety, and high quality. But that does not mean you have to be high on a budget to purchase the solar generator. Different combinations of Explorer 2000 Pro and SolarSaga 200W solar panels are available on the official website, with a price range between $2,499 and $6,190, you can build up a solar power system for your house.

Customer Reviews

Here is what Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro customers say about the product.

“We needed a generator back up that was easy set up, provide enough power to plug in our refrigerator, tv lights, coffee pot. ( these were our Priority) . We purchased the Jackery 2000 Pro with 2 solar panels, as we age, finding simplicity works best,and did not want to mess with gas generator, With pull start up, leaving outside, loudness, etc. This Jackery fit our bill with more power and longevity than we ever imagined. Living in Florida, we just experienced Hurricane Ian and Nicole, it certainly gave us peace of mind when power went out, and used inside house with no problems at all. Did above and beyond what the developer writes.I normally don't write reviews but had to share with the public to let you know "you will not be disappointed with Jackery 2000 Pro!" It lasted so long, that we did not even use the solar, but will follow up with another review when we test it out. Some say it may be a little pricey, but you get what you pay for,and this is well worth it! Wanted to drop in a picture off it, but camera decided not to cooperate right now." --Dee Verified

“We charged it up, testing both the solar panels and then adding in-home AC power. It took less than 2 hours. I then used the generator to power my chest freezer for a while to make sure it could do it. Then during the next hurricane, I hooked my sump pump to it and it did well. It is a bit too heavy for me (an older, not too athletic woman) to carry, but the guys seem to have no trouble.” --LLMommyM

Check out the technical specs of Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro below:

Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro (Explorer 1500 Pro+ SolarSaga 200W)

The Jackery solar generator 1500 Pro has a 1512Wh capacity with 1800 running wattage. It can run many home appliances and outdoor tools with its multiple output ports. It has very fast solar engineering supported by Solarpeak™ technology. You can charge it to 100% within 2 hours.

Understanding Starting, Running Wattage For Appliances

Power stations or solar generators are sized in watts (W). The higher a solar generator's watt, the more power it can generate and the more appliances it can charge. The two standard terms associated with watt calculation are starting watts and running watts.

Starting watts is the amount of power or energy appliances need to start up. Meanwhile, running watts is the energy any device needs to run after initial startup.

Generally, running watts is much less than starting watts. Understanding the wattage requirements of various electric appliances will help you calculate the power needs of the generator.

Here is a simple example of calculating the generator size yourself.

Suppose you want a generator that can power up a large refrigerator. It needs a burst of power to get started, termed starting watts. But the amount of watts it requires to run consistently is called running watts.

Let's say it needs 400W running power or wattage to function. That said, you need to choose a solar power generator capable of providing constant charge to the appliance.

Here is some simple mathematics.

• Running wattage, R = 400W
• Starting wattage, S = 400*3 = 1200W

The total wattage you need to run your large refrigerator would be around 1200W. Therefore, you should buy a generator capable of supplying 1200W and above to keep your appliance running for hours.

Similarly, you can calculate the running, starting, and total wattage of all your home appliances to get an answer to "what size generator do I need for my house."

Why Do You Need a Solar Generator For House?

Preparing your home with an efficient and reliable power source is becoming more than necessary. With power outages and blackouts becoming common, keeping a power backup solution for the home is ideal. Until recently, fossil fuel or gas generators were the go-to choices for people. But today, people realize the immense benefits of solar power generators. Some other advantages of solar generators include the following:

• Reliable and Renewable Energy

Solar generators are a reliable and renewable energy source compared to other power alternatives. The solar panels arranged beneath the sun will store the solar energy and convert it into electrical energy. As no artificial elements are involved in energy production, it adds up to help you access natural and reliable power.

• Safe to Use at Home

Advanced solar generators like Jackery products feature a first-rate lithium battery that houses two chips for dual protection. In addition, four core detectors ensure an appropriate amount of charge flows to and from the solar generator.

The in-built Battery Management System (BMS)™ protects the circuit, guaranteeing that the generator is safe to use at home.

• No Fumes, No Need to Use Fuel

Solar generators use solar energy rather than fuel to recharge and power home appliances. That said, no fumes are produced, guaranteeing clean energy at home. To charge the home appliances with a solar power generator, you need to connect the explorer with solar panels and let it recharge its battery.

• Saves Money and the Environment

Monthly electricity bills can dread you. However, that's not the case when you have a solar generator at home. Once you know the answer to "what size generator do I need for my house," you can reduce the high electricity bills. Not only does solar energy help you cut down the high bills, but it also ensures that you cause no harm to the environment by producing toxic carbon emissions.

• Easy to Use and No Maintenance

Unlike gas or fuel generators, solar generators are extremely easy to use and require no maintenance. You can dust off the solar generator with a clean cloth to ensure it runs efficiently. The press-and-play feature of Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro provides that anyone can operate it with a single button press. In addition, it features a battery-level monitoring system and fault code indicators that make it user-friendly.

• Quiet

Solar generators do not have any moving parts. That said, no noise is produced while the solar power station operates. The solar generator's cooling fan produces no more than 53 dB of sound. That's why solar generators can also be utilized during nighttime as it works silently to give access to clean power.

Before buying any generator, always ask what size generator to run a house. Once you know the answer, understand its features and make your purchase. A solar generator such as Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro is easy to use and can help you power your house during blackouts.

FAQs About Solar Generator For Home

1. How many years will a solar generator last?

Branded solar generators last for decades without any heavy maintenance costs. For example, Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro can stay at a maximum capacity of 80% after using it weekly for 10 years.

2. How much does a solar generator for a house cost?

The cost of a solar power station or generator for your house can vary greatly depending on location, size and type of solar system, and the brand. You can learn more from the Solar Generator 2000 Pro page. The product can recharge all your high-powering appliances and tools during emergencies or outdoors, including e-bikes, air conditioners, mini coolers, pellet smokers, etc.

3. Inverter or generator: which is best for home use?

A solar generator with an in-built inverter is an efficient and powerful way to recharge all your home appliances. In addition, solar generators, compared to gasoline generators, produce clean power, are quiet, and are portable. Therefore, you should always choose a green and clean power source like a solar generator for home use.

Conclusion

A home solar power generator is a worthwhile investment, especially if your home area is prone to blackouts and brownouts. However, choosing the right size of the solar generator is of great importance.

Calculate what devices you are looking to power and for how long to understand what size generator to run a house. Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro is the best choice for homeowners wanting to power all their appliances for hours. For more information about Jackery products, subscribe to our newsletter and get exclusive product news and deals.