What Size Generator Do You Need for Camping? (By Setup)
The list, with sourced watts
| Appliance | Running watts | Starting (surge) |
|---|---|---|
| Cell phone charger | 25 | — |
| LED light (per bulb/fixture, 60W-equivalent class) | 13 | — |
| Portable 12V compressor fridge/freezer (40-55 qt) | 60 | — |
| Electric kettle (1.7 L, 120V) | 1,500 | — |
| Portable electric burner | 1,300 | — |
| CPAP machine, device only — no humidifier (ResMed AirSense 10 class) | 90 | — |
| Box fan (20-inch) | 200 | — |
The arithmetic
+ largest single starting surge: 0W
= peak demand: 3,188W
× 1.2 headroom → recommended rating: ~3,900W
Generators that cover this (from our verified catalog)
Spec: manufacturer
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See Champion 201320 (4500W Open Frame Inverter) on Amazon →Spec: manufacturer
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What size generator do I need for a camping setup?
3,188 running watts with 3,188W at startup for the full list — ~3,900W rated with headroom. Trim the list to shrink the requirement.
Why do starting watts matter?
Motor-driven loads briefly draw 2–4× their running watts at startup. Cover the running total plus the single largest surge, or the motor stalls.
Is a bigger generator always better?
No — oversized open-frame units burn more fuel and run louder. Size to your real list with ~20% headroom.
Sources
- Wattage Worksheet '3R0WATTGUIDE' (generator reference guide, Home Depot-hosted PDF) (vendor)
- A-iPower Wattage Chart (Sam's Club-hosted PDF) (vendor)
- Grounded Electric generator wattage chart (licensed electrical contractor) (vendor)
- ENERGY STAR Qualified Bulbs At A Glance (energystar.gov PDF) (gov)
- BougeRV 12V portable fridge/freezer spec table (Outbound Power dealer listing) (vendor)
- OutdoorGearLab powered-cooler lab test (Dometic CFX5 45 measured draw) (vendor)
- Hamilton Beach 41031 1.7L kettle product page (manufacturer)
- Hamilton Beach 41038 1.7L kettle product page (manufacturer)
- Champion Power Equipment 'Choosing a Generator' wattage flyer (manufacturer)
- ResMed 'Power consumption of Air10 devices' (official measurement PDF) (manufacturer)
- Lofta ResMed AirSense 10 90W AC power supply spec (vendor)
Figures are conservative sizing values chosen from the range these sources report. Your appliance's nameplate is authoritative.