Choosing the right generator for your power requirements is essential. If it’s too small, then you risk overloading, if it’s too large, you’ll be wasting money on fuel, servicing and repairs.

So, here’s our quick guide on what your average 3.5kVA generator will run, how to understand your power requirements and suggest some recommendations on what kind of 3.5kVA you should consider.

How to Calculate Your Wattage Requirements

Different generators run at different wattages, so you need to calculate what you’ll be powering to make sure a 3.5kVA is what you need.

A simple way to do this is to calculate the amount of watts you’ll be using. Here’s how:

1. Check your appliance or appliance manual - the wattage requirement will be listed in either of these two places
2. Consider if you’re planning on running multiple appliances together or independently.
3. Consider starting vs. running watts
4. Try not to max out your wattage requirements. Consider a generator that provides slightly more power than you need - this will cover you in case of a power surge. Try to allow for about 20% headroom.

Starting Watts vs Running Watts

Starting watts: When an appliance or tool starts, it requires a brief surge of extra wattage to get the equipment going. This is known as starting watts. It usually doesn’t last any more than two or three seconds but you must be able to account for starting watts, otherwise the generator may overload.

Running watts: This reflects the amount of power being drawn while the equipment is running. Understanding the running watts allows you to calculate how many devices/appliances you can run at once.

Running watts are always less than starting watts. For example, an appliance may have a starting wattage of 1500 watts, but only a running wattage of 1000 watts.

What Can a 3.5kVA Generator Run?

A 3.5kVA generator has the capacity to power up a range of appliances from air conditioners, power tools and camping/caravanning equipment. Let’s take a closer look:

Appliances

A 3.5kVA generators, especially inverter generators, are great for powering household appliances and sensitive devices in the event of a power outage.

Here's a quick guide:

Camping & Caravanning

Most generators with a 3.5kVA output are a great choice for camping and caravanning due to their compact size and lightweight dimensions.

Bear in mind, especially for RVs, larger appliances like air conditioners and fridges tend to have a high surge of starting watts (sometimes up to 3 times the running watts). Be sure to account for this when choosing your generator.

Here’s a general guide of some common camping/caravanning appliances to consider:

Power Tools

A small trade site or some minor home renovations may also be suitable applications for a 3.5kVA generator. You will still need to make sure you calculate the running and starting watts, but it should be enough to cover some basic tools. Refer to our guide below:

What 3.5kVA Generator Should You Buy?

Honda EU32IU

Fuel capacity: 4.6L

kVA: 3.2kVA (3200w)

Approximate running time: 7.6 hours

Price: $4199

Description: The Honda EU32IU provides a stable supply of power using inverter technology, making it a safe option to power up sensitive devices like technical equipment and computers. It features Bluetooth connectivity thatallows you to track real time data and running information directly from an app on your phone.

Honda EU30IS

Fuel capacity: 13L

kVA: 3kVA (3000w)

Approximate running time: 7 hours

Price: $3799

Description: The Honda EU30is weighs 59kg and operates at52dB(A) when using EcoThrottle Mode, making it one of the quietest generators in its class. It’s built in inverter makes it a great choice for those who need to power frequency sensitive devices such as dryers, mobiles and laptops.

Genesys 3650ie

Fuel capacity: 7L

kVA: 3.65kVA (3650w)

Approximate running time: 9 hours

Price: $1599

Description: The Genesys3650ie is a lightweight, efficient inverter generator, specially designed as a low noise, affordable option for home, small worksite or camping use. It even features a USB connection port to charge your phone.

Experience Reliable Power, Reach Out Today

With years of experience, you can rely on Blue Diamond Machinery to provide the right advice and a generator to meet your unique requirements.

For more information on the best model to suit your power requirements, contact us today or speak to one of our expert team on 1300 998 647.