What size generator do i need for camping?
Check, uncheck or adjust the typical device list below — watts, startup surge and battery size update instantly. Numbers come from U.S. DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer spec sheets, not marketing copy.
1. Check what you need to power
Refrigeration & Freezers
Kitchen
Heating, Cooling & Fans
Water & Pumps
Laundry & Cleaning
Electronics & Office
Medical Devices
Power Tools & Outdoor
Lighting
- 2
2. Your sizing
3. Best cross-brand matches
- Goal Zero Yeti 3000X~$3,000
- surge 3,500W covers your 746W start peak
- 1.3 days of your typical daily use (3,032Wh / 2,350Wh)
- Anker SOLIX F3800
- surge 9,000W covers your 746W start peak
- 1.6 days of your typical daily use (3,840Wh / 2,350Wh)
- EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3~$2,799
- surge 8,000W covers your 746W start peak
- 1.7 days of your typical daily use (4,096Wh / 2,350Wh)
Static answer (crawlable summary)
Typical device list: Portable 12V Fridge/Freezer (Dometic CFX3 45 class)×1, Phone / Smartphone Charger×2, LED Bulb (60W equivalent)×2, Box Fan×1.
| Continuous load | 346 W |
|---|---|
| Startup peak | 746 W (driven by 1× Box Fan) |
| Daily energy use | 2,350 Wh |
| Recommended capacity | 2,940 Wh (25% margin included) |
| Minimum inverter | 390 W continuous |
Frequently asked questions
What size generator do i need for camping?
For a typical setup (portable 12v fridge/freezer (dometic cfx3 45 class), phone / smartphone charger, led bulb (60w equivalent) and box fan), you need at least 346W of continuous power. The single biggest moment is startup: when 1× box fan kicks on, the momentary draw peaks at 746W. For overnight runtime we recommend at least 2,940Wh of battery capacity (your devices use about 2,350Wh per day, plus a 25% margin).
Which power stations can handle this?
Based on published specs, Goal Zero Yeti 3000X, Anker SOLIX F3800, EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 all cover the 746W startup peak and give you 1.3 days / 1.6 days / 1.7 days of typical daily use. Check the comparison cards above for the full numbers.
Why is the startup surge higher than the running watts?
Motor-driven devices (fridge compressors, well pumps, air conditioners) draw 2-5× their running power for a split second at startup — measured as locked-rotor amps (LRA). A generator that only meets the running load will trip or stall when the biggest motor starts. Our data sources: U.S. DOE Energy Saver, ENERGY STAR certified product database, and manufacturer spec sheets (Franklin Electric, Goodman, Zoeller).