What size generator do i need for hurricane season?
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
- 1
- 1
Kitchen
- 1
Heating, Cooling & Fans
- 1
Water & Pumps
Laundry & Cleaning
Electronics & Office
Medical Devices
Power Tools & Outdoor
Lighting
- 4
2. Your sizing
3. Best cross-brand matches
No single portable power station covers this load — look at expandable systems (e.g., EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 + extra battery, Anker SOLIX F3800 expansion packs) or a fixed home battery instead.
Static answer (crawlable summary)
Typical device list: Refrigerator (top-freezer, ~16 cu ft)×1, Freezer (chest, ~15 cu ft)×1, Window AC (12,000 BTU)×1, Dehumidifier (50-pint)×1, Sump Pump (1/2 HP, high-capacity)×1, Router + Modem×1, LED Bulb (60W equivalent)×4, Microwave Oven×1, Phone / Smartphone Charger×3.
| Continuous load | 3,692 W |
|---|---|
| Startup peak | 5,852 W (driven by 1× Sump Pump (1/2 HP, high-capacity)) |
| Daily energy use | 10,994 Wh |
| Recommended capacity | 13,750 Wh (25% margin included) |
| Minimum inverter | 4,070 W continuous |
Frequently asked questions
What size generator do i need for hurricane season?
For a typical setup (refrigerator (top-freezer, ~16 cu ft), freezer (chest, ~15 cu ft), window ac (12,000 btu), dehumidifier (50-pint) and sump pump (1/2 hp, high-capacity)), you need at least 3,692W of continuous power. The single biggest moment is startup: when 1× sump pump (1/2 hp, high-capacity) kicks on, the momentary draw peaks at 5,852W. For overnight runtime we recommend at least 13,750Wh of battery capacity (your devices use about 10,994Wh per day, plus a 25% margin).
Which power stations can handle this?
Look for a station whose surge rating covers 5,852W and whose capacity is at least 13,750Wh.
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).