Will A 9000 Watt Generator Run A 50 Amp RV?

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Finding the right generator for your camper is not an easy task. There are many generators with different voltage outputs and you don’t want to be stuck with a generator that won’t be able to power all the appliances in your RV.

If you’re wondering if a 9000-watt generator can power a 50 amp RV, then this guide is for you.

Will A 9000 Watt Generator Run A 50 Amp RV?

Finding the right generator that will power your RV might not be easy, especially if you do not have the technical knowledge of how a generator works. 

In general, generators are rated in wattage, this basically means the higher the wattage, the more output it produces i.e ( a 12,000 watts generator will produce more output than a 9,000-watt generator). 

A 50 Amp RV requires a wattage of about 12,000 watts to power all appliances effectively, but if you’re planning on not using all the appliances in your RV, then a 9000-watt generator should be able to work with your 50 Amp RV without any issue.

How To Estimate generator Size for your RV?

A 50 amp RV by default needs about 12,000 watts of power, but that doesn’t mean you should get a generator that provides a 12,000 wattage output. 

The best way to analyze the power your RV needs, you’ll need to know the starting watt and running watts of your RV appliances. When you put on an appliance, let’s say an air conditioner, there is a drag of power (wattage) to get it started – this is known as starting watts. After the appliance has started and is running steadily, the power it uses is lesser than the one it uses when it started – this is known as running watt.

When you are estimating the generator size for your RV, it is important to know about the starting and running watts of your appliances.

What Are The Appliances That Use The Most Power In an RV?

These appliances use the most power and they are the major determinant of which generator size you need for your camper.

  • Microwave: it uses up to 1500 starting watts and uses exactly 1500 watts when running.
  • Electric grill: It uses up to 1650 watts while starting and 1500 running watts.
  • RV Air conditioner: This appliance consumes the most wattage, it uses about 3300 watts to start and 2000 watts while running.

After analyzing the appliances that use the most power, it is also important to analyze the appliances that use the least power.

  • Computer: 200 starting watts, 200 running watts.
  • Coffee maker: 600 starting watts, 600 running watts.
  • Blender: 850 starting watts, 400 running watts.
  • TV: 190 starting watts, 190 running watts.
  • RV Refridgerator: 600 starting watts, 180 running watts.
  • Satellite receiver: 250 staring watts, 250 running watts.
  • Hair dryer: 1900 starting watts, 1800 running watts.

Beyond the major appliances, the power consumed by your computers, TV and the rest and very small, except of course the hair dryer. 

I would advise when buying a generator, you should add another 1000 watts after calculating all the appliances as listed above. For example, if the total watt your appliances need to run is 6500 watts, add another 1000 watts to it. So instead of buying a 6500-watt generator, you should buy a 7500-watt generator.

Can I Plug My 50 amp RV Into a 30 amp Service?

RV power sources are frequently provided by campgrounds, but the majority only have a 30 amp rating. What options are available to you if your RV is 50 amps?

The 30 amp service has a 3600-watt rating. In contrast, a fully loaded 50 amp RV may have 12000 peak watts in total across all equipment.

The majority of 30 amp circuit breakers operate with a tolerance of 20%. This means that you will trip the breaker if you draw more than 4320 watts (3600 x 120%). Additionally, there can be other people using the same 30 amp line, so you actually have less than 4320 watts to deal with a potential 12000 watt RV.

However, if you have no other option than to use the 30 amp service to power your 50 amp RV, then you’d have to use a dogbone electrical adapter. But it is not always an effective choice and it should always be used as a last option.

Will A 5500 Watt Generator Power A 50 Amp RV?

Relatively, a 5500-watt generator will power your 50 amp camper without any issues. But it is important to know that the 5500-watt generator won’t be able to power appliances like Air conditioners, electric water heaters e.t.c.  

What is The Difference Between a 30 amp and a 50 amp RV?

The two most popular electrical service capacities utilized in an RV are thirty amps and fifty amps. Because a 50 amp service can manage a larger volume of electrons than a 30 amp service, it can handle greater electrical power. 

The amount of electrical power is calculated by multiplying amperage by voltage. The majority of RV electrical equipment runs at 120 volts, regardless of the service’s 30 or 50 amp capacity.

You need to multiply volts by amps to see how many watts you have available. A 30 amp RV, for instance, would be able to handle around 120 x 30 or 3,600 watts of electrical power when connected to a 120-volt power source.

What is a 50 amp Service?

The four wires that make up a 50 amp service are two 120 volt hot wires, a neutral wire, and a ground wire. It is able to pull 120 or 240 volts from either hot wire when connected to a generator.

The watts of such a service can be determined using a formula. 6,000 watts is equal to (A 50-amp service) X 120 volts. However, the fact that there are two hot wires of 120 volts implies that you get twice as much power: 6,000 + 6,000 watts, or 12,000 watts in total.

The 120/240 split service is the term used to describe this. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep in mind that a 50-amp service utilizes two 120-volt hot wires.


Conclusion

You must determine the appliances you’ll connect to the generator and the combined wattage they will draw before purchasing a generator that is compatible with a 50 amp RV.

A 5000-watt generator is required if you plan to use multiple appliances ranging in power from 100 to 3500 watts at 4000 watts at once. However, if you need to draw between 8000 and 11000 watts for some powerful appliances, such as the air conditioner and water heater, you should choose a 12,000-watt generator.

Following the instructions in this guide, you should be able to know how to estimate the generator size that will work for your RV.

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Written by Jane Miller

I'm Nomadic Jane, a digital nomad and travel blogger. Since 2009, I've been traveling the world and exploring cultures through my travel blog.

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