Adding up the running watts and the highest starting wattage of all the devices you wish to power with a generator will help ...

Total Wattage: 1,050 + 350 = 1400 watts The total wattage you need to run a small refrigerator would be 1400 watts, so you would need a generator that provided at least that many watts.

Sometimes these numbers will also be listed in kilowatts. The running watts are the most helpful in determining how many devices you will be able to connect to a generator.

When it comes to wattage, generator manufacturers tend to highlight two numbers: starting watts (i.e., peak watts) and running watts. Sometimes these numbers will also be listed in kilowatts.

An average refrigerator may have a starting wattage of 1,200 watts, but drop to 300 watts shortly after. When it comes to wattage, generator manufacturers tend to highlight two numbers: starting ...