A 50 amp generator can typically run big devices like a 4-ton AC, a heat pump, and a clothes dryer.
However, you want to keep in mind that the 50 amp capacity of a generator is not enough to tell you what the machine can run.
Different 50 amp generators can still vary in terms of the starting and running watts they offer.
Many (but again not all) 50 amp generators come with around 12000 starting watts and around 9000 to 9500 watts.
While it depends on the devices, this is typically enough to run devices like a dryer, a refrigerator, and a refrigerator at the same time (if their power consumption is reasonable).
In turn, you should also be able to run a good amount of smaller electrical devices too.
When in doubt, you want to do the specific calculations yourself to make sure you don’t overload your generator or invest in a model that is strong enough for your needs.
What devices will a 50 amp generator run?
A 50 amp generator will typically be strong enough to run most normal electrical devices like a 4-ton air conditioning system, a refrigerator, a dryer, a television, or a hot water heater (but not necessarily all of these at the same time).
It is important to note that 50-amp generators can still vary a lot in terms of what they can safely run.
Your first reaction may be to use the Watts = Amps x Volts formula to calculate that a 120/240 volts, 50 amps outlet should be able to power 12000 watts.
However, this is not always the case.
There are generators with a 50 amp, 120/240 volt outlet that only offer 9375 starting watts and 7500 watts.
So just knowing that a generator is 50 amp is not enough to be able to tell what devices it will run.
Even generators that offer the 12000 peak watts you would expect from a 50 amp model often “only” offer around 9000 to 9500 watts.
Additionally, you may also still need clean low THD power to avoid damage to sensitive electronics.
That being said, while the things above still apply, you can say that 50 amp generators tend to offer more than 7000 running watts (although there are exceptions).
- Related: 5 Quietest 50 Amp Generators
How much will a 50 amp generator run?
A 50 amp generator with 9000 running watts and enough starting watts will typically power your dryer, a refrigerator, and a refrigerator at the same time (depending on the devices).
As you can expect from everything above, it is again not possible to say how much every single 50 amp generator will run.
To figure out how many and what electrical devices you can run at the same time, you want to look at the starting and running watts your 50-amp generator offers.
In combination with the power consumption of different devices, you can estimate what devices you can safely start and run at the same time.
- Related: 5 Best 50 Amp Inverter Generators
Will a 50 amp generator run a house?
Yes, a 50 amp generator will typically be able to run a house with a reasonable number of devices inside as long as you set it up safely.
More specifically, just because you are able to connect a 50 amp generator to a house does not mean you get a free pass on what devices you can run.
The generator limitations in terms of the starting and running watts available still apply.
In simpler words, a 50 amp generator can run a house but you can still only power a certain number and certain sizes of devices.
50 amp generators often offer a relatively high amount of power but whether this is enough depends on your setup.
How many watts can a 50 amp generator handle?
A 50 amp generator can typically handle around 12000 starting watts and 9000 to 9500 running watts.
However, you want to be careful because this is not always the case.
The Watts = Amps x Volts formula may imply a 50 amp generator with a 240-volt outlet can always handle 12000 watts but this is not always how the machine is built.
How many starting and running watts a 50 amp generator can handle depends on the specific model.
There are also 50 amp generators that only offer 7000 running watts and even smaller amounts than that.
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