What Size Generator For 30 Amp RV? January 2025 Update %

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Last Updated on August 24, 2024 by Paul Clayton

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What Size Generator For 30 Amp RV?

If you are new to the RV world, there are many things you may be confused about. One of them might be your RV’s electrical service.

You probably know that RVs mostly have either 50- or 30-amp service, but what do these numbers even mean? Well, if this question bothers you, we think we have the answer.

So, what size generator do you need for a 30 AMP RV? The maximum wattage a 30 AMP RV can use is 3,600 watts, anything more than this is going to waste. However, depending on how many appliances you’re using, a 3,000-watt generator is likely sufficient.

What is a 30-amp service?

First, let’s try to understand what 30-amp service in RVs is.

Electrical systems in RVs are designed to let through only a certain amount of power, depending on their amperage and voltage. In this sense, there is a huge difference between 30—amp services and 50-amp services.

The importance here lies in the electrical systems’ plugs. Plugs in 30-amp RVs have three wires: one 120V wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire. 50-amp plugs have two 120V, neutral, and ground wires.

An ampere can be expressed through the relationship amperage = wattage/voltage. Since we have the amperage and voltage for 30- and 50-amp services, we can easily calculate their maximum wattage after a simple formula rearrangement.

So, the maximum wattage for 30-amp service would equal 120V x 30A, which is 3,600 watts. For 50-amp service, the maximum wattage would be 2 x 120V x 50A, which is 12,000 watts. For 50-amp service, we multiply 120V by 2 since its plug has two 120V wires.

While the difference between the amperages of 30—and 50-amp services may seem small, what they are capable of differs quite a bit. A 50-amp service can work with over three times more power than a 30-amp service!

Due to this, 30-amp service is installed in RVs that don’t have many appliances and equipment. However, RV manufacturers usually offer optional 50-amp service for those who do need the additional watts. But if you know that your power requirements will fit within those 3,600 watts, then you do no need to go for 50-amp service since it would be overkill.

Our recommended Generators for a 30 amp service are as follows:

Westinghouse 4650 Peak Watt Portable Generator

The Westinghouse Outdoor Power Equipment 4650 Peak Watt Portable Generator is a power generation system designed for outdoor use. It is a gasoline-powered generator with a peak output of 4650 watts and a running output 3600. This generator is ideal for powering essential appliances during power outages, outdoor activities, and camping trips.

The generator has a 4-gallon fuel tank that can provide up to 18 hours of continuous operation at a 25% load. It features a 4-stroke 223cc OHV engine, which is efficient, durable, and produces less noise and emissions than traditional engines.

The Westinghouse Outdoor Power Equipment 4650 Peak Watt Portable Generator is also designed for ease of use and convenience. It features an intuitive control panel with two 120V household outlets, one 120V/240V twist-lock outlet, and one RV-ready 120V outlet. The panel also includes circuit breaker protection and an hour meter that tracks usage and helps with maintenance.

4650 peak watts and 3600 running watts output
4-gallon fuel tank for up to 18 hours of continuous operation at 25% load
4-stroke 223cc OHV engine for efficiency, durability, and reduced noise and emissions
Control panel with two 120V household outlets, one 120V/240V twist-lock outlet, and one RV-ready 120V outlet, circuit breaker protection, and an hour meter
Portability with never-flat wheels and a foldable handle for easy movement and storage
Maintenance kit with oil funnel, oil, and tool kit included
RV ready with TT-30R receptacle to power RVs directly
EPA and CARB compliant for safe use and reduced emissions
3-year limited warranty and lifetime technical support for added peace of mind.

Additionally, this generator is designed with portability in mind. It features never-flat wheels and a foldable handle, which makes it easy to move around and store. It also comes with an oil funnel, oil, and a tool kit to help with maintenance.

Overall, the Westinghouse Outdoor Power Equipment 4650 Peak Watt Portable Generator is a reliable, efficient, and convenient power generation system for various outdoor activities and emergencies.

Westinghouse 4500 Peak Watt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator with Remote Electric Start

The Westinghouse Outdoor Power Equipment, 4500 Peak Watt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator with Remote Electric Start (very handy in the middle of the night), is a powerful and efficient generator designed for outdoor use. It uses advanced inverter technology to provide clean and stable power, making it safe for sensitive electronics like laptops and smartphones.

With a peak output of 4500 watts and a running output of 3700 watts, this generator can power multiple appliances at once. Its 3.4-gallon fuel tank can provide up to 18 hours of continuous operation at a 25% load, making it ideal for camping trips, outdoor events, and emergency backup power.

The generator’s 224cc 4-stroke OHV engine is super quiet, producing only 52 decibels of noise at a 25% load. This makes it perfect for use in residential areas or outdoor events where noise levels must be low.

One of the standout features of this generator is its remote electric start capability, which allows you to start the generator from up to 109 yards away with the included key fob. This makes it convenient to start and stop the generator without being near it.

4500 peak watts and 3700 running watts output
Inverter technology for clean and stable power, safe for sensitive electronics
3.4-gallon fuel tank for up to 18 hours of continuous operation at a 25% load
224cc 4-stroke OHV engine that is super quiet, producing only 52 decibels of noise at a 25% load
Remote electric start capability with a key fob that allows starting the generator from up to 109 yards away
Digital display that shows important information like remaining run time, fuel level, and power output
Eco-mode that adjusts engine speed to match power demand reducing fuel consumption and extending run time
RV ready with TT-30R receptacle to power RVs directly
Parallel capable with a compatible Westinghouse generator to double the power output
Low oil shutdown and overload protection for added safety
EPA and CARB compliant for safe use and reduced emissions
3-year limited warranty and lifetime technical support for added peace of mind.

Overall, the Westinghouse Outdoor Power Equipment 4500 Peak Watt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator with Remote Electric Start is a reliable and efficient power generation system perfect for various outdoor activities and emergencies.

Champion Power Equipment 4250-Watt, RV Ready, Inverter Generator

The Champion Power Equipment 200954 4250-Watt RV Ready Open Frame Inverter Generator is a portable and reliable power solution for outdoor activities, camping, RVing, and emergency backup power. Here are some key features of this generator:

The generator’s 224cc Champion engine delivers 4250 starting watts and 3500 running watts, enough power to run most RV air conditioners, appliances, and electronics.

It features inverter technology that produces clean, stable power with less than 3% total harmonic distortion. This makes sensitive electronics like laptops, smartphones, and TVs safe.

The 4250 comes with a 120V 30A RV (TT-30R) outlet, which allows you to easily connect your RV and power it up.

The generator has an open frame design that makes it lightweight and easy to carry. It weighs 98.3 pounds and comes with a convenient handle and wheels for easy transportation.

It has a 2.3-gallon fuel tank that can run for up to 22 hours at 25% load. This makes it a fuel-efficient option for extended outdoor trips.

The 4250 has several safety features, including a low oil shut-off sensor, a durable steel frame, and a built-in surge protector.

Power output: 4250 starting watts and 3500 running watts
Inverter technology: produces clean and stable power with less than 3% total harmonic distortion
RV ready: comes with a 120V 30A RV (TT-30R) outlet
Open frame design: lightweight and easy to carry, weighs 98.3 pounds, and comes with a handle and wheels
Fuel efficiency: 2.3-gallon fuel tank can run for up to 22 hours at 25% load
Safety features: low oil shut-off sensor, durable steel frame, built-in surge protector

Overall, the Champion Power Equipment 4250-Watt RV Ready Open Frame Inverter Generator is a reliable and efficient power solution for outdoor activities and emergency backup power. Its inverter technology, RV-ready feature, and fuel efficiency make it popular among RVers and campers.

Champion Power Equipment 4500-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator

The Champion Power Equipment 200988 4500-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator is a versatile and reliable power solution designed for outdoor activities, camping, RVing, and emergency backup power. Here are some key features of this generator:

It can run on either gasoline or propane, giving you more flexibility and convenience in fuel options.

The 4500 is powered by a 224cc Champion engine and is capable of delivering 4500 starting watts and 3500 running watts on gasoline, and 4050 starting watts and 3150 running watts on propane. This is enough power to run most RV air conditioners, appliances, and electronics.

Champion features inverter technology that produces clean, stable power with less than 3% total harmonic distortion. This makes sensitive electronics like laptops, smartphones, and TVs safe.

Its 120V 30A RV (TT-30R) outlet allows you to connect your RV and power it up quickly.

The generator is designed to be portable and comes with a convenient handle and wheels for easy transportation. It weighs 95.7 pounds.

The 4250 has a 2.3-gallon fuel tank that can run up to 14.5 hours on gasoline and 10.5 hours on propane at 25% load. This makes it a fuel-efficient option for extended outdoor trips.

Champion generators have several safety features, including a low oil shut-off sensor, a durable steel frame, and a built-in surge protector.

Dual fuel: can run on either gasoline or propane
Power output: 4500 starting watts and 3500 running watts on gasoline, and 4050 starting watts and 3150 running watts on propane
Inverter technology: produces clean and stable power with less than 3% total harmonic distortion
RV ready: comes with a 120V 30A RV (TT-30R) outlet
Portable design: comes with a handle and wheels for easy transportation, weighs 95.7 pounds
Fuel efficiency: A 2.3-gallon fuel tank can run for up to 14.5 hours on gasoline and 10.5 hours on propane at 25% load
Safety features: low oil shut-off sensor, durable steel frame, built-in surge protector

Overall, the Champion Power Equipment 200988 4500-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator is a versatile and efficient power solution for outdoor activities, camping, RVing, and emergency backup power. Its dual-fuel option, inverter technology, RV-ready feature, and fuel efficiency make it popular among RVers and campers.

Generac 7127 IQ3500 3,500-Watt Gas-Powered Portable Generator

The Generac IQ3500-Watt Gas-Powered Portable Generator is a compact and versatile power solution designed for outdoor activities, camping, and emergency backup power. Here are some key features of this generator:

The generator’s 212cc OHV engine powers it and can deliver 3500 starting watts and 3000 running watts. This is enough power to run most RV air conditioners, appliances, and electronics.

It features inverter technology that produces clean, stable power with less than 3% total harmonic distortion. This makes sensitive electronics like laptops, smartphones, and TVs safe.

The IQ3500 is designed to be compact and portable, with built-in handles and wheels for easy transportation. It weighs 109.1 pounds.

Generac IQ3500 has a 2.6-gallon fuel tank that can run up to 8.9 hours at 25% load. This makes it a fuel-efficient option for extended outdoor trips.

It operates at a low noise level of 57 decibels, making it suitable for residential areas and campgrounds.

The IQ3500 generator features an LCD that shows essential information such as fuel level, remaining runtime, and power output.

Parallel ready: The generator can be connected with another IQ3500 generator to increase the power output.
Power output: The generator produces 3500 starting watts and 3000 running watts of power. This is enough to power essential appliances during a power outage or to run RV air conditioners, refrigerators, and electronics while camping.
Inverter technology: The generator features inverter technology that provides stable and clean power with less than 3% total harmonic distortion. This technology protects sensitive electronics like laptops, smartphones, and TVs.
Portable design: The generator is designed to be compact and portable, with built-in handles and wheels for easy transportation. It weighs 109.1 pounds, making it relatively lightweight for its power output.
Fuel efficiency: The generator has a 2.6-gallon fuel tank that can run for up to 8.9 hours at 25% load. This is a relatively fuel-efficient runtime, which makes it ideal for extended outdoor trips or for use as an emergency backup power source.
Quiet operation: The generator operates at a low noise level of 57 decibels, making it suitable for use in residential areas and campgrounds without disturbing others.
LCD: The generator features an LCD that shows essential information such as fuel level, remaining runtime, and power output. This display provides essential information about the generator’s performance and allows you to monitor it easily.

The Generac 7127 IQ3500 3,500-Watt Gas-Powered Portable Generator is a reliable and efficient power solution for outdoor activities, camping, and emergency backup power. Its inverter technology, portable design, fuel efficiency, and quiet operation make it popular among outdoor enthusiasts.

GENMAX Portable Inverter Generator, 5500W ultra-quiet gas engine

Outdoor activities, camping, and emergency backup power. Here are some key features of this generator:

The GENMAX 5500W is powered by a 389cc OHV engine, which delivers 5500 starting watts and 5000 running watts. This is enough power to run most RV air conditioners, appliances, and electronics.

It features inverter technology that produces clean, stable power with less than 3% total harmonic distortion. This makes sensitive electronics like laptops, smartphones, and TVs safe.

The generator operates at a low noise level of 52 decibels, making it one of the quietest generators on the market. This makes it suitable for residential areas, campgrounds, and other noise-sensitive environments.

The GENMAX 5500W has an eco-mode feature that adjusts the engine speed to the load demand. This helps to reduce fuel consumption and noise levels while extending the generator’s runtime.

The generator is designed to be portable, with built-in handles and wheels for easy transportation. It weighs 119 pounds.

It is EPA compliant, which means it meets strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

GENMAX 5500W has multiple outlets, including two 120V AC outlets, one 120V twist-lock outlet, and one 120/240V twist-lock outlet. This allows you to power a variety of devices and appliances.

Power output: 5500 starting watts and 5000 running watts
Inverter technology: produces clean and stable power with less than 3% total harmonic distortion
Ultra-quiet operation: operates at a low noise level of 52 decibels
Eco-mode feature: automatically adjusts engine speed to load demand, reducing fuel consumption and noise levels
Portable design: built-in handles and wheels for easy transportation, weighs 119 pounds
EPA compliant: meets strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency
Multiple outlets: two 120V AC outlets, one 120V twist-lock outlet, and one 120/240V twist-lock outlet

The GENMAX Portable Inverter Generator is a reliable and efficient power solution for outdoor activities, camping, and emergency backup power. Its inverter technology, ultra-quiet operation, eco-mode feature, portable design, EPA compliance, and multiple outlets make it a popular choice among outdoor enthusiasts and homeowners.

WEN Super Quiet 3800-Watt, RV-Ready, Portable Inverter Generator, Fuel Shut-Off and Electric Start

The WEN Super Quiet 3800 Generator is a versatile and reliable power solution designed for outdoor activities, camping, and emergency backup power. Here are some key features of this generator:

Our generator is powered by a 212cc OHV engine and can deliver 3800 starting and 3400 running watts. This is enough power to run most RV air conditioners, appliances, and electronics.

WEN Super Quiet 3800 features inverter technology that produces clean and stable power with less than 3% total harmonic distortion. This makes sensitive electronics like laptops, smartphones, and TVs safe.

The generator operates at a low noise level of 57 decibels, making it one of the quietest generators on the market. This makes it suitable for residential areas, campgrounds, and other noise-sensitive environments. The generator has a 120V 30A RV (TT-30R) outlet that lets you connect your RV and power it up quickly.

It features a fuel shut-off valve that allows you to shut off the fuel flow and run the carburetor dry for long-term storage. The generator can be started with an electric starter, which eliminates the need for manual pull-starting. The generator is designed to be portable, with built-in handles and wheels for easy transportation.

It weighs 110.8 pounds. The generator has a 2.2-gallon fuel tank that can run for up to 8.5 hours at 50% load. This is a relatively fuel-efficient runtime, which makes it ideal for extended outdoor trips or for use as an emergency backup power source.

Power output: 3800 starting watts and 3400 running watts
Inverter technology: produces clean and stable power with less than 3% total harmonic distortion
Super quiet operation: operates at a low noise level of 57 decibels
RV ready: comes with a 120V 30A RV (TT-30R) outlet
Fuel shut-off: features a fuel shut-off valve for long-term storage
Electric start: can be started with an electric starter
Portable design: built-in handles and wheels for easy transportation, weighs 110.8 pounds
Fuel efficiency: 2.2-gallon fuel tank can run for up to 8.5 hours at 50% load

The WEN 56380i Super Quiet 3800-Watt RV-Ready Portable Inverter Generator is a reliable and efficient power solution for outdoor activities, camping, and emergency backup power. Its inverter technology, super quiet operation, RV-ready feature, fuel shut-off valve, electric start, portable design, and fuel efficiency make it a popular choice among outdoor enthusiasts and homeowners alike.

Can you plug a 30-amp RV into a 50-amp power source?

RVers commonly wonder whether they can power a 50-amp RV from a 30-amp power source. Likewise, not everyone is sure whether 30-amp RVs work with 50-amp power sources.

While this question is a bit off-topic, we think that knowing the answer will help you better understand the differences between 30—and 50-amp services.

Well, things are pretty simple here—if you have an adapter, you will have no problems hooking your 30-amp RV to the campground’s 50-amp electrical system. Using a 30-amp RV with a 50-amp power source is much easier than the other way around.

If you connect a 50-amp RV to a 30-amp power source, you won’t be able to use the full potential of your RV’s 50-amp electrical system. As we’ve established above, 30-amp systems deliver much less power—3,600 watts. And if your 50-amp RV tries to draw more than what the campground’s system can supply, the campground’s circuit breaker will trip.

On the other hand, a 30-amp RV is never going to overload a campground with 50-amp electrical service. Your RV will not take more than 3,600 watts. And if you attempt to take more, you’ll trip your RV’s circuit breaker.

Champion Power Equipment 100740 30-Amp ParaLINK Parallel Kit for Linking Two 2000 to 3000 Watt Inverter Generators
So, as long as you have a 30-50-amp adapter, you should be able to power your 30-amp RV from a 50-amp electrical system with no issues.

What size generator for a 30 amp RV is explained?

We’ve just established that a 30-amp RV will take no more than 3,600 watts. And an obvious conclusion from this would be that there is no point in getting a portable generator that is powered more than 3,600 watts.

If you get a 6,000W generator, those additional 2,400 watts will be wasted. Not only that, but a 6,000W generator would also be a waste of money and space. If you use a power generator only with your 30-amp RV, then there is no point in choosing a too-powerful unit.

But if you use your generator for more power-demanding applications outside of RVing, go for whatever wattage satisfies you. Just make sure the generator can be throttled up and down to meet the lower power needs in the RV.

On the other hand, if you do actually need more than 3,600 watts and have 30-amp service in your RV, then you should just upgrade your RV’s electrical system to 50 amperes. Otherwise, you won’t be able to use more than 3,600 watts. And if your appliances draw more than the 30-amp service can deliver, your RV’s breaker is going to trip.

With 50-amp service, the limits aren’t as strict as in 30-amp service. A 50-amp RV still won’t take more than 12,000 watts, but reaching those 12,000 watts isn’t easy. It would help if you had many powerful appliances to come close to this number.

Due to this, when dealing with 50-amp service, most people probably won’t even have to think about any limits. They will have to pick whatever generator can satisfy their power needs.

This is still true with the 30-amp service. It would help if you still considered your power needs. However, since it’s much easier to reach 3,600 watts than 12,000, you will have to be careful not to overshoot and get a mighty generator.

Choosing generator wattage

Now that we know the upper limit of wattage for a 30-amp RV, let’s focus on finding the wattage you need. The limit of 30-amp service is 3,600 watts, but this doesn’t mean you have to buy a 3,600W generator. Your power requirements may be lower, and why pay money for the additional watts you don’t need?

So, it becomes essential that you understand how many watts you need.

Before proceeding, let’s understand the difference between startup and running wattages. You should appreciate these key terms to make the right choice.

At the moment of startup, any electrical device is going to draw much more power than when running. And even though the startup power requirement is momentary, your generator needs to deliver the required power for your appliance to even turn on.

Due to this, startup wattage is more important than running wattage, and you should generally base your decision on it. However, there are some intricacies in regard to this, which we will talk about below.

Now, let’s have a look at one example. Suppose that these are the appliances that you will be using in your RV:

Appliance	Startup wattage	Running wattage
650W microwave oven	1,000	1,000
RV refrigerator	600	180
11,000BTU AC	1,600	1,010
Laptop	200-250	200-250

If you are wondering, we’ve taken the numbers from Honda. Here is an extensive list of appliance wattages for your convenience.

What do you think? How many watts would you need to power all your stuff?

One way of calculating the required wattage is just adding up all the numbers. This way, you’ll get around 3,400 watts at startup and about 2,390 watts when running. These are reasonable numbers and are well within the 3,600W limit.

However, calculating the required wattage in this manner is inefficient in most cases. That’s because people very rarely start and then use their appliances all at the same time. In our case, you would need a 3,400W generator only if you begin using all your appliances simultaneously.

However, you probably wouldn’t turn on all your things at once. You would need to be more intelligent when using your equipment. That is, you would want to start your appliances at different times and turn off those appliances that you don’t need at the moment.

Starting appliances at different times is an excellent way of conserving energy. As we’ve found out above, you would need 3,400 watts in order to start up all your appliances. However, if starting one by one, you would only need as many watts as the most demanding appliance requires – in our case, this is the AC unit with its 1,600 watts.

This isn’t everything that you may need, though. If you want to run multiple appliances simultaneously, 1,600 watts might not be enough.

Suppose you want to use your microwave oven and AC continuously without ever turning them off. When running simultaneously, they would consume 2,010 watts (1,000 + 1,010), more than our 1,600W generator can deliver. While you can start the microwave and oven separately, you won’t be able to use them together.

Furthermore, 2,010 watts would be enough to separately start up and simultaneously run your AC and microwave, but it wouldn’t be enough to use anything else!

Well, to find out how much power you need for other devices, you need to find the appliance with the highest startup wattage among those that are left and add it to 2,010. In our case, it is the refrigerator with 600 watts, so we get 2,610 watts.

In the end, the 2,610 watts we get are enough to run our configuration of microwave & AC (which are constantly running) and start any other appliance. In fact, if you start all the four devices one by one, 2,610 watts will be enough to run them all together since their wattage when running is 2,390!

Of course, you would need to calculate the numbers while considering your needs, in what sequence you will be turning your devices on, and how many of them you need to run together.

Hopefully, our little example has given you an idea of how you should approach wattages in portable generators. There are plenty of intricacies that need to be considered with wattages, and we’ve composed our example in a way to cover as many of these intricacies as possible.

Leaving some spare watts

In our example, 2,610 watts is technically enough to run our small system, but in reality, it is often advised to have some spare watts in portable generators. The reason for this is power spikes, and in order for your RV’s circuit breaker not to trip, having a few hundred more watts can really come in handy.

If your generator has about 500 spare watts, you should be safeguarded from power spikes pretty good. However, going over 3,600 watts will probably be pointless since your RV won’t be able to make use of the spare watts, so keep that in mind.

Parallel generator operation

Sometimes, it is necessary to connect two generators to receive more power. This can be done with 30-amp RVs, but it’s actually more useful with 50-amp RVs. One generator can easily achieve 3,600 watts.

Nonetheless, if you for some reason do need to hook up a couple of portable generators with each other, make sure that they support parallel connection. A generator without parallel connection won’t work with another generator.

Plus, keep in mind the number of generators that you want to connect. Mostly, manufacturers only allow two generators of the same model to work together, so you won’t be able to use more than two. But if you find a model that can work with two other generators, go for it if necessary.

30-amp receptacle

As we’ve said at the very beginning, 30- and 50-amp plugs are different, so your portable generator will need to have a 30-amp receptacle in order to work with your RV. You can get a power adapter to plug your 30-amp plug into a 50-amp receptacle, but we’d recommend you to go for a unit that does have a 30-amp receptacle since it is more likely that it will have features necessary for your power needs.

Final words

Choosing a proper generator for a 30-amp RV isn’t too easy, but we find it exciting how much optimization you could put into the process.

In the end, the answer to the question “what size generator for 30-amp RV to go for?” will depend on your needs. And since there are plenty of minor details that you should consider, it isn’t a process that we can provide some very specific guidelines for.

The example we’ve described is very general, so don’t follow it blindly. Its purpose was to explain how you should choose a proper generator for your 30-amp RV; hopefully, it was clear enough for you.

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