⚡ Surge Watts Calculator
Motor-driven appliances (pumps, compressors, AC units) briefly draw far more power at startup than while running. A power station that covers your running watts but not your surge watts simply won't start the motor.
Reference: Real Surge Ratios From This Dataset
| Appliance | Running Watts | Surge Watts | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact mini-fridge | 100W | 400W | 4× |
| RV fridge | 250W | 600W | 2.4× |
| Sump pump (standard) | 700W | 2000W | 2.9× |
| Well pump (1/2 HP) | 900W | 3000W | 3.3× |
| Deep well submersible pump | 1700W | 5000W | 2.9× |
| Standard window AC | 800W | 2010W | 2.5× |
These figures come from this project's own sourced use-case data (mini-fridge.json, well-pump.json, window-ac-hvac-backup.json), not manufacturer nameplate data for a specific unit you own — always check your appliance's own nameplate or spec sheet where available.
Calculate Your Surge Requirement
Which Power Stations Clear This Surge Requirement
Only pure sine wave inverters are shown as recommended — modified sine wave and unconfirmed-inverter units can cause motor-driven appliances to overheat or fail even if the surge number looks adequate on paper.