This article will cover what a 30 AMP Generator is, power needs, generator sizing and we’ll review the best 30 AMP Generators We will also look at their pros and cons to help you decide on the right generator for your specific needs.
The Westinghouse WGen9500DF offers you backup power supply, which is both reliable and dependable. The unit comes with a high-performing, robust 457cc OHV 4-Stroke Westinghouse Engine, which contains a steel 6.6-gal fuel tank and runs for up to 17.5hrs.
This will power your essential appliances such as an air conditioner, refrigerator, and sump pump simultaneously. With the Electric Start Push-Button and remote start key fob, you’ll find it super-convenient to start the machine from up to 109 yards away.
The WGen9500DF puts out up to 12,500 peak watts and 9,500 running watts. It’s a dual fuel generator, operating on propane (LPG) or gasoline. The machine comes with built-in fuel gauge, GFCI outlets, and automatic low oil shutdown.
It features an intuitive control panel that shows the Transfer Switch Ready L14-30R & larger 14-50R for powering your basic equipment. These include the refrigerator, air conditioner, laptop, phones, sump pump, and any lights or entertainment centers all at once with a single cord hookup.
Using VFT Data Center, you can check volt output, frequency, and lifetime hours, enabling you to stay up to date with real-time info as well as regular maintenance. The Westinghouse is conveniently portable and has an interesting array of features, such as a set of heavy-duty never-flat wheels, handle, along with lift bracket.
You can rely on it 100% to power your house, travel trailer, or worksite without any hassle. It’s sold with 3-year limited service, labor, and parts coverage, in addition to Lifetime Technical Support, which is backed by Westinghouse’s nationwide customer service & support network.
Pros
- Easy to unbox and assemble
- Remote start works perfectly
- Gas shutoff is easy to access
- Delivers plenty of power and doesn’t bog down with high surge loads
- Offers clear instructions on how to convert the generator to a floating neutral
Cons
- Heavy (though not bad to move around with the wheels)
- Loud (but tolerable in comparison with other open-frame generators in the same price range)
- Limited availability
Champion 8000 Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator (30 Amps)
This ultra-powerful 8000-watt generator with an electric start from Champion is equipped with Dual Fuel capability, which enables the 459cc engine to operate on either propane (LPG) or gasoline. The unit also features Intelligauge, Volt Guard, and Cold Start Technology.
This model perfectly blends versatility with convenience to ensure powering your life is extremely easy, whether you require power for your home or your next project. The electric start is user-friendly and includes a battery. Additionally, Cold Start Technology offers you a quick start of the generator in cold weather.
With Intelligauge, you can easily keep track of power output and check maintenance intervals, allowing you to monitor voltage, hertz as well as runtime hours. The Champion 8000 Watt generator comes with a low oil shut-off sensor and 1.2-quarts of 10W-30 oil.
So, you can use the Dual-Fuel generator straight out of the box on propane or gasoline and smoothly switch fuels using Champion’s patented fuel selector switch. This ensures safe switching between fuel sources.
When you’re on gasoline, the 459cc Champion engine puts out 10000 starting watts and 8000 running watts and will have a runtime of 8hrs at half rated load with the 6.1-gal fuel tank full. On propane, the generator delivers 9025 starting watts and 7250 running watts, with a runtime of 5hrs at half rated load and a 20-pound propane tank.
In the package, we also have a 3.3-ft propane hose with an inbuilt regulator. The machine’s noise level stands at 74 dBA from 23ft, slightly louder than a vacuum. It can serve as home backup during a power outage.
The Volt Guard built-in surge protector helps in preventing overloads and ensures your appliance stays safe. It’s different outlets, including one 120/240V 30A locking outlet (L14-30R), one 120V 30A locking outlet (L5-30R), and four 120V 20A GFCI protected household outlets (5-20R).
Thanks to the thoughtful packaging and clear directions by Champion, completing the setup is a walk in the park. Also, the foldaway U-shaped handle ensures it can be stored easily. There are never-flat tires included in the wheel kit, making transport hassle-free.
It’s an EPA-certified and CARB-compliant generator with a 3-year limited warranty as well as free lifetime technical support from Champion’s team of experts.
Pros
- Dual Fuel (uses gasoline or propane)
- Gasoline Fuel Tank and Propane Inlet
- Safety Fuel Selector Switch
- Propane Hose Included
- Gasoline Fuel Tank of 6.1 gallons (or 22.9 liters)
- Touch Start (battery included for a push-button electric start)
- GFCI protected outlets
- 120/240V operation
- Oil Included (recommended 10W-30)
- A 3-year limited warranty
Cons
- Quite heavy
- Expensive
- Run time is only up to 8 hours on gasoline or propane at 50% load
- Not fuel injected
- No outlet covers
- A bit noisy
DuroMax XP4000S – 30 Amp Generator
The DuroMax XP4000S is also one of the best 30 amp generators on the market. The unit is well worth its weight in gold. Once you open the box, you find the amount of thought and science put into designing the unit dazzling.
Here, we have the DuroMax XP4000S, 4000W 7-Hp RV Grade Gas Generator with Electric Start, a spark plug wrench, an oil funnel, tools set, DC charging cables. Others are wheels & handle kit and user’s manual.
The unit is portable with dimensions 24 x 17 x 17 inches (LWH) and weight 127 lbs. It runs at a noise level of 69 dB and features fuel tank capacity (gasoline) of 3.96 gallons. It delivers 4,000 starting watts and 3,300 running watts.
This ensures that the model can handle heavy loads, including lights, a refrigerator, a home air conditioner, high-amperage power tools all at once.
The unit operates at both 120 volts and 240 volts at the same time, or 120 volts only with full power.
Pros
- Affordable
- Great quality
- Easy to put the wheels on
- High performance
- Lighter than others
Cons
- Not as powerful as the other options
Understanding What a 30 Amp Generator Is
An AMP (ampere) is a fundamental unit of measurement for electric current, which quantifies the amount of power a device or appliance uses to run. A generator produces a specific amount of amps, according to its size. In this present case, a 30 amp generator can supply 30 amps of power.
Such generators have a lot of applications, including camping, tailgating, a backup power source for your home.
Several people make use of 30 amp generators for powering their RVs. The majority of RVs run on a 30 amp electrical system, which means you can only have so many appliances and devices hooked up at the same time.
If you‘ve too much power running through your residential vehicle, you can make the breaker trip to direct your power out.
To understand the working principle of a 30 amp generator better, do bear in mind that a 30-amp RV system makes use of 120V. By multiplying 120V by 30A, you’ll realize a maximum allotment of 3600 watts. Thus, all devices you’ve plugged in can’t go beyond 3600 watts.
For instance, if your refrigerator uses 400W and your air conditioner 1700W, you’ll have 1500W left to use for other appliances. Before reaching the maximum wattage capacity, you should be able to plug in a TV, phone charger, laptop, and some lights.
The same thing also applies if you get a 30 amp generator to power your RV or if you use it for your house.
But a modern home that’s a central air-conditioner and electric heater will usually require around 150–200 amps. So, if a sudden outage occurs in your area, a 30 amp generator will only be able to power few appliances in your house.
How to Find the Right Size Generator for Your Power Needs
To choose a generator, consider going for an option that’ll meet your electrical needs. Thus, the kind of generator you decide to buy should deliver enough power for the specific purpose you intend to serve.
For instance, if you intend to power your whole home during an outage, a whole-home generator is your best bet. However, if you just seek enough electricity to use your basic appliances, you could choose a 30 amp or 50 amp generator.
Generally, the more power a generator puts out, the bigger its size. For this reason, if you’re looking for a portable generator that’s more lightweight (around 50 – 80 pounds), you can expect it to supply around 2000 – 3000W. Larger generators on the market, which weigh about 250 pounds, can put out 5000W or more.
Again, what determines the right size generator to choose is your electrical needs. If you opt for a unit that’s too small, you’ll overload the machine and force it to give out more power than its capacity. And when this takes place, the generator will typically go off or overheat.
Thus, you’ll fry the generator and also damage your valuable appliances.
If, on the other hand, you select a unit that’s too large, you’ll be paying in excess for the machine and the operating cost.
For this reason, it’s essential to first decide on the specific amount of electricity you need before buying a generator.
Here’s how to do this: Determine the starting and running wattage of each appliance to be powered with the generator. These numbers are usually on the appliance label. If they’re not there, you can make use of the wattage estimation guide as a reference.
Now, add up the wattage, and from there, you can know the size of the generator to purchase.
Here’s an example to consider: Let’s say you own an RV with a 30-amp system, implying that it can’t handle more than 3,600W of power. Thus, you’ll need to go for a generator that supplies no more than 3,600W. If not, you’d not only be wasting money but also space.
30 amp generators are ideal for this kind of use case. This is because they can deliver enough power for essential electrical needs and are also light enough for you to unload & carry.
Also Read: Best Inverter Generators [2022]
Top 3 30 Amp generators
We believe the best 30 amp generator to be the Westinghouse WGen9500DF due to its high power output and long run times.
The DuroMax XP4000S is the most affordable option.