Thor Forums

[TurnerFam]

while your generator could certainly 'handle' the wattage/amps you were throwing at it, generators sometime are finicky, and having several things 'going' all at the same time, especially high-draw appliances, and then suddenly adding a 'boooom' of microwave draw to it can bring about a sudden 'need' for power, for which the generator can't spool up fast enough, causing it to stumble, or stop.

Yes, you may also have had the CHARGER charging the batteries at that very time, on 'high charge/bulk charge' which also uses a lot of amps, which is pretty normal anytime you start the generator.

We've had our generator stumble and stop at times, not very often, but it does happen. I just restart the generator, hold the start button a little longer than required after it starts, and then let it get back to business. It usually works.


Really, if you were requiring more amps than the generator is designed for, it's own BReAKER would trip, but it's also quite possible that it's breaker(s) are actually rated higher than the output of the generator. You probably have two 20amp 'tandem' breakers, one may show on the generator, and another is behind the panel where you won't see it, or, you may have a single 30amp breaker, which is probably higher than the rating of the generator's output itself.

The rule is this:
whenever using 'morning' items, such as toasters, coffee makers, microwaves, hair dryers, the furnace, space heaters, etc.,,,,, turn off or unplug one or more of those items WHILE the microwave is running... the microwave only operates for a short time, so it's the least inconvenience, time considered.