Maximize power from a portable generator

I had probably the same 3500 champion for years. It's a great open frame non-inverter genset. Thing is it's 3500 watt peak output and it's a 120/240 generator so each 120 volt leg can only product 1750 peak. Since he probably had some other stuff on that microwave probably used up about all that remained on the one leg. My current home microwave has a tag inside that says it uses 1580 watts.

Then yes, motors run noisy on the relatively dirty power. It's not the Hertz (frequency/RPM/governor) that causes trouble but the actual THD Total Harmonic Distortion of the output. It doesn't make a nice sine wave and motors feel the choppiness and make noise, lights flicker.

Champion has since done a weird thing on their new stuff. They advertise a 3500 watt genset but that's now running watts with a much higher peak rating. So that's cool.
3500W Generator with CO Shield® - 201286 - Champion Power Equipment

I've gone to 120 volt inverter gensets for baseload and then a big hoss fuel hog 240 generator for the well, water heater, oven/range, and even heat pump. All backfed through the house panel and an interlock. Inverter power is so perfect. Better than utility power. A 3000 watt inverter that can put out all 3000 watts on one phase is a pretty great size for a house with wood heat.

And yes, always dual fuel if you can.

 

Watts to amps is just math. 3500 watts at 120 volts is 29.2 amps. If a device plugs into a 20 amp outlet then a 3500 watt generator will run it unless it's a 120/240 genset with only 1750 going to each leg. Then that's 14.6 amps and might not run big loads. Don't obsess over amps.