I'm building a emergency home kit and will be purchasing a portable generator for this kit. I'm looking at a 2.4 hp 1000 watt max/960 rated generator, I'm not sure if a 120v, 8 amp ac receptacle can run anything larger than a handtool. Is there some kind of listing of what can be operated and how large the generator should be?

Select the Right Portable Generator after a Disaster (http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/disaster/490-303/490-303.html)

The generator must be able to source the starting current of a motor load.

A 1000 watt generator is really not large enough to run anything.

I had a 5000 and it would run the fan on a gas heater, the fridge and a few lights and TV and video. Assumeing gas stove. Also depending on the run time, you may want to consider finding one to run on propane instead of gasoline,

You have some good responses here. You can get a better answer if you tell us what you hope to accomplish with an emergency generator. 1000 watts may help you survive, 12,000 watts may run your home completely.

Yes, we need to know what you are considering running. Look on the bottom of a coffee pot for instance, just a general cheap coffee pot can use 900 watts. If you are only using a 1000 watt generator, don't expect any light to be able to see your coffee cup with.

Thanks for the responses. Assuming a natural disaster or power outage (Whidbey Is. Wa 1992) for over 72 hrs. Occupying a 15X20 room and running a small space heater, 100 watt light and perhaps a two burner electric stove. A radio or small T.V. The 5000 wt generator sounds about the right size I guess. The physical size for storage and weight becomes a issue for ease with the wife and kids. I thank you all for your ideas.

Small space heater 1000 to 1500 watt is not going to heat much, esp after entire house around it, starts dropping in temp. Really consider some form or propane backup heat, esp in colder areas.

Do you have a regular furnace, you can power that with your generator with less juice than that space heater. Add up all the wattages you think you may use. Electric motors can pull up to 4x the running amperage to start from a dead stop so count that too but set your thermostat fan to ON rather than AUTO.