I have a Coleman 5000 watt generator that is used during power outages. Since most of our appliances are gas, we rarely use more than 2500 watts at a time. Once we tried to run our dishwasher off the generator using a 14 awg extension cord. The dishwasher would run for a few minutes and then pause, and the water never got hot. I also noticed during another outage that a 1000 watt radiator would just barely get warm. What is the cause of this? Voltage drop due to the cord? Is it off cycle? Just wondering for future reference.

An average table top electric space heater can draw 1500 watts so what does your washer and your radiator pull? How long was that chord/cable? From your post I can't tell yet what all you are trying to run at the same time or how you connected a hardwired washer to a chord. It may be that you are putting too much load on the generator or it may not be putting out its rating. Also since its just during a power outting try not toset the washer to heat the water, let it run off your hot supply only

Well it was a 50 ft 14 awg cord in both cases. The radiator pulls about 1000 watts. I'm not sure about the dishwasher but I think it's around 1500-1800. Load on the generator (without either of these) would have been around 1000 watts. The dishwasher is not hard wired, it is plugged into a receptacle on it's own circuit. Is there a way to keep it from heating the water? It's connected to the hot anyway.

Dishwasher that heat the water usually have a dial setting that kicks in the heat and boosts it. Under normal operation a washer only uses hot water from your hot tap to your plumbing lines. I don't really know what you meant in your last line "It's connected to the hot anyway" it should be connected to your hot water line already, it gets no cold water from the house.

I meant that it is connected to the hot water line. Would this dial be easily accessible under the dishwasher?

Generator without electronic controls produce a "dirty" frequency, not properly regulated to run sensitive electronics. Do not continue to run machine. It will also burn out battery chargers for portable tools after time. The only machine I have has luck with is the honda electronic units, just my two cents