Home Appliances on Generator Amps and Solar in Lebanon

Table of Contents

    Most Lebanese homes juggle EDL supply, a generator subscription limited in amps and, more and more often, a solar system with batteries. One rule works for all three: add up the rated power of everything you want to run at the same time and keep it below what your supply can deliver. This guide shows how to do that, appliance by appliance, with real figures from products we sell and links to our detailed buying guides.

    1. Turn your subscription into watts

    Multiply your subscription amps by 220 to get the approximate number of watts you can use at once.

    Generator subscription Approximate power available at 220 V
    5 A About 1,100 W
    10 A About 2,200 W
    15 A About 3,300 W
    20 A About 4,400 W

    If the appliances switched on together need more than this, the generator breaker trips. When EDL supply is on you usually have a higher limit, so it makes sense to save heavy jobs such as laundry, ironing and baking for those hours.

    2. Which appliances draw the most power?

    Appliances that heat or cool draw the most power: kettles, air fryers, heaters, irons, ovens and air conditioners. Here are real ratings from our range:

    Appliance Example from our range Rated power About amps at 220 V
    Electric kettle Philips HD9318, 1.7 L 2,200 W 10 A
    Electric kettle Braun WK3110, 1.7 L 3,000 W 13.6 A
    Air fryer Philips NA220, 4.2 L 1,500 W 6.8 A
    Air fryer Philips NA350, 9 L 2,750 W 12.5 A
    Oil filled radiator Campomatic OFR11B 2,300 W 10.5 A
    Infrared heater Midea NS12-13C1 400 to 1,200 W 1.8 to 5.5 A
    Split AC, cooling Samsung AR50F12C1LH/LN 1,440 W 6.5 A
    Evaporative air cooler Midea MAC-350M0CPH 150 W 0.7 A
    Pedestal fan Campomatic SF16 50 W 0.2 A

    Ratings are taken from the product titles and specifications on our website. Amps are watts divided by 220, rounded. Always check the rated power of the exact model on its product page.

    3. Air conditioners

    In summer, the air conditioner is usually the biggest continuous load in the home, so plan your subscription around it.

    An inverter AC starts gently and slows down once the room is cool, which makes it far easier to live with on a generator than a fixed-speed unit. Our inverter AC guide compares real Samsung figures with 5, 10 and 15 A subscriptions and explains running an AC on solar. If your supply is very limited, an evaporative air cooler uses a fraction of the power, as our split AC vs air cooler comparison shows. Shop air conditioners and Midea air conditioners, and use our air conditioner buying guide to pick the right size.

    4. Refrigerators and freezers

    A refrigerator runs day and night, but its compressor cycles on and off, so its average draw is modest, and an inverter compressor makes it gentler still on a limited supply.

    Many Samsung refrigerators we sell, such as the RT38CG6000WWIQ and RT53DG7A60WWIQ top freezer models, list a Digital Inverter compressor, and LG models such as the GNM-732HWI and GR-C639HLCL list a Smart Inverter compressor. Where a yearly energy figure is listed, divide it by 365 to see daily use: the Samsung RT53DG7A60WWIQ lists 460 kWh per year, about 1.3 kWh a day, which is useful when you size solar batteries.

    Samsung 391 L top freezer refrigerator with Digital Inverter compressor, model RT38CG6000WWIQ
    Samsung RT38CG6000WWIQ: 391 L, No Frost, Digital Inverter compressor.

    Shop Samsung refrigerators, LG refrigerators or all refrigerators, and read our tips on keeping food cold during power cuts. If you are adding a separate freezer, our chest freezer vs upright freezer comparison explains which holds the cold longer when the power goes.

    5. Washing machines and dryers

    A washing machine draws the most power while it heats water, so cooler programmes are the easiest way to wash on the generator.

    Inverter motors, listed on Samsung models such as the WW90CGC0EDABFH (Digital Inverter) and LG top load models such as the T1388NEHGE (Smart Inverter), run quietly and efficiently. Save hot washes and tumble drying for EDL hours, or for sunny afternoons if you are on solar. See Samsung washing machines, LG washing machines and our guide to washing on a limited supply.

    LG 13 kg top load washing machine with Smart Inverter motor, model T1388NEHGE
    LG T1388NEHGE: 13 kg top load washing machine with a Smart Inverter motor.

    6. Kitchen appliances

    Kettles, air fryers, toasters and microwaves are short, high-power loads, so run them one at a time.

    A 2,200 W kettle on its own needs about 10 A, so on a 5 A subscription it will usually trip the breaker. On 10 A, switch off the AC or heater while the kettle boils. Air fryers in our range that list their power start at 1,500 W, which is still more than a 5 A line supplies. Our guide to small appliances on a 5 amp subscription has more tips, and you can compare ratings across kettles, air fryers and microwaves.

    7. TVs, fans and lighting

    TVs, fans and LED lighting are light loads, which makes them the easiest appliances to keep running on generator power.

    The pedestal and tower fans in our range that list their power are rated between 35 and 65 W. A rechargeable fan such as the Midea FS45-23MRD, with a battery run time of up to 11 hours, keeps the air moving through a power cut. For TVs, larger screens generally use more power, so compare the energy class in the specifications when choosing between a 55 inch, 65 inch or 75 inch TV. Browse Samsung TVs, LG TVs, fans and air coolers and our TV buying guide.

    Midea rechargeable fan with remote control, model FS45-23MRD
    Midea FS45-23MRD: rechargeable fan with a battery run time of up to 11 hours.

    8. Running your home on solar

    On solar, the solar inverter's rated output in kW limits what runs at once, and the battery's usable capacity in kWh limits how long it runs.

    • At once: add up the rated power of everything that might run together and keep it under the solar inverter's output.
    • How long: divide the battery capacity by the load. A 200 W air cooler uses about 0.2 kWh per hour, while a 1,440 W AC uses about 1.44 kWh per hour.
    • When: run heavy appliances in the middle of the day, when panels produce the most.

    Losses and standby loads reduce real battery time, so ask your solar installer to confirm the sizing for your home.

    Get advice for your home

    Tell us your subscription amps, your solar setup if you have one and the appliances you want to run. Call or WhatsApp +961 76 735 579 or email info@rammalgroup.com, and our team will suggest suitable models. Every product comes with the manufacturer's warranty, prices include VAT, and delivery all over Lebanon takes 1 to 3 days, free on online orders from $400. You can also browse all our buying guides.

    Frequently asked questions

    How many watts is 5 amps?

    At 220 V, 5 amps is about 1,100 watts. A 10 A subscription gives about 2,200 W, 15 A about 3,300 W and 20 A about 4,400 W. That is the total for everything running in your home at the same time.

    Can I run a kettle on a 5 amp generator subscription?

    Usually not. The kettles we sell are rated at 2,200 W or 3,000 W, about 10 to 13.6 A at 220 V, which is well above the roughly 1,100 W a 5 A line supplies. Boil water during EDL hours or on a higher subscription, with other big appliances switched off.

    Which appliances can I run on 5 amps?

    Light loads such as fans, evaporative air coolers, TVs and LED lighting usually fit, along with a refrigerator, as long as you do not add a high-power appliance at the same time. The fans we sell that list their power are rated at 35 to 65 W and our air coolers at 150 to 200 W. Check the rated power on each product page.

    Is an inverter refrigerator better on a generator?

    Typically yes. An inverter compressor starts gently and adjusts its speed instead of switching fully on and off, which is easier on a limited supply. Many Samsung and LG refrigerators we sell list a Digital Inverter or Smart Inverter compressor in their specifications.

    How long will my solar battery run an appliance?

    Divide the battery's usable capacity in kWh by the appliance's power in kW. For example, a 200 W air cooler uses about 0.2 kWh per hour. Losses and other loads reduce the real figure, so ask your solar installer to confirm.