What Size Generator Do You Need to Run a Drum Mixer?
By the Generator Size Calculator Team · Updated · 5 min read
Quick answer: Honda lists a 1/4 HP drum mixer at 700 running and 1,400 starting watts and a 3 1/2 cubic foot, 3/4 HP mixer at 2,800 and 7,700. A 2,000-watt inverter runs the small mixer, but the large one needs about 6,500 watts because of its start-up surge. Add a 1,000-watt halogen floodlight to the small mixer and a 3,000-watt generator is the comfortable size.
Drum mixer watts
| Mixer | Running watts | Starting watts | Extra start-up surge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drum mixer, 1/4 HP | 700 | 1,400 | 700 |
| Mixer, 3 1/2 cubic feet, 3/4 HP | 2,800 | 7,700 | 4,900 |
These are Honda's typical figures, from its contractor and farm equipment lists. A mixer under a heavy load draws more than one running empty. Check the label on yours, since sizes vary.
Which generator size to choose
| Mixer | Generator for the mixer alone |
|---|---|
| 1/4 HP drum mixer (700 / 1,400 W) | 2,000 W inverter |
| 3/4 HP, 3 1/2 cubic foot mixer (2,800 / 7,700 W) | 6,500 W |
Sizes keep the running load under 80% of the rating and assume a starting capacity about 25% above it. The big mixer's 7,700 starting watts decide the size, so a 6,500-watt generator with about 8,100 starting watts is a realistic minimum. See also what size generator runs an air compressor, which has a similar surge.
Example: mixer, floodlight and radio
| Load | Running watts |
|---|---|
| Drum mixer, 1/4 HP | 700 |
| Floodlight, mercury halogen | 1,000 |
| Radio | 100 |
| Running total | 1,800 |
The mixer's extra start-up load is 700 watts, so the peak is about 2,500 watts. A 3,000-watt generator carries 1,800 running watts under its 80% mark (2,400 watts), and its approximate 3,750-watt starting capacity covers the peak. An LED work light in place of the halogen cuts the total sharply, as covered in generator size for work lights.
List the mixer, lights and anything else.
Tips for a clean start
- Start the mixer first, with nothing else running, and add the lights afterward.
- Start it empty if you can, then load the materials, since a full drum is harder to turn.
- Use a short, heavy cord. See the extension cord calculator.
Run the generator outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents. Never in a garage or shed, even with the door open. See how far a generator should be from your house.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a drum mixer use?
Honda lists a 1/4 HP drum mixer at 700 running and 1,400 starting watts, and a 3 1/2 cubic foot, 3/4 HP mixer at 2,800 and 7,700.
Can a 2000-watt generator run a drum mixer?
A 1/4 HP drum mixer, yes. The 3/4 HP mixer needs far more, about 6,500 watts.
What size generator runs a 3/4 HP mixer?
About 6,500 watts, because it starts at about 7,700 watts and runs at 2,800.
Why do mixers need so many starting watts?
The motor has to turn a heavy drum from a standstill, so it draws a large current for a moment.
Can I run a mixer and a floodlight together?
Yes. A small drum mixer, a 1,000-watt floodlight and a radio fit a 3,000-watt generator.
Related calculators
Sources: Running and starting watts from the Honda generator wattage guide (drum mixer from the contractor list, 3 1/2 cubic foot mixer from the farm list, mercury halogen floodlight). Generator sizes apply the 80% running rule and an assumed starting capacity about 25% above the running rating. The radio in the example is an assumed value.