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Project Zomboid

Generator Fuel Usage

A generator decides whether your base has power, and letting it run dry overnight is the classic way to lose a freezer full of food.

Generator Fuel Usage

Refrigerator (20W)
1
Freezer (30W)
0
Electric Oven (1200W)
0
Lamp (10W)
0
TV (50W)
0
Radio (5W)
0
Antique Oven (wood) (0W)
0
Popsicle Freezer (40W)
0
Computer (200W)
0
Total Load: 20W / 1000W (2%)
0.05 L

Fuel per Hour

1.2 L

Fuel per 24h

A full tank (1.5 L) lasts 30.0 hours.

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How the numbers are worked out

Fuel use depends on what is plugged in, not on the generator, and the tank holds a fixed amount. Give the calculator the load you intend to run and it tells you how long a tank lasts, so you know how often someone has to go and top it up.

The formula

  • load % = min(100, watts ÷ 1000 × 100)
  • fuel per hour = 2.5 L × (watts ÷ 1000) × (condition ÷ 100)
  • fuel per day = fuel per hour × 24

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Common mistakes

Generators wear down as they run and get less efficient as their condition falls, so an old one will run out sooner than this estimate. Keep a backup generator or keep someone's mechanics skill up, and read the figure here as the best case, not a promise.

More calculators you might need

Rather not run the server yourself?

These tools are free and funded by the two hosting services we run. If you want a server that is already set up, here they are.

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