Every generator and power station has two numbers listed on it: starting watts (sometimes called surge or peak watts) and running watts. Starting watts are used briefly, while running watts are continuous. Companies often use starting watts to overstate the power of their products, leaving consumers guessing if a particular model is sufficient for their needs. Generators and power stations are designed to accommodate surges up to a stated range for a few seconds, but cannot deliver this level of power continuously. A Note on Power Stations and Power BoostsSomething unique to power stations that’s worth mentioning when talking about the running watts capabilities of power stations is a feature often referred to as a “boost mode.” This mode claims to deliver more running power than the inverter is truly rated for.