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No โ€” the SOLIX C300 is underpowered for a Shop Vac

Not a safe match. The generator's output falls below the Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)'s requirement.

  • โ€ข Continuous power shortfall: needs 1392W (safe target ~1601W), generator provides 300W.
  • โ€ข Startup surge shortfall: needs 4176W (safe target ~4803W), generator provides 300W.

Power Margin Analysis

300W / 300W Capacity
Running 1301W short
1601W required
Surge 4503W short
4803W required

Decision Gate Waterfall

Same decision gates as the engine: voltage, running, surge. Runtime is shown as operational context.

1

Voltage Gate

PASS

Device output type must match generator output.

120V required -> 120V available

2

Running Gate

FAIL

Continuous draw with safety buffer applied.

1,601W required -> 300W available (1,301W short)

Required 1,601W required
Available 300W
3

Surge Gate

FAIL

Startup peak with safety buffer applied.

4,803W required -> 300W available (4,503W short)

Required 4,803W required
Available 300W
4

Runtime Insight

INFO

Runtime context only. It does not change the electrical compatibility verdict.

Runtime estimate appears after running and surge gates pass.

Power bars show required versus available output for each gate.

See generators that pass natively

Decision Snapshot

Quick compatibility, required headroom, and model-specific context at a glance.

โšก
300W
Running Power
๐Ÿ”‹
288Wh
Capacity
โฑ๏ธ
โ€”
Est. Runtime
โ˜€๏ธ
100W
Solar Input

Quick Compatibility Check

  1. 1 Running headroom: target 1601W; generator provides 300W.
  2. 2 Surge headroom: target 4803W; generator provides 300W.
  3. 3 Result: pick a higher-output unit for safe operation.

What To Do Instead

  1. 1 Underpowered: The Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak) needs 1601W running / 4803W surge (with 15% buffer). The SOLIX C300 provides 300W / 300W.
  2. 2 Safe target: Look for a power station with at least 1601W continuous and 4803W surge at 120V.
  3. 3 Compatible alternative: The Explorer 2000 Plus (3000W / 6000W surge) clears this device's requirements.

Model-Specific Results

0 of 3 models are SAFE or TIGHT. Most demanding model: Shop-Vac SVX2 (12-Gal, 5.5 HP Peak) (4,176W surge).

Model Running Surge Verdict Runtime Source
DeWalt DXV10P (10-Gal, 5.5 HP, 2-Stage Quiet) 1,200W 3,600W Fail โ€” Engineering Est.
Show expert analysis

Technical: **Running load:** 1200W from OEM nameplate (10A ร— 120V). **Estimated startup surge:** 3600W at 3x running (motor-load multiplier โ€” no OEM starting watts published). **Voltage:** 120V AC. 2-stage motor, 90 CFM airflow, 73 dB noise rating โ€” quietest in this set.

Field note: The DXV10P is the most power-station-friendly shop vac in this set. At 1200W running and an estimated 3600W surge, it works with most power stations rated 2000W+ with adequate surge capacity. The 2-stage motor runs quieter (73 dB) and may have lower actual inrush than single-stage models, though no OEM data confirms this.

Can a portable power station run the DeWalt DXV10P?

Only if your power source can supply at least 1200W continuous and approximately 3600W surge at 120V. The motor startup surge is the main challenge, not the running watts.

Vacmaster Beast VFB511B (5-Gal, 6 HP Peak, Compact) 1,320W 3,960W Fail โ€” Engineering Est.
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Technical: **Running load:** 1320W from OEM specs (11A ร— 120V). **Estimated startup surge:** 3960W at 3x running (motor-load multiplier โ€” no OEM starting watts published). **Voltage:** 120V AC. Single-stage motor, 102 CFM airflow, 320 Air Watts, 82 in. water lift.

Field note: The Beast packs the most suction power per pound in this set โ€” 102 CFM from a 12 lb unit. At 1320W running it draws 10% more than the DeWalt but delivers 13% more airflow. The compact 5-gallon tank makes it portable but limits continuous use on large jobs.

Is the Vacmaster Beast harder to run on a power station than the DeWalt?

Slightly โ€” 1320W versus 1200W running, with an estimated 3960W versus 3600W surge. Both need a power station with at least 2000W continuous and 4000W+ surge for reliable startup.

Shop-Vac SVX2 (12-Gal, 5.5 HP Peak) 1,392W 4,176W Fail โ€” Engineering Est.
Show expert analysis

Technical: **Running load:** 1392W from OEM specs (11.6A ร— 120V). **Estimated startup surge:** 4176W at 3x running (motor-load multiplier โ€” no OEM starting watts published). **Voltage:** 120V AC. SVX2 motor, 12-gallon tank โ€” the highest-draw unit in this set.

Field note: The SVX2 draws the most power in this set at 11.6A. Its estimated 4176W startup surge puts it beyond most mid-range power stations. If you need a shop vac specifically for portable power use, the 10A DeWalt is a safer choice. The SVX2 is best paired with stations rated 2500W+ continuous with 5000W surge.

Why does the Shop-Vac draw more than the 6 HP Vacmaster?

Peak HP is a marketing metric, not an electrical measurement. The SVX2 at 11.6A draws more real power than the 6 HP Beast at 11A. Always check nameplate amps, not HP ratings, for power station sizing.

How This Pairing Performs Across Our Database

This unit is outside the compatible set; 12 of 33 generators pass SAFE/TIGHT for this device.

How Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak) Performs Across 33 Tested Generators

12 of 33 generators are SAFE+TIGHT for Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak).

12 Safe+Tight
Safe 9 (27%)
Tight 3 (9%)
Fail 21 (64%)

Power Comparison: Anker SOLIX C300 vs Top Alternatives for Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)

Fit class uses buffered needs (running and surge) for this device.

Specs & Surge Analysis

True Surgeโ„ข Analysis

Safety Buffer: +15%
Running Power Usage 534% Utilization
1601W required 300W Capacity
1301W short
Surge/Startup Peak 1601% Utilization
4803W required 300W Capacity
4503W short
Voltage Match 120V โ†” 120V โœ“

Startup Surge Visual

Compatible Alternatives to SOLIX C300

These generators meet Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)'s voltage, running, and surge requirements.

Best Value Explorer 2000 Plus

Explorer 2000 Plus

3000W โ€ข 2042Wh

Runtime at your load
~1h
Capacity Fit Expandable to 12000Wh

Lowest capacity that still clears surge + running load.

Max Runtime Delta Pro

Delta Pro

3600W โ€ข 3600Wh

Runtime at your load
~1.8h
Longest Runtime Expandable to 25000Wh

Expandable to 25000Wh.

Technical Analysis

Spec-Based โ€ข No Guarantees

Technical Breakdown

Running range: 1200W (10A) to 1392W (11.6A) depending on motor size. Estimated surge range: 3600W to 4176W at 3x running (motor-load multiplier โ€” no shop vac manufacturer publishes starting watts). Voltage: 120V AC for all residential models.

Expected Behavior

Shop vacs draw near-maximum rated power continuously while running. Unlike power tools that cycle between cuts, a shop vac runs steady until you release the trigger or switch. At 1 hour daily use, energy consumption ranges from 1200 to 1392 Wh.

Field Note

Peak HP is meaningless for power station sizing โ€” a '6 HP' vac may draw less amps than a '5.5 HP' model. Always check the nameplate amperage. Motor startup surge is the primary compatibility concern: a shop vac that draws 1200W running may need 3600W briefly at startup. Size for surge capacity first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Anker SOLIX C300 power a Shop Vac?

No. The Anker SOLIX C300 falls short on both running (300W offered vs 1601W needed) and surge (300W offered vs 4803W needed). Safe targets include a 15% buffer for the Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)'s motor load profile.

How long will the SOLIX C300 run a Shop Vac?

No reliable runtime estimate โ€” this pairing is not compatible. The Anker SOLIX C300 cannot safely power the Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak). See compatible alternatives above for power stations that meet this device's requirements.

Power Tip: To get the most out of your SOLIX C300, keep it in a well-ventilated area. Extreme temperatures can slightly reduce the efficiency of the LFP/NMC cells.

Compare all 33 generators for the Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)

Ranked by budget, runtime, and overall compatibility.

See full ranking
Technical Sourcing & Verification
ID: anker-solix-c300-shop-vac-5hp
๐Ÿ›๏ธ Device Data Source
Engineering Est. Safety Factor Applied

Derived from variant list (max of variants). Running worst case = Shop-Vac SVX2 (1392W at 11.6A). Surge worst case = Shop-Vac SVX2 (4176W). Surge estimated using 3x motor-load multiplier policy (no OEM starting watts published for any shop vac in this class).

โšก Generator Specs Source
OEM Verified

Anker SOLIX C300 User Manual (EN-US)

Methodology informed by US Department of Energy (DOE) & EIA references where applicable. Our methodology โ†’