When planning an outdoor party, you might consider getting a bounce house and wonder if they need to be plugged in to operate correctly. You know that the bounce house is not cheap, and if it needs to be plugged in, there will be an added expense to your power bill.
Bounce houses must be plugged into a power source. This power source will initially inflate the bounce house and then run the blower throughout the entire time it is being used. When the bounce house is disconnected from the power source, it will deflate.
Are you wondering if a bounce house needs to be plugged in? If so, where you plan on setting up a bounce house might also affect your plans. Let’s discuss why a bounce house needs to be plugged in and if you can use other sources of electricity safely.
Do You Need Electricity For a Bounce House?
Blow up air mattresses and floaters can be blown up using a person and a few gulps of air. But do you need electricity to blow up something big like a bounce house?
To keep a bounce house inflated, it must have a consistent power source. The size of the bounce house will determine the power consumption. Small bounce houses need at least 7 amps of electricity, while a large bounce house may need 14 amps to inflate it.
Blow Up Your Bounce House Using a Blower
The bounce house will usually come with a blower. This is a device that is plugged into an electrical source and blows air into the structure. While the bounce house is in use, the blower must remain plugged in so that any loss of air can be replenished.
Plug Your Bounce House Into an Outlet
Your bounce house must also be plugged into an outlet where it will receive 15 to 20 amps of electricity. Most homes do not have an outdoor electrical outlet that is “dedicated”; that is, one that has nothing else running on that circuit and has its own breaker.
Using electricity to continuously pump air into the bounce house will reflect on your electricity bill. This expense should be figured into the cost of purchasing or renting an inflatable play structure.
Can I Use a Generator For a Bounce House?
Now that you know you will need electricity to blow up a bounce house, you may be wondering if you can use a generator instead of your household electricity to prevent a spike in your energy bill.
A generator can be used to power a bounce house while it is in use, provided the generator has enough energy to consistently power the blower or blowers required by the inflatable.
Small generators will struggle with the load presented to them, and this could result in poor inflation or damage to the blower.
What Watt Generator to Blow Up a Bounce House?
It is suggested that you use a 4000-watt generator to power your bounce house. A generator of this size will easily accommodate the requirements of even a large inflatable.
Since most rental companies do not allow you to use anything longer than a 50-foot extension cord, using a generator will provide you with wiggle room with the placement of the bounce house.
How to Determine Generator Cost for Bounce House
If you are going to rent your bounce house, the rental company may be able to provide generators at an extra cost.
You will need to factor in the cost of the generator:
- Will you be purchasing one or renting one?
- How much will gasoline cost to use the generator?
- How long will the generator run on a tank of gas?
You need to be aware of how long the generator is able to run on a tank of gas, and have more ready for prolonged inflation times. Keeping oil in the generator is also a factor because a generator that becomes low on oil will shut off to prevent damage to the engine.
Will A Bounce House Work On Solar Power?
Using solar to run a bounce house is possible when the solar system is adequate.
An adequate solar generation system will require:
- At least 2000-watt solar panel(s)
- A battery system that can maintain the incoming and outgoing voltage
- A 4,000-watt inverter
- Connecting cables for the solar setup
A solar system of this size can easily cost thousands of dollars. If you already have a large solar system installed, you will be able to calculate how large a bounce house you will run without running out of power for other necessities. Otherwise, a generator might be your best option.
A Bounce House Needs A Power Source
Unless it is a very small indoor inflatable, the bounce house will require a constant and consistent electrical source in order for the blower or blowers to push air into the play structure.
Just because the bounce house needs to be plugged in does not mean that you cannot use it in areas without access to the electrical grid. You can power a bounce house using a generator or a solar system so long as it can keep up with the demand.
Understanding that a bounce house will require electricity to stay inflated and that electricity will inevitably add to the cost of the purchase or rental of the inflatable structure will help you plan on the placement and duration of time it is in use.