How much power does your business need?

If you’re planning a food trailer or food truck, one of the first questions is always the same: how much electricity do I really need?Most problems at events don’t arise because a food trailer or food truck “lacks power”, but because peaks are underestimated, circuits are split poorly or people only work with the figure on paper without considering real operation.

In this article, you’ll find:

• the difference between power input and output (and why people mix them up),
• an overview of the most common appliances and their consumption,
• how to do a simple calculation for your food trailer or food truck,
• recommended load limits per phase/circuit,
• and a checklist so it doesn’t trip at your event.

Related article: if you’re dealing with 230V vs 400V connections, 16A/32A and CEE connectors, see our guide: Electricity in a food trailer or food truck: 230V vs 400V

Power input vs output: what they are and why it matters

These terms are often confused, but they are key when planning the electrics for a food trailer or food truck.

Power input (W / kW) – how much the appliance “asks for” from the grid

Power input is the figure on the appliance’s rating plate: for example 2 000 W or 3.5 kW. It tells you how much energy the appliance draws from the mains when it is running.

• 1 000 W = 1 kW
• the higher the power input, the greater the load on the supply, circuit and breaker

Output (W / kW) – how much “work” the appliance actually does

In everyday speech, people use “output” to mean “how powerful the appliance is” (e.g. a grill that heats up quickly). In technical practice, you will often find that:

• an appliance has a certain power input,
• and this changes depending on the mode it is operating in (e.g. thermostat, cycles, reheating).

The practical takeaway for a food trailer or food truck:
When planning electricity, you mainly deal with power input and peaks (not marketing “output”). That is why it’s better to look at the rating plate and the operating mode.

The most common mistake: people add up the watts and call it done

On paper it looks simple: add up the appliances’ power input and you have the answer. In reality, 3 more things matter:

1. Peaks – heating appliances run at maximum, compressors have an inrush current.
2. What runs constantly vs occasionally – refrigeration runs all day, heating runs in cycles.
3. Distribution of circuits/phases – even if the food trailer or food truck has enough power “in total”, you can overload a single phase.

Indicative overview of appliances and power input (table)

Note: values differ by brand and model. Take this as a practical framework for a food trailer or food truck.

“The biggest differences in consumption in a food trailer or food truck come from heating and cooling – not the lights.”

Continuous draw vs peak: what it means in practice

• Continuous draw: the appliance runs for long periods (e.g. fridges).
• Peak: a short-term maximum draw (e.g. the espresso machine reheating, starting the ice maker, switching on the grill).

At peak times, it can happen that your food trailer or food truck has enough power “on paper”, but in reality the breaker trips.

A rule from practice:
Don’t plan your operation at 100% of the maximum. A reserve is cheaper than downtime.

How to do a simple calculation for your food trailer or food truck (3 steps)

Step 1: List of appliances

Write down everything you will use – including small items (lighting, pumps, POS, chargers).

Step 2: Split into “runs constantly” vs “runs at peak”

• Constantly: refrigeration, beer dispenser, lighting, POS
• Peaks: espresso machine, boiler, grill, microwave

Step 3: Add a reserve

In practice:

• allow for a +20–30% reserve for peaks and future additional appliances,

also consider the load per phase, not just the total.

Best practice: load limits per phase/circuit

If the food trailer or food truck is connected to 400V / 32A and is split into 3 phases/circuits, the following applies as a guide:

• 1 phase can theoretically handle approx. 7.4 kW (230V × 32A)
• for stable operation, we recommend keeping the continuous load at around 5–6 kW per phase, so that there is a reserve for peaks

Practical recommendation:

• Refrigeration on one phase (for stability and hygiene),
• heating on the second,
• work sockets/espresso machine on the third.

3 most common configurations (real examples)

1) Coffee bar (food trailer or food truck)

• espresso machine 3–4 kW (peaks)
• grinder 0.3 kW
• refrigeration 0.3–0.8 kW
• boiler 2 kW (peaks)
• small items 0.2 kW

Tip: don’t start the espresso machine + boiler at the same time and spread them across phases.

2) Mobile bar (food trailer or food truck)

• beer dispenser 0.5–0.8 kW
• ice maker 0.4–0.8 kW
• refrigeration 0.5–1.2 kW
• small items 0.2 kW

Tip: allow for compressor start-up, don’t plan it at the limit.

3) Hot kitchen (food trailer or food truck)

• grill 2–3.5 kW (peaks)
• boiler 2–3 kW (peaks)
• refrigeration 0.5–1.5 kW
• small items

Tip: with heavy heating loads, consider gas for part of the equipment.

When it’s worth considering gas (especially for heating)

For high-draw appliances, gas can make sense:

• because of kW limits,
• because of electricity prices at festivals,
• for self-sufficiency where the power supply is weak.

“A hybrid for a food trailer or food truck (electricity + gas) can reduce the risk of outages and costs at events.”

How we do it at Gastronova: custom electrics + inspection

We don’t do electrics from a template. The wiring for a food trailer or food truck is always custom-designed according to the appliances:

• circuit distribution based on real operation,
• a design by a certified electrician in Slovakia,
• a follow-up check and an inspection of the electrical installation.

Checklist: so it doesn’t trip at your event

1. Switch on the refrigeration first and let it stabilise.
2. Switch on large heating appliances gradually.
3. Don’t overload one phase – spread the appliances out.
4. Use a quality supply cable (not a cheap thin extension lead).
5. Ask the organiser for 400V CEE if possible.
6. Have a plan B: what you will switch off at peak times.
7. For a hot kitchen, consider a hybrid (electricity + gas).

Gastronova’s final recommendation

If you want your food trailer or food truck to run reliably at events, we recommend planning the electrics from the start based on the appliances and the real workflow. As standard, we supply trailers with a 400V / 32A CEE, split into 3 circuits (1 circuit per phase) – and the wiring is always custom-designed for the specific concept, checked and inspected.

If you like, send us your list of appliances and your concept – we will recommend the ideal connection, circuit distribution and, where it makes sense, gas as well.

Useful cross-links (insert internal links):

• Airstream trailers (link)
• Box trailers (link)
• Rounder trailers (link)
• Turnkey solutions / Consulting (link)
• Financing (link)
• Contact / Enquiry (link)

 “When power and circuits are designed correctly, sales run without downtime – even at peak times.”

FAQ

What is the difference between power input and output in a food trailer or food truck?

Power input (W/kW) is how much electricity the appliance draws (the figure on the rating plate), i.e. what loads the supply, circuits and breakers in the food trailer or food truck. In everyday speech, people use is often used to mean “how strongly it heats / how fast it works”, but for electrical planning the key factor is the power input and its peaks (e.g. during reheating or compressor start-up).

How many kW does a food trailer or food truck need for a coffee bar?

For a coffee bar in a food trailer or food truck, you are typically looking at roughly 6–10 kW depending on the equipment (espresso machine, boiler, refrigeration). If you have a 1–2 group espresso machine and a boiler, it is advisable to play it safe and allow a reserve for peaks, ideally with the load split across several circuits/phases.

What is the consumption of an espresso machine in a food truck?

An espresso machine in a food truck most often has an indicative power input of 2.0 – 4.5 kW (depending on type and size). What matters is that the machine does not run at maximum all the time, but has peaks during reheating (e.g. when many coffees are made in a row). That is why it’s good not to calculate just the average, but to have a reserve and a suitable circuit distribution.

What is the consumption of an ice maker and a beer dispenser in a food trailer?

An ice maker in a food trailer or food truck often has an indicative power input of 0.3 – 0.8 kW and a chilled beer dispenser also approximately 0.3 – 0.8 kW. In practice, bear in mind that both appliances have compressors and cycles, so they can have short-term peaks (especially at start-up or during intensive operation).

Why does my breaker trip even though I have enough power “on paper”?

Most often because the food trailer or food truck hits a peak (espresso machine reheating + boiler + compressor start-up) or the load is poorly distributed across circuits/phases (one branch overloaded). Another common reason is a weak or long supply cable (voltage drop) or a shared circuit at the event. The kW total on paper is not enough – what matters is real operation and circuit distribution.

How many kW is it safe to have on one phase/circuit at 400V 32A?

Theoretically, 1 phase at 32A is approximately 7.4 kW (230V × 32A). As a practical “best practice” limit in a food trailer or food truck, we recommend keeping the long-term load at around 5–6 kW per phase, so that there is a reserve for peaks and compressor/heater start-ups.

When is gas worthwhile in a food trailer or food truck?

Gas is worth considering mainly for high-draw heating appliances (grilling, intensive heating), when you are hitting kW limits, or when electricity at festivals is expensive or limited. In a food trailer or food truck, a hybrid often makes sense too: sensitive equipment and refrigeration on electricity, part of the heating on gas – for stability and self-sufficiency.

Is a 230V or 400V connection better for a food truck?

For most concepts, the safer and more flexible choice is 400V, because it allows the load to be distributed better and handles peaks. 230V may be enough for simpler concepts with low consumption, but you will quickly hit limits, especially if you combine heating and refrigeration. For stable food truck operation at events, 400V is generally the better standard.