Not for
Reproduction
17
Don’t Overload Generator
Capacity
You must make sure your generator can supply
enough rated (running) and surge (starting) watts for
the items you will power at the same time. Follow these
simple steps:
1. Select the items you will power at the same time.
2. Total the rated (running) watts of these items.
This is the amount of power your generator must
produce to keep your items running. See the table
on the right.
3. Estimate how many surge (starting) watts you will
need. Surge wattage is the short burst of power
needed to start electric motor-driven tools or
appliances such as a circular saw or refrigerator.
Because not all motors start at the same time, total
surge watts can be estimated by adding only the
item(s) with the highest additional surge watts to
the total rated watts from step 2.
Example:
Total Rated (Running) Watts
= 3275
Highest Additional Surge Watts
= 2350
Total Generator Output Required = 5625
Power Management
To prolong the life of your generator and attached
devices, it is important to take care when adding
electrical loads to your generator. There should be
nothing connected to the generator outlets before
starting its engine. The correct and safe way to
manage generator power is to sequentially add loads
as follows:
1. With nothing connected to the generator, start the
engine as described in this manual.
2. Plug in and turn on the first load, preferably the
largest load you have.
3. Permit the generator output to stabilize (engine
runs smoothly and attached device operates
properly).
4. Plug in and turn on the next load.
5. Again, permit the generator to stabilize.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each additional load.
NEVER add more loads than the generator capacity.
Take special care to consider surge loads in generator
capacity, as described above.
* Wattages listed are approximate only. Check tool or
appliance for actual wattage.
Tool or
Appliance
Running
(Rated) Watts
Additional
Starting (Surge)
Watts
Water Well
Pump
1200
2100
Refrigerator
700
2200
Furnace Fan
800
2350
Television
500
—
Light (75 Watts)
75
—
3275 Total
Running Watts
2350 Highest
Starting Watts
Wattage Reference Guide
Tool or Appliance
Running*
(Rated)
Watts
Additional
Starting
(Surge)
Watts
Essentials
Light Bulb - 75 watt
75
—
Furnace Fan Blower - 1/2 HP
800
2350
Sump Pump - 1/3 HP
800
1300
Refrigerator/Freezer
700
2200
Water Well Pump - 1/2 HP
1000
2100
Heating/Cooling
Window AC - 10,000 BTU
1200
3600
Humidifier - 13 Gal
175
—
Central AC - 24,000 BTU
3800
11400
Kitchen
Microwave Oven - 1000 Watt
1000
—
Coffee Maker
1000
—
Electric Stove - 8” Element
2100
—
Toaster
850
—
Family Room
DVD/CD Player
100
—
VCR
100
—
Stereo Receiver
450
—
Color Television - 27 in
500
—
Personal Computer w/17 in
monitor
800
—
Other
Security System
500
—
AM/FM Clock Radio
100
—
Garage Door Opener - 1/2 HP
875
2350
Electric Water Heater
4700
11700
DIY
Quartz Halogen Work Light
1000
—
Airless Sprayer - 1/3 HP
600
1200
Reciprocating Saw
960
—
Electric Drill - 1/2 HP
600
900
Circular Saw - 7-1/4 in
1400
2300
Miter Saw - 10 in
1800
1800
Table Planer - 6 in
1800
1800
Table Saw/Radial Arm Saw
- 10 in
2000
2000
Air Compressor - 1 HP
1600
4500
