WATTAGE CALCULATIONS
WATTAGE CALCULATIONS
IMPORTANT! Never exceed the rated capacity of your generator.
Serious damage to the generator or appliance could result from an
overload.
1) “Starting” and “Running” wattage requirements should always be
calculated when matching a generators wattage capacity to the
appliance or tool.
2) There are two types of electrical appliances that can be powered by
your generator;
a) Items such as radios, light bulbs, televison sets, and microwaves
have a “resistive load”. Starting wattage and running wattage are
the same.
b) Items such as refrigerators, air compressors, washer, dryer and
hand tools that use an electrical motor have an “inductive load”.
Inductive load appliances and tools require approx. 2 to 3
times the listed wattage for “starting” the equipment.
This
initial load only lasts for a few seconds on start-up but is important
when figuring your total wattage to be used.
Always start your largest electric motor first, and then plug in other
items, one at a time.
NOTE:
On 120-volt loads the maximum starting wattage should NOT
exceed one half of the rated generator wattage.
Example: a 5000 rated wattage generator = 2500 maximum starting
wattage.
Wattage Requirement Chart below
- This is only a guideline, each
appliance or electrical device needs to be checked for its specific
operating load.
DETERMINING WATTAGE REQUIREMENTS
Note: Volts X Amps = Watts
Example: 120V X 10 Amps = 1200 Watts
Before operating this generator, list all of the appliances and/or tools
that are going to operate at the same time. (Then determine the
starting wattage requirements and the running wattage requirements
by following the example below;
1) First total the running wattage of all appliances and/or tools that will
be operated at the same time.
Example 1A:
Lights = 100 Watts (Running)
Television = 300 Watts (Running)
TOTAL = 400 Watts (Running)
2) Next the starting wattages of any appliances and/or tools that will
start and stop during operation.
Example 1B:
Small Refrigerator 500 Watts (Running) 2000 Watts (Starting)
TOTAL = 500 Watts (Running) 2000 Watts (Starting)
3) The running wattage of examples 1A & 1B totals 900 watts. The
starting wattage of the small refrigerator is 2000 watts which is 1500
watts more than the running watts. Take this difference of 1500
starting watts from the refrigerator and add to the total running watts
of 900. Therefore:
1500 Starting Watts + 900 Running Watts = 2400 Total Watts
Generator must have a minimum capacity of at least 2400 watts.
