What Size Generator Do I Need?

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The most popular question we are asked is "What size Generator do I need?"
 You can figure out your power needs by using the following table of values and our power calculator
and  conversion calculations for kW to kVA and kW to HP.

How Does Temperature and Altitude Affect Generator Performance?

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How to Calculate your Power Generation Requirements

SEE OUR NEW AND IMPROVED POWER CALCULATOR CLICK HERE


(Figures in temperature and elevation correction for power consumption needs)  |  Ohm's Law


Power Calculator

Add up the normal and surge wattage for the following appliances to get your watts required from a generator.
DeviceTypical wattageSurge Wattage
Light bulb60 watts60 watts surge
Fan75 watts150 watts surge
Small black/white television100 watts150 watts surge
Color television300 watts400 watts surge
Home computer and monitor400 watts600 watts surge
Electric blanket400 watts400 watts surge
Microwave oven750 watts1,000 watts surge
Furnace fan750 watts1,500 watts surge
Refrigerator1,200 watts2,400 watts surge
Well pump2,400 watts3,600 watts surge
Electric water heater4,500 watts4,500 watts surge
Whole-house A/C or heat pump15,000 watts30,000 watts surge

1000 watts = 1 kilowatt (kW)
Don't forget about surge protectors for your sensitive appliances like TV and computers!

Calculations Sizing Data - Power Consumption

 

Discussion on KVA vs KW

KVA was discovered to deal with reactive losses vs. true power consumed by the work device absorbing the energy produced by the source.

Inductive and capacitive (reactive) losses absorb and use power also, but to get a true power measurement, a power factor is employed.  A power factor of one (or Unity) is desired as that makes true power equal to apparent power.   In the real world, there are losses from reactive power that have to be considered in big reactive loads.  Smaller loads and purely resistive loads are inconsequential for this consideration.  This is  the reason many and most generator manufacturers go by kVA which is the power the generator delivers regardless of a load.

 

 

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