Briggs & Stratton 030235-01 manual Don’t Overload Generator, Capacity, Example, Power Management

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 Figure 10.

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:

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.

Figure 10 — Wattage Reference Guide

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.