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:
		Running (Rated)		Additional Starting
		Running (Rated)		Additional Starting
	Tool or Appliance	Watts		(Surge) Watts
	Water Well Pump	1200		2100
	Refrigerator	700		2200

	Furnace Fan	800		2350

	Television	500		—
	Light (75 Watts)	75		—

		3275 Total		2350 Highest
		Running Watts		Starting Watts
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.

Wattage Reference Guide

	Running*	Additional
Tool or Appliance	(Rated)	Starting
	Watts	(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	800	—
monitor
Other

Security System	500	—

AM/FM Clock Radio	100	—
Garage Door Opener - 1/2 HP	875	2350

Electric Water Heater	4700	11700

DIY/Job Site
Quartz Halogen Work Light	1000	—

Airless Sprayer - 1/3 HP	600	1200

Reciprocating Saw	960	—
Electric Drill - 1/2 HP, 5.4 Amps	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

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.