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 Wattage Reference Guide.

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:

 

 

 

 

Rated (Running)

 

Additional Surge

 

 

Tool or Appliance

Watts

 

(Starting) Watts

Window Air

1200

 

1800

Conditioner

 

 

 

Refrigerator

800

 

1600

 

 

 

 

Deep Freezer

500

 

500

Television

500

 

 

 

 

 

Light (75 Watts)

75

 

 

 

 

 

 

3075 Total

 

1800 Highest

 

Running Watts

 

Surge Watts

Total Rated (Running) Watts

= 3075

Highest Additional Surge Watts

= 1800

Total Generator Output Required

= 4875

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.

Wattage Reference Guide

 

Rated*

Additional

Tool or Appliance

(Running)

Surge

 

Watts

(Starting)

 

 

Watts

 

 

 

Essentials

 

 

 

 

 

Light Bulb - 75 watt

75

 

 

 

Deep Freezer

500

500

Sump Pump

800

1200

 

 

 

Refrigerator/Freezer - 18 cf

800

1600

 

 

 

Water Well Pump - 1/3 hp

1000

2000

Heating/Cooling

 

 

 

 

 

Window AC - 10,000 BTU

1200

1800

 

 

 

Window Fan

300

600

Furnace Fan Blower - 1/2 hp

800

1300

 

 

 

Kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

Microwave Oven - 1000 Watt

1000

Coffee Maker

1500

 

 

 

Electric Stove - Single Element

1500

 

 

 

Hot Plate

2500

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

180

 

 

 

AM/FM Clock Radio

300

Garage Door Opener - 1/2 hp

480

520

 

 

 

Electric Water Heater - 40 gallon

4000

 

 

 

DIY/Job Site

 

 

Quartz Halogen Work Light

1000

 

 

 

Airless Sprayer - 1/3 hp

600

1200

 

 

 

Reciprocating Saw

960

960

Electric Drill - 1/2 hp

1000

1000

 

 

 

Circular Saw - 7-1/4 in

1500

1500

 

 

 

Miter Saw - 10 in

1800

1800

Table Planer - 6 in

1800

1800

 

 

 

Table Saw/Radial Arm Saw - 10 in

2000

2000

 

 

 

Air Compressor - 1-1/2 hp

2500

2500

*Wattages listed are approximate only. Check tool or appliance for actual wattage.

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Briggs & Stratton 030333-0 manual Don’t Overload Generator, Wattage Reference Guide