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

 

 

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.

19