How to Calculate the Power of a Generator for Home Use

Any homeowner who wants to guarantee that their house will have electricity in the event of a power outage or other disaster should invest in a generator. You should first figure out the overall wattage of the electronics and appliances you'll need to power during a power outage in order to assess the power of a generator for residential use. This applies to all necessary items, such as heaters, air conditioners, lights, and refrigerators.

Are you looking for a reliable source of power during a power outage? You're probably considering getting a generator for your home. But how do you know what size generator you need? To determine the size of the generator your home needs, you need to calculate the total wattage requirements for each appliance with a motor. To protect both your appliances and the generator itself, it's essential to buy the appropriate size of portable generator from SOS Survival Products. Power is measured in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). Calculating watts is done by multiplying voltage by amps.

A device that operates on 120 volts and consumes 5 amps uses 600 watts (120 V x 5 A) of power. On some appliance labels, this is expressed as volt-amperes or VA; others express their power requirements in watts or kilowatts. To get an exact wattage number, refer to the manuals for your device and system. With this formula, you can calculate the approximate total wattage requirements for each appliance with a motor.

Determining Power Requirements for Electric Motors Running Generators

Companies use watts to evaluate generator production. For example, a generator may be listed as 1500 watts delivering 120 volts. Now find the power requirements of any electric motor that runs the generator. That will help determine how many watts of surge voltage is needed to start the engine.

With the standard multiplier of three times the operating power, a 600 watt motor will need 1800 watts to start. It's important to have the right size generator. If you're willing to try it yourself, let's look at a couple of examples. In this case, you would need at least a 25 kW generator, since the starting power is 24,100 W.

In this situation, you'll probably want to have at least one 35 kW generator for the whole house. However, if you're not sure about calculating the size of the generator your home needs, it's best to call an electrician or contact us at (800) 226-2636 or schedule an appointment online. We will send an electrician to your home to calculate the exact size of the generator you need. Generators can only produce a finite amount of energy and they come in different sizes and types.

Choosing the Right Portable Generator for Your Home: Factors to Consider and Options Available

Portable generators are great for powering small appliances and devices during a power outage, but they need protection from rain, snow, and ice and can't be used indoors because they generate lethal carbon monoxide.

The power capacity of different models varies as much as the appliances they power. If you experience frequent and prolonged power outages, consider getting a large inverter or a home standby generator, also known as a whole-house generator. These generators don't run on natural gas or propane, so you'll need stabilized gasoline to prepare for a power outage. Getting the right size generator for your home is important to avoid overloading and overheating a generator that is too small and is trying to produce more power than it can produce, which can cause an automatic shutdown.

An emergency generator will keep the power on so you don't have to experience frozen pipes, spoiled food, flooded basements, mold, and extreme temperatures. It's recommended to use a generator calculator to determine an accurate power estimate or ask an experienced electrician to calculate the exact power you need for your home. Learn more about our services and generators we install. We offer professional installation services so you don't have to worry about anything.