STEPS TO DETERMINE GENERATOR REQUIREMENTS
- Determine your need. Do you want the generator to operate part or all of your home, office, or business?
- Identify the appliances and/or tools the generator will need to power.
- Determine the wattage for each appliance and tool you plan to use frequently. The “Common Wattage Guide” below will help you determine your need.
- Total the wattage for appliances and tools you frequently use.
- Identify motor and pump requirements. Use the motor and pump charts provided below.
- Calculate and total the wattage for the motors and pumps frequently used. Always use starting watts, not running watts, when determining the correct electrical load requirements.
- Total the wattage of the appliances & tools and the motors & pumps. Keep in mind that if you coordinate your power usage wisely you do not have to operate everything all at once. Therefore, for emergency use, you don’t necessarily need to size the generator to operate everything simultaneously.
- Convert watts into kilowatts by dividing the watts in step VI. To determine the generator size required. Please note that it is suggested, although not absolutely necessary, to size the generator 20-25% over the size you determine your needs to be. This will allow room for future growth. For example, if you determine that you will need a 15 kW generator then it is advisable to purchase an 18 kW generator to accommodate future expansion.




