Generator wattage planning

Before you consider a generator or any source of energy, please consider our total wattage requirements:

All generators are rated to run at a certain wattage. The first thing you must consider is the amount of wattage you need your generator to produce to power the equipment you wish to run. Be sure you plan before hand otherwise you might end up with a generator that may not do the job.

Individual wattages of equipment can be found on the equipment label itself, in the user manual, or you contact the manufacturer for help.

It also depends on what equipment you want to run together. You would wish to run a blender and a kettle at the same time, you need the combined wattage of the equipment. However If you’ll only wish to run each equipment on its own, then you only need worry about the item with the highest wattage.

Some equipment have a starting wattage, especially if it has an induction motor will usually have a starting wattage, and therefore a higher wattage requirement. This includes chop saws , air compressors, pressure washers, freezers and vacuum cleaners – anything with a motor in it. Just simply multiply the equipment’s wattage by three to find it’s starting wattage.

Allow some room! Generators can’t perform on full capacity. A 2200W generator shouldn’t be used to power 2200 watts worth of equipment. Allow yourself at least 20% head room. A car that is made to go 120 m/h may not perform at that capacity all the time. So with 2200 watts you get about 1700, not bad, but only if its within your total wattage.

So your final required wattage is:

All the individual equipment wattages you wish to run together (x 3 if the equipment has an induction motor), + 20% head room = minimum wattage generator you require.