Select the Right Portable Generator after a Disaster outages can leave a home without power for lighting, cooking, refrigeration and pumping water. Portable generators can be bought to provide substitute power. However, the generator must be properly sized to start the appliances and equipment you First, find the wattage of the appliance(s) you want to run by checking the nameplate. Motor-driven appliances may be listed in horsepower which must be converted to watts. Motors require four times as much power to start as they do to run. If the running wattage of a motor is 400, then the starting wattage will be 1,600. The following table gives some starting and running wattage for electrical motors: determine how many appliances you want to run at the same time and add or total the wattage. The size of the generator you use must be such that it will start and run the necessaryIf you get a generator that is too small to run refrigerators and freezers, they will try to start, but the

voltage will drop and their motors will overheat and burnIf you cannot find the wattage, an estimate can be made from the following table: example, if you want a generator to run a refrigerator and a freezer, the wattage (table 2) of the refrigerator would be 800 and the freezer would be 1,000. To select the correct size generator, you decide if both refrigerator and freezer are to start at the same time. If so, you would need (1,800 X 4) 7,200 watts. You would select the nearest larger wattageIf you can be certain both appliances will not start at the same time, you would only need 4,800 watts (to run the refrigerator while starting the freezer). wiring and equipment to meet National Electrical Code requirements, local regulations and the requirements of the power supplier. Single phase standby generators are connected to the electrical line by a double-pole, double throw transfer switch. accidentally feeding power back into the utility lines where

it can injure neighbors or utility workers servicing the lines. This type switch also protects the generator from damage when the switch in a water-tight box and properly ground it, the central meter pole is a common location. between the watt hour meter and the service disconnect (mainNote that the white (neutral) conductor is usually not switched, but some power suppliers require it be switchedWhen the handle is up, the utility black and red conductors are connected to the load black and red conductors, respectively. In the down position, the load conductors are disconnected from the utility conductors and connected to the black and red conductors from the generators. on information developed by Clemson Cooperative ExtensionRevised for Virginia audiences by more information, contact your local office of Virginia Cooperative Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent NIOSH policy.

NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. You are hereHome » Blogs » ckmapawatt's blog blogHow much Energy does AC consume? Battery Care & Install Lead Acid Battery Info AC & DC LED Lighting RV, Marine & Utility Pump Types & Uses The figures in this table are approximate. The actual power consumption of your household appliances may vary significantly from the figures in this chart. Used Vacuum Cleaners Toledo OhioBefore you do a final load calculation for your household, we strongly recommend checking the tags and owners manuals for your appliances to get precise figures.Rent A Car Jinja Each figure given for Watts used. Prom Dress Stores Lafayette IndianaThis is converted to watt-hours by multiplying watts used by hours used.

Many items, such as garage door openers, are used much less than 1 hour per day. Our PDF load calculation form will automatically calculate any appliance's Watt-hour consumption according the fraction of hours used per day, down to 0.1 hours. (0.1 hr = 1/10 of an hour = 6 minutes) Items marked (n/a) would normally be replaced by non-electric equivalents in homes using alternative energy systems. Coffee pot – 200 Garage door opener – 350 Coffee maker – 800 Ceiling fan – 10-50 Table fan – 10-25– 11 watt CF Popcorn popper – 250 Electric blanket – 200– 16 watt CF Blow dryer – 1000– 20 watt CF– 30 watt CF Waffle iron – 1200 Water Pik – 100 Hedge trimmer – 450 Hot plate – 1200 Weed eater – 500 Frying pan – 1200 1/4" drill – 250 1/2" drill – 750 Gbg. disposal – 450 1" drill – 1000 9" disc sander – 1200 TV (25" color) – 150 3" belt sander – 1000

TV (19" color) – 70 12" chain saw – 1100 TV (12" B&W) – 20 14" band saw – 1100 7 1/4" circ. saw – 900 CD player – 35 8 1/4" circ. saw – 1400 Sewing Machine – 100 Portable stereo – 10-30 Clock radio – 1 20 cubic feet – 540 Car stereo – 8 16 cubic feet – 475 electric (n/a) – 4000 Sattelite dish – 30 Sun Frost Refrig./Freezer (DC*)… gas heated – 300-400 CB radio – 5 16 cubic feet – 112 Electric clock – 3 12 cubic feet – 70 engine block – 150-1000 10.5 cubic feet – 60 stock tank – 100 14 cubic feet FF – 440 Furnace blower – 300-1000 14 cubic feet – 350 25w CF – 28 Sun Frost Freezer (DC)… 19 cubic feet – 112 40w DC halogen – 40 Electric mower (n/a) – 1500 20w CF – 22 7.5 cubic feet – 50 Load Calculation Form (PDF) | Date Posted: Thursday, January 10th, 2008