Why is 700 kw generator Better?
Jul. 29, 2024
How to Pick The Right kW Size Generator For Your Home
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When experiencing a bout of bad weather, most of us have the same thought: I hope there isnt a power outage.
Not only are power outages inconvenient, but they can be expensive. According to the Galvin Electricity Initiative, blackouts cost approximately $150 billion a year due to spoiled food, damaged equipment and decreased productivity. Thats why more homeowners are turning to backup generators to protect themselves and their homes during storms and electrical incidents.
Investing in a backup portable generator can save homeowners thousands of dollars by keeping refrigerators and appliances running during power outages. Moreover, the right size generator can keep household members comfortable during extremely warm or cold months.
When selecting a portable generator, its essential to choose one thats the right size for your home. If its too large, youll waste fuel and money. But if its too small, you wont be able to keep critical items working. So heres a closer look at choosing the right portable generators for your home.
How Generators Work
Before determining which portable generators are best for your residence, its essential to review how generators work. Most homes receive energy through transmission lines connected to power stations along the electric grid. These transmission lines may be damaged during extreme weather events, resulting in a power outage. Whole house generators dont rely on external transmission lines, which allows them to supply power during poor weather.
Determining Standby Generator Power
Although all standby generators provide electricity during blackouts, they differ in size and capability. These machines are ranked by kilowatts (kWs), which measure how much power is consumed by an electrical appliance. One kW is equal to 1,000 watts the higher the kW, the more essential appliances your generator can handle. To figure out how much power you need, you should evaluate how much energy your appliances and power-sensitive electronics require to be operational. Most appliances come with a compliance badge that shows the amount of power they use.
You mustnt overload your home standby generator. If you connect more kWs than it can handle, it will trip the main circuit breaker and no longer provide power to your home or business.
Standard Appliance Wattage
If youre not sure how much power your appliances use, you can use the ranges below to calculate your wattage needs. Remember, youll need to consider all your appliances to know how much power your whole house generator will need to run.
Estimated running wattage ranges for various household appliances include:
Fridge or freezer: 600 to 800 watts
Electric Range: 2,500 watts per element
Microwave: 1,200 watts
Hot Plate: 1,250 watts
Coffee Machine: 400 to 800 watts
Toaster: 1,100 to 1,700 watts
Oven (Electric): 5,000 watts
Computer: 500 to 2,000 watts
TV: 100 to 350 watts
Hair Dryer: 1,200 to 1,500 watts
Vacuum: 700 to 1,400 watts
Lamp: 150 watts
Radiant Heater: 1,300 watts
Electric Furnace: 5,000 to 25,000 watts
Space Heater: 1,250 watts
Central Air Conditioning System: 2,000 to 4,000 watts
Window Air Conditioner: 600 to 1,500 watts
Water Heater: 2,000 to 4,500 watts
Water Pump: 1,000 to 2,000 watts
Sump Pump: 1,500 watts
Outdoor Lighting: 500 to 1,00 watts
Calculating Your Homes Electrical Load
The electrical load of a home or business is measured in Kilowatts, which is the amperage used multiplied by the voltage. You dont need to be an expert in electricity to determine your homes electrical load. Anybody can calculate this number using the following formula:
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Calculate lighting and receptacle needs
Add your required kitchen appliance circuits
Add wattage amounts for any other appliances that use their own circuits (such as a furnace, water heater, air conditioner, sump pumps, well or septic pumps, and so on)
That number you came to will represent a kW rating that will supply your needs. If anything, most expert advice will tell you to choose a backup generator slightly above the number you came up with. By choosing the next size up, your backup generator will cover your whole house in an emergency without being too much.
Example Calculations for Determining the Right Size Generator for Your Home
If youre not mathematically inclined, figuring out the right size generator can still feel overwhelming. So, lets look at two examples of homes and what the calculations for determining the size of their home standby generators might look like.
In example one, the person needing an accurately sized generator lives in a small one-bedroom home alone. The appliances and other electrical items they want to run include their fridge, freezer, coffee pot and an electric oven. They dont live in an extremely hot or cold environment and dont feel theyll require an AC or heat source during a power outage.
This calculation looks like this:
Fridge + freezer + coffee pot + electrical oven = total wattage/1,000 = total kWs
When you input the maximum wattage for each item on your list, the equation becomes:
800 + 800 + 800 + 5,000 = 7,400/1,000 = 7.4 total kWs
In this first example, 7.4 kilowatts are the minimum requirements used to determine which size generator is correct. Portable generators are an excellent option since this is a relatively small number. While not as powerful as full home standby generators, portable generators should supply enough power for this persons needs.
In example two, theres a family of three with a young child. They have a three-bedroom home and want to be prepared with air conditioning in a power outage. Additionally, theyd like to have enough power to run their fridge, freezer, coffee pot, electric oven, one television, two lamps and two personal computers.
This calculation looks like this:
Air conditioning + fridge + freezer + coffee pot + electrical oven + TV + (lamp x 2) + (computer x 2) = total wattage/1,000 = total kWs
Before solving the complete equation, youll want to solve the items in parentheses: the two lamps and two computers. The lamps are 150 x 2, which equals 300. The computers are 2,000 x 2, which equals 4,000.
When you input the numbers for each item on the list, the equation becomes:
4,000 + 800 + 800 + 800 + 5,000 + 350 + 300 + 4,000 = 16,050/1,000 = 16.05 total kWs
In example two, the family needs at least 16.05 kilowatts. Theyll likely want a larger generator for power outages.
Do You Need a Large Standby Generator?
If you feel you dont need many appliances during a power outage, you may want to choose a generator with a smaller kW rating. However, do not forget the unit will work in your absence, and if youre not home to disable something like your air conditioning, and you havent sized the generator for that, itll trip the breaker. You will not have any power until you come home, remove the air conditioning from the load, and reset the breaker on the generator.
If you have a small home or experience infrequent power outages, you may be satisfied with a smaller generator. Conversely, if you have a large home or live in a storm-prone area, you might prefer a generator with more kWs. The stronger your generator is, the more comforts and luxuries you can enjoy.
If Youre Still Not Sure
If youre still unsure what your power needs are for a generator for your entire home or one with enough energy to run a few significant appliances, reach out to an expert. They can also help determine whether you have more power requirements than you initially thought or if youre right on track.
Contact an Expert Today
If youre considering purchasing a generator but unsure what size you need, consider contacting an expert for guidance. At Platinum Electrical Contractors, we offer a team of experts available 24/7 to help customers find the best-sized generator for their homes. We offer free, no-obligation consultations that can take place either in your home or virtually. Contact Platinum Electrical Contractors to get a free size assessment and installation quote today.
Choosing the Right Size Generator
What Generator Size Will Work Best for Your Home?
If youre wondering how big of a generator do I need? what you really want to know is how much total wattage you need for a generator to power a home. To determine the best generators for home use, refer to the list and select which appliances and systems you want to power. For an exact wattage number, consult your appliance and systems manuals.
Remember that if an appliance has a motor, you will need to calculate the total wattage using the formula:
Running wattage (R) + Starting wattage (R x 3) = Total wattage needed
With this formula, you can figure out the approximate total wattage needs for each appliance with a motor. Items like light bulbs and coffeemakers, however, dont need an extra boost of power when theyre turned on. For these items, you only need to be concerned about the running wattage.
Once you have those, a list of items you want to power and the wattages they need, add the numbers together to figure out what size generator would be right for you. The more appliances you want to use, the bigger generator you will need.
Below is a list of approximate running wattage for various household appliances and technology:
- Refrigerator/Freezer: 600 - 800
- Electric Range (one element):
- Toaster: -
- Microwave:
- Hot Plate:
- Coffeemaker: 400 - 800
- Electric Oven:
- Television: 100 - 350
- Personal Computer: 500 -
- Hair Dryer: -
- Vacuum: 700 -
- Space Heater:
- Table Lamp: 150
Below is a list of approximate HVAC and system wattage needs:
- Electric Furnace: -
- Heater (radiant):
- Central Air Conditioning: -
- Water Heater: -
- Water Pump: -
- Window Air Conditioner: 600 -
- Outdoor Lighting: 500 -
- Sump Pump:
Note: The power requirements in this guide are general examples and should not be used to calculate specific requirements. Refer to the user manuals that came with your appliances and tools for manufacturer-provided power requirements.
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