Product Manual

Power Load Planning & Management (cont’d)

To calculate the running and starting wattage requirements for the devices you will be

powering, follow these steps:

1. Make a list of all electrical devices you will be powering at the same time with the generator.

2. List the greater of the running or starting wattage next to each device as obtained from the

devices’ nameplate or Table 1. If only the running wattage for a device with an electric

motor is known, the starting wattage can be estimated to be at least 3 times the running

wattage.

3. Add the wattages for all devices on your list. This total must be lower than the continuous

output rating of your generator.

Example:

Device to be Powered

Greater of

Starting/Running Wattage

Light Bulbs (10 – 75 watt)

750 W

Refrigerator Freezer

1500 W

Microwave Oven 1000W

1000 W

Air Conditioner, Window (10,000 BTU)

2200 W

Sump pump (1/3 hp)

1300 W

Total

6750W

In this example, the generator must have a continuous output of at least 6750 watts in order to

power all of the devices simultaneously.

You can increase the number of devices your generator can power by staggering the load on the

generator. For example, you could alternately power your refrigerator and air conditioner for

limited periods of time -- powering only one of the devices at a time and never powering both at the

same time.

STAGGERING LOADS