Today, more and more Americans are becoming aware of how important it is to be self-sufficient during an emergency situation. One way that you can prepare for such emergencies is by purchasing a generator.
While most people automatically think of powering their house with a generator, the fact of the matter is that generators come in many different sizes and some may not even be able to power your whole house.
To help you determine what size generator will best suit your needs, this article will explain exactly what each watt number on a generator transmits to appliances and how larger numbers may not necessarily translate into better generators. By the end of this article, you should have a good idea as to which size generator you need.
One thing that everyone needs to keep in mind is that a watt is a measurement of power, not energy. The difference between the two may seem slight, however it can have a major impact on how you choose to use your generator.
In order to make things as simple as possible, think of watts as workers and kilowatt-hours (kwh) as the amount of work those workers need to do. In other words, utilizing 1,000 watts over an hour will require 1 kWh of power from your generator whereas using 2,000 watts for that same period of time would equal 2 kWh.
It’s important to remember that appliances vary widely in how many watts they require and thus one should always find out what specific appliances they want to be powered during an emergency situation prior to purchasing a generator.
Fortunately, most generators come with labels on the side that list out how many watts they can power at one time. Generally speaking, a generator will be able to power 1/3 of the listed wattage for eight hours or two-thirds of the listed wattage for four hours.
This information should help you determine whether or not your house can be powered by one particular size generator or if you need something larger.
One thing to keep in mind is that many household appliances require more power during their startup process than they do when they are actually running. For example, an oven may only require 2,000 watts every five minutes but may require 4,000 watts before it reaches its desired temperature.
Thus, even though you might have a generator that can power 5,000 watts at one time, you might only be able to run your oven for a few minutes before the generator shuts off.
The moral of the story is not to look at watt numbers as absolutes but rather as guidelines. Generally speaking, a generator with a wattage range of 3,000-4,500 can power most homes during an emergency situation assuming you have appliances within this wattage range.
In order to make things more personalized and ensure you know exactly which appliances you will need to be powered in a given situation, it may be helpful to draw up a list before making a major purchase such as a generator.
Once you have determined what size generator best suits your needs based upon how many watts it is able to output, you can make an educated purchase that will ensure your whole family has the power they need.
If you follow these guidelines and suggestions for choosing a generator, you should be able to find one that is perfect for powering your house during emergencies and other special occasions.
Can I use a generator to power my house
Generators come in different sizes and therefore should be purchased based on your specific needs.
The wattage numbers listed on a home generators are not absolute and one needs to take into consideration the startup power of appliances before purchasing a generator.
Draw up a list of appliances that you want to be powered during an emergency as well as their wattage number to help determine what size generator is best for your home.
By following these guidelines, you can find a generator that fits your specific needs.
Possible to use an inverter generator for home backup power
It is possible to use an inverter generator for home backup power.
It’s important to remember that appliances vary widely in how many watts they require and thus one should always find out what specific appliances they want to be powered during an emergency situation prior to purchasing a generator.
How to Choose the Right Size Generator for Your Home
Do you need a generator for your home? If so, what size do you need? It can be difficult to determine the right size generator for your needs, but don’t worry – we’re here to help. In this blog post, we will discuss the different factors that you need to consider when choosing a generator. We will also provide some tips on how to choose the right size for your home. So read on for more information!
When you are choosing a generator for your home, it is important to select the right size. If you choose one that is too small, it will not be able to provide enough power during an outage. If you choose one that is too large, it will be expensive and wasteful. In this blog post, we will help you determine the size of generator that is right for your needs!
For example, the total starting surge wattage is 22000 compared to a total running wattage of 13000. This means that you will need at least a 24kW home standby generator or larger. You should always leave a little headroom to prevent an overload.
