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14 BRIGGSandSTRATTON.COM
Don’t Overload Generator
Capacity
You must make sure your generator can supply enough
rated (running) and surge (starting) watts for the items you
will power at the same time. Follow these simple steps:
1. Select the items you will power at the same time.
2. Total the rated (running) watts of these items. This is
the amount of power your generator must produce to
keep your items running. See the table on the right.
3. Estimate how many surge (starting) watts you will need.
Surge wattage is the short burst of power needed to
start electric motor-driven tools or appliances such as a
circular saw or refrigerator. Because not all motors start
at the same time, total surge watts can be estimated by
adding only the item(s) with the highest additional surge
watts to the total rated watts from step 2.
Example:
Total Rated (Running) Watts = 3275
Highest Additional Surge Watts = 2350
Total Generator Output Required = 5625
Power Management
To prolong the life of your generator and attached devices, it
is important to take care when adding electrical loads to your
generator. There should be nothing connected to the
generator outlets before starting its engine. The correct and
safe way to manage generator power is to sequentially add
loads as follows:
1. With nothing connected to the generator, start the
engine as described in this manual.
2. Plug in and turn on the first load, preferably the largest
load you have.
3. Permit the generator output to stabilize (engine runs
smoothly and attached device operates properly).
4. Plug in and turn on the next load.
5. Again, permit the generator to stabilize.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each additional load.
NEVER add more loads than the generator capacity. Take
special care to consider surge loads in generator capacity, as
described above.
* Wattages listed are approximate only. Check tool or
appliance for actual wattage.
Tool or Appliance
Running (Rated)
Watts
Additional Starting
(Surge) Watts
Water Well Pump 1200 2100
Refrigerator 700 2200
Furnace Fan 800 2350
Television 500 —
Light (75 Watts) 75 —
3275 Total
Running Watts
2350 Highest
Starting Watts
Wattage Reference Guide
Tool or Appliance
Running*
(Rated)
Watts
Additional
Starting
(Surge)
Watts
Essentials
Light Bulb - 75 watt 75 —
Furnace Fan Blower - 1/2 HP 800 2350
Sump Pump - 1/3 HP 800 1300
Refrigerator/Freezer 700 2200
Water Well Pump - 1/2 HP 1000 2100
Heating/Cooling
Window AC - 10,000 BTU 1200 3600
Humidifier - 13 Gal 175 —
Central AC - 24,000 BTU 3800 11400
Kitchen
Microwave Oven - 1000 Watt 1000 —
Coffee Maker 1000 —
Electric Stove - 8” Element 2100 —
Toaster 850 —
Family Room
DVD/CD Player 100 —
VCR 100 —
Stereo Receiver 450 —
Color Television - 27 in 500 —
Personal Computer w/17 in
monitor
800 —
Other
Security System 500 —
AM/FM Clock Radio 100 —
Garage Door Opener - 1/2 HP 875 2350
Electric Water Heater 4700 11700
DIY/Job Site
Quartz Halogen Work Light 1000 —
Airless Sprayer - 1/3 HP 600 1200
Reciprocating Saw 960 —
Electric Drill - 1/2 HP, 5.4 Amps 600 900
Circular Saw - 7-1/4 in 1400 2300
Miter Saw - 10 in 1800 1800
Table Planer - 6 in 1800 1800
Table Saw/Radial Arm Saw - 10 in 2000 2000
Air Compressor - 1 HP 1600 4500