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PORTABLE GASOLINE GENERATORS
R
Running Starting
Equipment Watts Watts
1/2" Drill 1000 1250
Toaster 1200 1200
Coffee maker 1200 1200
Skillet 1200 1200
14" Chain saw 1200 1500
Water well pump
(1/2 hp) 1000 3000
Hot plate/range
(per burner) 1500 1500
10" Table saw 2000 6000
Water heater
(storage-type)
5000 5000
Running Starting
Equipment Watts Watts
Light bulb (100W) 100 100
Radio 150 150
Fan 200 600
Television 400 400
Furnace fan
(1/3 hp)
with blower 600 1800
Vacuum cleaner 600 750
Sump pump
(1/3 hp)
700 2100
Refrigerator/freezer 800 2400
6" Circular saw 800 1000
Floodlight 1000 1000
* – Always use starting watts, not running watts, when figuring correct electrical load.
x – Motors of higher horsepower are not generally used.
Chart 1 - Typical Electric Appliance Wattages
DETERMINING
ELECTRICAL LOAD
FOR GENERATOR
You must decide what electrical load your
generator can power. Do this before us
-
ing generator. Use the following four-step
method. It will help you select a load that
is not too large. Make sure total wattage of
all electrical loads does not exceed rated
wattage of generator. For rated wattage of
your generator, see Specifications, page 5.
Electric motors present a special problem
when figuring load. Read Step 3 carefully.
1.
Make two lists of items you want pow-
ered by generator. List all motors and
motor powered appliances in one. List all
lights, small appliances, etc. in the other.
For standby service to home or building,
only include items you must power.
2. Enter running watts of each item except
motors. The light bulb or appliance
nameplate lists its wattage. Remem
-
ber, 1KW = 1000 watts. Note: The
nameplate may not list wattage. It may
only list volts and amps. The formula
for finding wattage is: Volts x Amps
= Watts. For example: An appliance
nameplate states 3 amps at 120 volts.
3 amps x 120 volts = 360 watts.
3. Electric motors present a special prob-
lem. They require up to three-times
their rated wattage to start. Chart 2,
below, shows starting watts for different
size motors. For example: an electric
motor nameplate states 5 amps at 120
volts. 5 amps x 120 volts = 600 watts
running. Multiply this figure by 3. This
will show the starting watts needed. 600
watts x 3 = 1800 watts to start. When
figuring the generator load for motors,
you must use the starting watts figure.
Do not use the running watts figure.
Note: Some motors require nearly the
same wattage to run as to start. These
items include saws, drills, hair dryers,
and food mixers. See Chart 1 for typical
appliance wattage examples.
4.
Add watts and starting watts of all items.
This total must not be larger than the rated
wattage of your generator. It is a good
idea to have up to 25% extra capacity for
future needs or extra equipment.
Approximate Starting Watts*
Motor Approximate Universal Repulsion Split
HP Running Motors Induction Capacitor Phase
Rating Watts (small appliance) Motors Motors Motors
1/8 500 625 1100 1500 2250
1/4 700 875 1550 2100 3150
1/3 800 1000 1750 2400 3600
1/2 1100 1375 2400 3300 4950
3/4 1400 1750 3100 4200 x
1 1700 2125 3750 5100 x
1 1/2 2100 2625 4620 6300 x
2 2450 3075 5400 7350 x
3 3600 x 7900 10800 x
Chart 2