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16 — ENG
Never exceed the rated capacity of your generator. Serious damage to the generator or appliance could result from
an overload.
1. Starting and running wattage requirements should always be calculated when matching a generators
wattage capacity to the appliance or tool.
2. There are two types of electrical appliances that can be powered by your generator:
A. Items such as radios, light bulbs, television sets, and microwaves have a "resistive load". Starting
wattage and running wattage are the same.
B. Items such as refrigerators, air compressors, washer, dryer, and hand tools that use an electrical
motor have an "inductive load". Inductive load appliances and tools require approximately 2 to 4 times
the listed wattage for starting the equipment. This initial load only lasts for a few seconds on start-up
but is very important when figuring your total wattage to be used.
C. Always start your largest electric motor first, and then plug in other items, one at a time.
NOTE: On 120-volt loads the maximum starting wattage should NOT exceed one half of the rated generator
wattage. Example: a 5000 rated wattage generator = 2500 maximum starting wattage.
IMPORTANT
DETERMINING WATTAGE REQUIREMENTS
Before operating this generator list all of the appliances and/or tools that are going to operate at the same time. (Then
determine the starting wattage requirements and the running wattage requirements by following example and/or refer to
wattage calculator on page 16.)
1. First total the running wattage of all appliances and/or tools that will be operated at the same time.
Running Watts Starting Watts
Example 1:
Lights = 100 Watts 0
Television = 300 Watts 0
Slow Cooker = 250 Watts 0
TOTAL = 650 Watts 0
2. Next the starting wattages of any appliances and/or tools that will start and stop during operation.
Running Watts Starting Watts
Example 2: Small Refrigerator 500 Watts 2000 Watts
TOTAL = 500 Watts 2000 Watts
3. The running wattage of examples 1 & 2 totals 1150 watts. The starting wattage of the small refrigerator is 2000 watts
which is 1500 watts more than the running watts. Take this difference of 1500 starting watts from the refrigerator and
add to the total running watts of 1150.
Example 3: 1500 Starting Watts
1150 Running Watts
TOTAL = 2650 Total Watts
Generator must have a maximum capacity of at least 2650 watts.
WATTAGE CALCULATIONS