For example, if you determine that your minimum Generator Capacity is 17.5 kilowatts, you'll want an 18-22 kilowatt generator to adequately power your home during an outage. This is the minimum Generator Capacity required for your home. Multiply kilowatts x 1.25 to add a margin of safety and for future power needs. Divide the Total Watts by 1000 to find kilowatts. For example, a central air unitĪdd up the Total Watts to determine how much power your home is likely to use during an outage. This provides a necessary margin to ensure your generator will handle an additional load called Starting Watts of any motors. Multiply that item's Watts x 3, and substitute the result for the original watts listed. Look at the items on your list that have electric motors and choose the one with the highest number of watts. For now, determine the number of watts each item requires. The goal is to determine the number of kilowatts required. Some items will list power as watts or possibly kilowatts, others will show the volts and amps used. Conversions between different methods of stating power are easy. You still have to determine what you are likely to use during an outage and how much power it requires.Ĭheck off your essentials, add in the conveniences, and then add a 15 to 25 percent margin for room to grow.Ĭhoose a Generator for Critical Circuits Only Determine Power Requirementsįor each item on the list, write down the power requirements in watts. Supplying power to the entire home or almost the entire home is certainly an option, and in many cases is really the more cost efficient way to go.

A microwave oven and crock pot or electric fry pan can cover most cooking needs.Įach item adds more power to the total capacity required. A television doesn't add very much power, nor does charging a cell phone charger or turning on a few lights. Then start adding in the conveniences you don't want to lose. These include refrigerators and freezers, central air and furnace, sump pumps, well pumps, and medical equipment. Start by making a list of the most important circuits in your home. Standby Generator Buyer Guide: What Size Generator Do I Need? Make Choices A hair dryer can use 1200 to 1875 watts all by itself, while an energy-saving LED light bulb might use as little as 6 watts. Deciding which electrical circuits and appliances to power in an emergency is the first step to sizing a standby generator for your home. Appliances are often rated in amps, amperes, volt-amperes or sometimes watts and kilowatts. Generators are rated in watts or in kilowatts(kW). Using too large of a generator is inefficient and wastes fuel. Too small a unit may not handle a central air conditioner and keep the pumps running that keep your basement dry. Standby Generator Backup Power TerminologyĬhoosing the right generator is important and the first question to answer, What Size Generator for the Whole House, is the first step to determining how much power you actually need. In just seconds, power is restored and life goes on uninterrupted. After a few seconds to reach operating speed, the automatic transfer switch isolates the home from the utility and connects it to the generator which protects both your home and the utility from unexpected line hazards.

They power sump pumps, medical equipment, computers, lights, and kitchen appliances.Ī power outage is detected the moment it happens and the generator automatically starts. These technologically advanced machines protect homes and families by supplying power that keeps the lights on, the air conditioner or furnace running, and food in the refrigerator and freezer safe from spoilage. Home Standby Generators were recently dubbed the 'Next Must-Have Appliance' for the home.

A whole house standby generator restores power seconds after a power outage or blackout strikes

Backup generator for home