What Size Portable Generator Do You Need?

http://campingportablegenerator.com A portable generator for home emergency use is selected by how many total watts of power you will need for the electrical devices you want to operate. The basic formula is amps x volts = watts. For example, a 100 watt light bulb running on a 120 volts consumes one amp. If you wanted to run ten 100 watt light bulbs you would need: 10 x 120 = 1,200 watts.

Build in a Safety Margin. The math is fudged a bit to build in a safety margin. 100/120 = .8333 amps but for safety you want to round that up to 1 amp. The breaker switches on portable generators are rated in amps. You could run into a situation where the generator is technically rated to handle the required wattage but the breaker switch is not able to handle the amps. The generator shuts itself off when the breaker switch is tripped.

Steady-State and Surge Wattage. There are two wattage ratings that are important when choosing a portable gas generator: steady-state wattage and surge wattage. As in our example, a 100 watt incandescent light bulb requires, as you would expect, 100 watts. Incandescent light bulbs have only a steady-state wattage requirement. Our 100 watt bulb requires that wattage both when you turn it on and while it is running.

A fan motor, on the other hand, might require 150 watts to get it started and 75 watts while it is running. That extra wattage to start the motor is called the surge wattage and is required of anything that contains an electric motor, and several other electrical appliances as well. Go here to see a table of common household appliances.

One other factor not considered here is that if you need "clean" AC power, like you get out of the wall plug, for sensitive electronic equipment then you may need a portable inverter generator.

The portable generator you select must be able to safely handle the combined surge or start-up wattage of all the electrical appliances that you want to run at the same time.

You need to know more.

Portable Generators
Emergency, Camping, Tailgating
http://campingportablegenerator.com

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[r1raceguy]

what the eff were you thinking when you made this? Are you a mute?