In order to ascertain the necessary capacity of an emergency generator, it is first necessary to calculate the total wattage requirement. This involves calculating the sum of the running wattage of all appliances you want to power during a power outage, plus an additional margin for surges. When making a decision, it is important to consider factors such as the size of your home, your typical power usage, and the specific appliances you plan to use.

Please find below a step-by-step guide to estimating your requirements:

1. Identify Essential Appliances:
Please prepare a comprehensive list of all essential appliances and devices that require power during an outage, including but not limited to lighting, refrigeration, freezers, televisions, and any medical equipment.

2. Gather Wattage Information:
Refer to the running wattage (or watts) of each appliance. This information can be found on the appliance's label, in the user manual, or online.

3. Calculate Total Running Wattage:
Please calculate the total running wattage of all the essential appliances on your list.

4. Account for Starting Wattage:
It is important to note that many appliances require significantly more power to start than they do to run. Please add the highest starting wattage of any appliance on your list to your total running wattage. This will provide the total wattage required for the process of starting and running.

5. Consider a Safety Margin:
Adding a safety margin, such as 10% to 20%, ensures that there is sufficient power to handle surges and fluctuations.

 

General Generator Sizes:

Small:  This range of 500-3,000 watts is suitable for powering lights, small appliances and power tools.

Medium:  3,100-6,000 watts can power essential appliances, heating and cooling, and larger tools.

Large:  6,100-10,000 watts can power essential appliances, heating and cooling, and some larger appliances like water heaters.

Whole House:  10,000 watts and above can power most appliances in your home.

Example:

The refrigerator operates at 200 watts when running and 1600 watts when starting, the television requires 120 watts when running and 300 watts when starting, and the lighting system consumes 300 watts when running and 300 watts when starting.

Total running wattage: 200 + 120 + 300 = 620 watts

Highest starting wattage: 1600 watts

Total wattage: 620 + 1600 = 2220 watts

With a safety margin, you might need a generator that can provide at least 2500 watts.

 

By accurately calculating your wattage requirements and taking these factors into account, you can select a generator that meets your needs and provides reliable backup power during a power outage. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach us by phone on +353 87 392 29 20 or by WhatsApp. Alternatively, you can send us an email at info@quattello.com.