How to Determine the Right Size Engine or Generator:  While there is no substitute for having a certified electrician perform an inspection and calculate everything for you, the guidelines below do offer some great starting points and should at least get you started in the right direction:

Know Your Requirements:  Going to a dealer and buying the best or cheapest generator available without any other consideration is clearly not the best approach. It is always better to delve deep into your power generation requirements before making a choice. You can do this in the following ways:

  • Make a list of the items that need to be powered by the generator
  • Make a note of the starting and running wattage of the respective items
  • Calculate the total power requirements in KVA or KW

How to Find the Starting and Running Wattage:  Getting the right starting and running wattage of the devices you intend to power is crucial for calculating the accurate power requirements. Normally, you will find these in the identification plate or the owner’s manual in the buyer’s kit of each respective device, tool, appliance, or other electrical equipment.

Ampere – Watt Conversion:  You may often find power requirements of tools stated in amperes. In order to convert the power requirement of a tool from ampere to watts, follow these calculations.

  • For resistive load: Wattage = amperes x volts
  • For reactive load: Wattage = (amperes x volts) x load factor

Power Requirement Charting:  It often happens that you lose the owner’s manual or for some reason can’t find the power requirement specification of the tools and/or other electrical devices you’re running. If you have questions over any particular items, you can contact the Generator Service Company for a free consultation.

Different ways of Calculating:  Depending upon the type and number of devices and the way the generator is scheduled to be used, there are a few different ways of calculating power requirements:

  • Single motor running 
  • Multiple motors running simultaneously
  • No electric motors

Advantages of choosing the right size generator:  Now that you have an idea on how to choose the appropriate size of generator to suit your needs, here’s just a few of the benefits obtained by going through that process:

  • No unexpected system failures
  • No shutdowns due to capacity overload
  • Increased longevity of the generator
  • Guaranteed performance
  • Smoother hassle-free maintenance
  • Increased system life span
  • Assured personal safety
  • Much smaller chance of asset damage

Where to Buy & Role of Dealers and/or Service Providers:  Since you are not only purchasing a substantial company asset, but most likely an item you will need to rely on for prime or emergency electrical power at some point, probably in a crisis, deciding where to buy is also a key consideration not to be overlooked.  The seller’s years of experience, whether they are a full service dealer or small commissioned broker, and so forth, all play a role.