The first thing a person need to do is to determine the power you need before purchase a generator. If your generator is not capable of serving the power you need, this may cause damage to your generator, no matter which power you are using in Standby or Prime. The exact process of determining the power of the generator, requires many considerations and depending on many factors.
Some criterias may cause confusion in this process like three phase, single phase, Kw, kVA, Prime and Standby.This article is published to avoid this confusion and to clarify the key issues related to the generator power determination process. Although it does not give as detailed technical information as a certified electrician, it enlightens the user on some important key points.
Generator Power Range: Thanks to the developments in the field of electrical engineering, the generators produced cover a wide power range. Industrial Generators power ranages are usually in between 50kW – 3 MW while Generators for common use like Office and for house use are usualy in between 5kW – 50kW.
Power Size of the Generator: Many people thinks that they can provide “Standby (continuous/uninterruptable) Power” with less size of generator since it does not have to work continuously. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common mistakes made when purchasing a generator, and it can cause damage to your new generator as well as damage to the equipment in the facility it feeds and stop the work connected to these equipment. The key point to remember here is; A generator with a higher power than the required power should be preferred.
How to Determine the Right Size Engine or Generator?: While they do not replace the exploration and calculations of a certified electrician, the following items can be a starting point for you to follow the right path:
Knowing your needs well: Going to a dealer and purchasing the best and the cheapest generator available is not the right approach. It is always better to determine in detail the electrical power you need before making a choice. You can do this in the following ways:- Make a list of items that need to be fed by the generator.
– Note the starting and operating powers of the relevant items.
– Calculate the total power requirements in kVA or kW.
How to Determine Starting and Operating Power: : Determining the starting and operating power of the devices to be fed by the generator is very important for the correct power requirement calculation. Normally, you can find this kind of information on the label on the device or in the user manual.
Amper – Watt Conversion: The power requirements of devices are usually specified in amps. To convert the power requirement from amps to watts, you can do the following calculations:
For resistive load: Watts = amps x volts
For reactive load: Power = (ampere x volt) x power factor
Power Consumption Chart If you cannot access the user manuals of the electrical equipment you use, you may not be able to access the power consumption values. You can find the approximate power values of commonly used devices in the power consumption table below. In this table, you can easily see that the starting and operating powers are different.
Power Consumption Chart |
This table shows how power ratings vary between different types of electrical devices. The values reflected in this table are not a definitive guide for calculating your power requirements. For the most accurate calculation, consult the user manual of each device or a professional electrician. |
Product | Starting Power (W) | Operating Power (W) |
Circle Saw | 2.400 | 1.200 |
Drill | 1.800 | 720 |
Edger | 2.400 | 960 |
Chainsaw | 2.400 | 1.200 |
Lawn Mower | 4320 | 1.440 |
Pressure Washer | 3600 | 1.200 |
Carwing Saw | 1.800 | 720 |
Buzz Saw | 2.100 | 840 |
Electric Sander | 1.800 | 600 |
Paint Sprayer | 1.080 | 360 |
Planer | 2.400 | 960 |
Router | 1.500 | 600 |
Water Pump | 3000 | 1.000 |
Wet / Dry Vacuum | 2.500 | 888 |
Crane | 5400 | 1.800 |
Oven Fan, Gas/Fuel Oil Oven | ||
1/8 horsepower (hp) (hp) | 500 | 300 |
1/6 horsepower (hp) | 750 | 500 |
1/4 horsepower (hp) | 1.000 | 600 |
2/5 horsepower (hp) | 1.400 | 700 |
3/5 horsepower (hp) | 2.350 | 875 |
Central Air Conditioning | ||
10.000 BTU | 2.200 | 1.500 |
20.000 BTU | 3300 | 2.500 |
24.000 BTU | 4950 | 3800 |
32.000 BTU | 6500 | 5000 |
40.000 BTU | 6700 | 6000 |
1/4′ Drill | 300 | 300 |
Belt Sander | 1.000 | 1.000 |
Disk Sander | 1.200 | 1.200 |
Twist Saw | 3100 | 1.560 |
12′ Concrete Cutter | 3600 | 1.800 |
7 1/4′ Saw | 3000 | 1.500 |
Grinder Disk | 4000 | 2.000 |
Air Compressor (Average) | 4000 | 2.000 |
Different methods of calculating power: There are several different ways to calculate power requirements, depending on the type, number of devices, and the generator’s usage plan:
– With one engine running.
– When multiple engines are running simultaneously.
– Without electric motors
Advantages of choosing a generator of suitable power: By now you’ve got the idea to choose a suitable generator for your needs, here are a few of the benefits gained from following these processes:
– Elimination of unexpected system errors,
– Elimination of shutdowns due to overload,
– Generator has longer durable
– Performance guarantee.
– Proper and trouble-free maintenance
– Increased system duration
– Ensuring personal security
Where to Buy, the Role of Service Providers and Dealers: Since the generator will be used for continuous or emergency electricity requirements (perhaps in a crisis), choosing the company you will buy is an important issue that should not be ignored. It is necessary to examine all of the issues such as how many years of experience the seller has, whether it provides service and spare parts, how fast a response is provided, and the capability of giving special attention to urgent matter.