OPERA
TION
16
Don’t Overload Generator
Make sure you can supply enough rated watts and surge watts for all electronic devices connected to the generator. Rated
watts refer to the power a generator must supply to keep a device running. Surge watts refer to the power a generator
must supply to start an electronic device. This power surge for starting a device usually lasts between 2-3 seconds but this
additional output must be taken into account when selecting the electronic devices you plan to attach to the generator. To
prevent overloading the generator take the following steps:
1. Add up the total rated wattage of all electronic devices that will be connected to the generator simultaneously.
Bathroom Rated Watts Surge Watts
Hair Dryer 1250
0
Curling Iron 1500 0
Family Room
Home Office
X-Box or Play Station 40 0
AM/FM Radio 100 100
VCR 100 100
Color TV (27”) 500 500
Fax Machine 65 0
Personal Computer (17” Monitor) 800 0
Laser Printer 950 0
Copy Machine 1600 0
Power Tools
1000W Quartz Halogen Work Light 1000 0
Airless Sprayer (⅓ HP) 600 1200
Reciprocating Saw 960 0
Circular Saw (7 ¼”) 1400 2300
Miter Saw (10”) 1800 1800
Table/Radial Arm Saw 2000 2000
Electric Drill (½ HP, 5.4 Amps) 600 900
Hammer Drill 1000 3000
Air Compressor 1600 4500
Other
Home Security System 500 500
Garage Door Opener (⅓ HP) 750 750
Essentials Rated Watts Surge Watts
75W Light Bulbs 75 each
75 each
18 CU Ft Refrigerator / Freezer 800 2200
Furnace Fan (⅓ HP) 800 2350
Sump Pump (⅓ HP) 1000 2000
Water Pump (⅓ HP) 1000 3000
Heating/Cooling
650 800
Table Fan
Dehumidifier
800 2000
Window AC (10k BTU) 1200 3600
Central Air (10k BTU) 1500 6000
Electric Blanket 400 400
Space Heater 1800 1800
Kitchen
Blender 300 900
Toaster (2 slice) 1000 1600
Coffee Maker 1500 1500
Electric Range (1 element) 1500 1500
Dishwasher 1500 3000
Electric Oven 3410 3410
Electric Water Heater 4000 4000
Laundry Room
Iron 1200 1200
Washing Machine 1150 3400
Gas Clothes Dryer 700 2500
Electric Clothes Dryer 5400 6750
Wattage Reference Guide
(Wattages listed are just approximations. Check electronic device for actual wattage)
2.
Estimate surge watts by adding the item(s) with the highest output (it is unnecessary to calculate the surge output
for all devices as they should be connected one at a time).
3. Add the Surge Watts to the total Rated Watts in step 1. Keep total load within generator’s power capacity.
Operating voltage and frequency requirement of all electronic equipment should be checked prior to plugging them into
this generator. Damage may result if the equipment is not designed to operate within a +/- 10% voltage variation, and
+/- 3 Hz frequency variation from the generator name plate ratings. To reduce the risk of damage, always have an
additional load plugged into the generator if solid state equipment (such as television set) is used. A power line
conditioner is recommended for some solid state applications.