How to calculate the size of the Trade Professional Generator you need.
When it comes to selecting a generator, the size of the generator matters. If you select the wrong size, you will not be able to power your appliances. Purchasing a generator that can cope with the required power load is a crucial part of the purchasing decision.
If the incorrect size generator is selected, it can contribute to:
- insufficient and unreliable power supply
- unexpected system failures
- shutdowns due to overloading
- appliances being damaged
- additional maintenance
- a malfunction in which you can be seriously injured
Selecting the correct size of the generator required depends on several factors. Before purchasing a generator, follow the below steps to select the correct size:
Step 1: Choose the appliances you would like to power simultaneously.
Start by making a list of all the essential appliances you wish to power with the backup generator. This will depend on whether the generator is used for commercial or industrial use. If the generator is being used more for industrial applications, ensure that all the required appliances are taken into consideration to avoid selecting the wrong size or overloading the generator.
Step 2: Record the running wattage for each appliance.
Write down the running wattage for each appliance listed above. The wattage consumption can be found on the back of the electrical appliance. If the running wattage is not listed on the specification plate, read through the user manual to see if it is listed or contact the supplier for the correct information.
Certain appliances have a start-up wattage in addition to the running wattage. The running wattage is required to calculate the start-up wattage.
Step 3: Calculate the start-up wattage for the relevant appliances.
The generator start-up wattage refers to the amount of power an appliance needs to start up. If the start-up wattage is not calculated correctly, it could damage the generator.
The start-up wattage will differ based on the type of appliance.
- Small electrical appliances with no induction motor do not have a start-up wattage. E.g. TV, computer, light bulb, microwave oven, fan, etc.
- Large electrical appliances, compressors and bench tools with an induction motor do have a start-up wattage. E.g. Fridge, washing machine, air conditioner, compressor, drill press, etc.
- Hand-held power tools with a brushed motor have a start-up wattage. E.g. Drill, angle grinder, sander, jigsaw, etc.
There are different formulas used to calculate the start-up wattage of appliances.
To calculate the start-up wattage of large electrical appliances, the running wattage is multiplied by 2.
To calculate the start-up wattage of hand-held power tools, the running wattage is multiplied by 1.4.
Formula to calculate the start-up wattage of Large Electrical Appliances:
Example – A fridge with a running wattage of 1000W.
1000W (running wattage) x 2 = 2000W (this is the start-up wattage)
2000W (start-up wattage) + 1000W (running wattage) = 3000W
3000W is the total start-up wattage required to power a fridge.
Formula to calculate the start-up wattage of Hand-Held Power Tools:
Example – An angle grinder with a running wattage of 600W.
600W (running wattage) x 1.4 = 840W (this is the start-up wattage)
840W (start-up wattage) + 600W (running wattage) = 1440W.
1440W is the total start-up wattage required to power an angle grinder.
Step 4: Calculate the total required wattage to determine the size of the generator you need.
To calculate the total required wattage, add the highest start-up wattage of the listed appliances to the total running wattage required.
The total required wattage to power the above-listed appliances is 5 977.5W (5.97kW).
In this example, the correct size Trade Professional Generator is 6.5kW with a rated power of 6.0kW.
The rated power of a generator is what the generator can deliver for a sustained period. The connected appliances must never exceed the rated power as overloading the generator will shorten the service life of the generator or cause damage.
Providing portable power you can trust, Trade Professional offers a robust range of generators available in various sizes to meet the requirements of different applications, ranging from domestic to site use.
The compact design generators are ideal to use during power outages or in environments where electricity is not supplied. The reliable generators can easily be started by recoil or electric start to conveniently power lights, power tools, a TV, decoder, WIFI, etc.
Keeping the safety of the user in mind, the generators are fitted with a ground terminal to prevent electrical shock and a circuit breaker to protect the circuit from damage caused by a short circuit or overuse of the generator.
The professional power generators are available in all major retailers across the country and the African continent as well as major online stores.
Visit our website to view the robust range of Trade Professional Generators suitable for your needs.
