| Typical
Electrical Appliance Wattage Calculations for Appliance Usage During
Utility Power Emergencies
Note:
Critical Appliances are in Red below.
Appliance
Application Comments arein green below.
Television:
300-400 running watts, 300-400 starting/surge watts Share
this load with lighting and furnace blower & (1) stove burner. Nothing
else
Microwave oven:
700 running watts, 1000 starting/surge watts Use
only during daylight hours and not with lighting
Furnace blower:
(1/3 hp): 600 running watts, 1800 starting/surge watts Mandatory
appliance in cold weather
Refrigerator/Freezer:
800 running watts, 2400 starting/surge watts Plug in
every 12 hours for 2 hours
Toaster:
1200 running watts, no surge watts
Coffee maker:
1200 running watts, no surge watts All caffeine
addicts need this one
Stove element burner: 1500 running watts, no surge watts
Water heater:
5000 running watts, no surge watts Should have a gas
water heater This
will take all of your generating capacity. Not a good idea.
Water well pump (1/2 hp): 1000 running watts, 3000
starting/surge watts Mandatory - you must
have this
Sump pump (1/3 hp):
700 running watts, 2100 starting/surge watts Only
if your basement is flooding
Washer:
1440 running watts, no surge watts Don't cook at the
same time.
Dryer:
5520 running watts (which is why it was hard to use) Forget
this one, get a gas dryer.
For any remaining items not
listed here, the formula to calculate is as follows: The formula for finding
wattage is amps x volts = watts.
An electric motor
nameplate states 5 amps at 120 volts,
5 amps x 120
volts = 600 watts.
Multiply this by
3. This will show the starting watts needed.
600 watts x 3 =
1800 watts to start.
1 kW = 1000
watts.
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Tips
on how to set up and run your
generator when connecting to your house power panel.
-
After
installing a CB in your house distribution panel , (this
is the panel where you want to control your appliance loads),
and the connection pig tail with the hot safe
plug installed turn
off your main circuit breaker to the utility company.
The main CB will be found
either at the meter socket in a metal box on your utility pole below the meter
or on the side of your house in a metal box directly below the meter, or at the
top inside your main electrical panel where all the other circuit breakers are
located.
-
Make sure all
CB's in this panel are labeled as to what they control. They should all be in
the off position.
-
Start your
generator and let it run to warm up at least 10 minutes.
-
Connect the
generator to the pig tail on your house panel by inserting the female twist lock
into the hot safe male connection pig tail you fabricated. Plug in the other end
of your generator connection cable into the generator in the 240 volt recepticle.
-
The generator CB
that connects to the pig tail you installed in this panel should be in the off
position. Check it.
-
Make sure all
CB's are turned off in this distribution panel. Check again.
-
With the
generator running turn on one CB in your panel, preferably a lighting
circuit.
-
Turn on the
generator CB in this panel to the on position.
-
Check your
lighting circuit to see if you have lights in the house. If they are
working then gradually turn on other CB's according to the list of critical
loads outlined above.
I must caution
you that you do this fabrication and installation at your own risk. I will not
be responsible for your work or mistakes.
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Tips
on an inexpensive generator connection scenario
First of all it
would be good if you have some knowledge about power systems and electrical
wiring. If not then maybe the following information can be relayed to someone
that has that knowledge.
You can avoid
installing a transfer switch if you follow the rules below.
1. Never
allow the main breaker on your building electrical system to remain in the
"ON' position while attempting to connect or operate a generator to supply
power to your building. (if
the utility power is off due to an outage you will never know when it will come
back on. In order to prevent an explosion or damage to your generator or
appliances you cannot allow utility current to pass through your main breaker
and into your main panel or sub panel distribution system while you are
generating power to run appliances during an outage)
This is the
purpose of a transfer switch, namely to prevent such an occurrence. If
you are subject to any local authorities having jurisdiction in your area then
they will require you install a transfer switch. For everyone else read
on.
2. If you
don't think you can locate, purchase, and install a Circuit Breaker in your main
power panel in your house and wire a 'pig tail' into it then show these
instructions to a trusted electrician.
-
For the 4000 watt
generator install a 20 amp (2)pole CB in your main circuit panel for your house
-
Purchase 6 feet
of #12/3 SJO cord and a 20 Amp 240 volt twist lock male plug. This cord is a
heavy duty type that uses stranded
wire. This is required so as to be flexible and not break at flex points.
-
Note:
The 5000 watt generator will require a 30amp (2) pole 240 volt CB and a #10/3
SJO pig tail cord and a 30 amp twist lock male plug. All other instructions are
the same.
-
Select a
3/4" knock out in the bottom of your main electrical panel and open it
up. If it is inside the wall dig out the wall just below the panel and
fish the cord through the hole in the wall and into the main electrical
panel. Use a 3/4" cable connecter (sometimes
called a 'Romex' connector),
and attach to the panel prior to fishing the SJO cord into the panel from the
bottom.
-
Pull in
approximately 24" of SJO cord into the panel and then tighten the wire
cable fastener tight against the SJO cord.
-
Strip the cable
sheathing down to the inside of the connector at the bottom of the panel and cut
it all off including the paper filler inserts. You should now have (3)
conductors exposed inside the panel
-
This SJO cord
should now have (3) wires Red, Black, and Green inside the panel. Attach the red
and black wires to the lugs on the Circuit Breaker and tighten. Fasten the green
wire to the ground system in the panel. Tighten all wire connections
securely. Do not strip out these wire lugs when tightening.
-
Next is
fabricating a 'hot safe' plug connection using the twist lock plug. insert the
SJO cord into the make up end of the twist lock plug. Connect the Red, Black
wires to the brass and white colored poles and the green to the green screw
pole. You will see these lugs when you take apart the male plug assembly so as
to attach these conductors.
-
To hot safe this
plug you should purchase approximately 12 to 18" of 1-1/4" dia.
schedule 40 PVC pipe. Cut a piece of this pipe about 6" in
length. Save the rest in case you make a mistake.
-
Grind out the
inside of one end of this plastic pipe so it will just fit over the outside of
the twist lock plug body. This is what you will use as your safety device to
keep from being accidentally shocked by a live circuit should you forget to
switch off your 20 amp 2 pole generator CB in your panel. This method
should protect you from coming into contact with any of the twist lock tines on
the end of the plug. Glue this fabricated PVC sleeve to the plug making
sure that you can take the plug apart if necessary to rewire it.
-
Cut the PVC pipe
off square at about 2" beyond the ends of the tines of the twist lock plug.
Smooth the inside and outside of the cut area. This method allows you to connect
and disconnect your generator to your main panel easily and quickly if you
follow the above instructions to the letter.
I must caution
you that you do this fabrication and installation at your own risk. I will not
be responsible for your work or mistakes.
|
Generac
Electric Start