Things to consider before you buy a Generator
- Do you need standby power for your home only, or a portable model for jobsite or recreational use?
- Do you need to power hardwired items such as the furnace, well pump and A/C, or only appliances that can be plugged into an outlet?
- Do you need your generator to start automatically when an outage occurs?
- Will you be powering computers, home electronics or other sensitive equipment?
- What price range are you looking to stay within? Is price a primary consideration?
How to Choose your Generator
Here are some useful tips to consider before purchasing a generator.
Step 1
Itemise each appliance in your home that uses electricity.Using the Eskom energy consumption guide determine the running wattage for each appliance.
Step 2
Determine the starting wattage for item with motors. Appliances with induction motors could require 3-10 times the running wattage on start-up. If the start-up wattage is listed on the motor nameplate, use that quantity instead of an estimate.
Should start-up be rated in amps, use the following formula to determine power consumption (amps x volts = watts).
Step 3
Consider which appliances can be interrupted and which cannot. This will help determine whether a smaller generator can be used. Appliances that can be interrupted should be in a standby power setting to minimize unnecessary power consumption.
Step 4
Determine the energy consumption by totaling up the wattage of each individual appliance. If an appliance contains a motor, use the start-up wattage, unless you are manually controlling when it starts and can switch other items off until it is running. For example, you could leave a water pump off, until the pressure tank is low. Then the refrigerator may be shut off while the water pump is switched back on.
Step 5
It is recommended not to run a generator at full load at 24 hours a day. Purchase a generator with 10 – 20 percent more capacity than you believe is required to maximize the life of your generator. If possible shut down your generator for a couple of hours a day, further increasing the lifespan.
Step 3
Consider which appliances can be interrupted and which cannot. This will help determine whether a smaller generator can be used. Appliances that can be interrupted should be in a standby power setting to minimize unnecessary power consumption.
Step 4
Determine the energy consumption by totaling up the wattage of each individual appliance. If an appliance contains a motor, use the start-up wattage, unless you are manually controlling when it starts and can switch other items off until it is running. For example, you could leave a water pump off, until the pressure tank is low. Then the refrigerator may be shut off while the water pump is switched back on.
Step 5
It is recommended not to run a generator at full load at 24 hours a day. Purchase a generator with 10 – 20 percent more capacity than you believe is required to maximize the life of your generator. If possible shut down your generator for a couple of hours a day, further increasing the lifespan.
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