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Generator Sizing - How To Determine What Size Generator You Need - Generator Information PDF

This document discusses how to properly size a generator for your needs. It explains that under sizing a generator can damage both the generator and devices connected to it. It provides steps to determine power needs such as making a list of devices, their starting and running wattages, and calculating total power requirements. The document also discusses factors like single vs 3 phase power, and offers guidelines on choosing the right size for your specific application to ensure safety, performance and longevity.

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Jeremiah Gilbolinga
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
334 views

Generator Sizing - How To Determine What Size Generator You Need - Generator Information PDF

This document discusses how to properly size a generator for your needs. It explains that under sizing a generator can damage both the generator and devices connected to it. It provides steps to determine power needs such as making a list of devices, their starting and running wattages, and calculating total power requirements. The document also discusses factors like single vs 3 phase power, and offers guidelines on choosing the right size for your specific application to ensure safety, performance and longevity.

Uploaded by

Jeremiah Gilbolinga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Articles & Other Information

Sizing a Generator - How to Determine What Size You Need

Getting a generator that can


handle all your power generation
needs is one of the most critical
aspects of the purchasing
decision.  Whether you are
interested in prime or standby
power, if your new generator can't
meet your speci c requirements
then it simply won't be doing
anyone any good because it can
put undue stress on the unit and
even damage some of the devices
connected to it.  Unfortunately,
determining exactly what size of
generator to get is often very di cult and involves a number of factors and considerations. 

Making a choice amongst single phase, three phase, kW, KVA, welder, standby or motor starting generators
can be mind-boggling. To prevent such confusion, this article was developed to help you get a better idea
of how the sizing process works and some key things to keep in mind.  This is not a substitute for a
certi ed electrician, which we always suggest talking to before buying, but it should provide you with
enough information to get a solid understanding of some of the key things that are involved.
Generator Size Variations:  With the latest advancements in the eld of electrical engineering, generators
are now available in a wide range of sizes. Generators with power supply capacities of 5kW to 50kW are
readily available in the personal and home use markets, while industrial generators are anywhere from
50kW to over 3 Megawatts.  Handy and portable gensets are available for homes, RV's and small o ces,
but larger businesses, data centers, buildings, plants, and industrial applications need to use the much
larger sized industrial generators to meet their higher power requirements.

Generator Sizing - How Much


Power?:  Many people believe smaller
generators can be used for standby
electric power because they are not
running all the time. This is not only a
myth but can actually be very
detrimental. Unfortunately, generator
under sizing is one of the most
common mistakes committed by
buyers.  Not only does it involve the
risks of damaging your new asset
(the generator), but it can also
damage other assets connected to it,
create hazardous situations, and
even limit overall productivity of the
unit and/or the business relying on it. 
If nothing else, the key thing to remember here is that more is always better than less.  

How to Determine the Right Size Engine or Generator: While there is no substitute for having a certi ed
electrician perform an inspection and calculate everything for you, the guidelines below do offer some
great starting points and should at least get you started in the right direction:

Know Your Requirements: Going to a dealer and buying the best or cheapest generator available without
any other consideration is clearly not the best approach. It is always better to delve deep into your power
generation requirements before making a choice. You can do this in the following ways:
 

Make a list of the items that need to be powered by the generator


Make a note of the starting and running wattage of the respective items
Calculate the total power requirements in KVA or KW

How to Find the Starting and Running Wattage: Getting the right starting and running wattage of the
devices you intend to power is crucial for calculating the accurate power requirements. Normally, you will
nd these in the identi cation plate or the owner's manual in the buyer's kit of each respective device, tool,
appliance, or other electrical equipment.

Ampere - Watt Conversion:  You may often nd power requirements of tools stated in amperes. In order to
convert the power requirement of a tool from ampere to watts, follow these calculations, or you can also
use our handy conversion tool on our power calculator
(https://www.generatorsource.com/Power_Calculator.aspx) web page.

For resistive load: Wattage = amperes x volts


For reactive load: Wattage = (amperes x volts) x load factor
Power Requirement Charting: It often happens that you lose the owner's manual or for some reason can't
nd the power requirement speci cation of the tools and/or other electrical devices you're running. Here is
a sample power consumption chart (https://www.generatorsource.com/Power_Consumption_Chart.aspx)
that demonstrates some of the typical wattages used for common appliances and tools.  The chart is
simply provided as an example to demonstrate how starting and running wattages differ, and how each
device has speci c consumption needs.  If you have questions over any particular items you can contact
the manufacturer, consult an electrician, or contact us for a free consultation.

Different ways of Calculating:  Depending upon the type and number of devices, and the way the generator
is scheduled to be used, there are a few different ways of calculating power requirements:

Single motor running 


Multiple motors running simultaneously
No electric motors

Advantages of choosing the right size generator: Now that you have an idea on how to choose the
appropriate size of generator to suit your needs, here's just a few of the bene ts obtained by going through
that process:

No unexpected system failures


No shutdowns due to capacity overload
Increased longevity of the generator
Guaranteed performance
Smoother hassle-free maintenance
Increased system life span
Assured personal safety
Much smaller chance of asset damage

Where to Buy & Role of Dealers and/or Service Providers:  Since you are not only purchasing a substantial
company asset, but most likely an item you will need to rely on for prime or emergency electrical power at
some point, probably in a crisis, deciding where to buy is also a key consideration not to be overlooked. 
The seller's years of experience, whether they are a full service dealer or small commissioned broker, and
so forth, all play a role. 

Having been in the business for over a quarter of a century, here's just a few of the reasons why you should
always consider Generator Source as your rst stop for all your industrial power generation needs:

30+ years of industrial experience


Full service multi-port garage
Highly quali ed mechanics and the industry's top diesel technicians
High-end testing equipment and de-installation tools
Helpful support desk and knowledgeable o ce staff
We test all our products
Always a competitive price!

As this article demonstrates, there are obviously numerous considerations to account for when selecting
the appropriate generator for the job.  If you are having a di cult time with it or would like more speci c
suggestions and recommendations for your situation, contact us
(https://www.generatorsource.com/ContactUs.aspx) today and one of our knowledgeable sales and
support staff will be more than happy to assist.
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