North Star M165930R Owner's Manual page 11

Power Load Planning & Management (cont'd)
Device
Furnace fan (1/3 HP)
Freezer
Hair dryer
Hand drill (1")
Hand drill (1/2")
Hand drill (3/8")
Hand drill (1/4")
Hedge trimmer
Home computer
Impact wrench
(a) Hard-starting motors require 3-5 times the rated running watts
(b) For extremely hard to start loads such as air conditioners and air compressors, consult the equipment dealer to
determine maximum wattage
To calculate the running and starting wattage requirements for the devices you will be
powering, follow these steps:
1. Make a list of all electrical devices you will be powering at the same time with the generator.
2. List the greater of the running or starting wattage next to each device as obtained from the
devices' nameplate or Table 1. If only the running wattage for a device with an electric
motor is known, the starting wattage can be estimated to be at least 3 times the running
wattage.
3. Add the wattages for all devices on your list. This total must be lower than the continuous
output rating of your generator.
Example:
Device to be Powered
Light Bulb
Refrigerator – 18 Cu. Ft.
Microwave
Window AC
Sump pump (1/3 hp)
Total
In this example, the generator must have a continuous output of at least 6275 W in order to
power all of the devices simultaneously.
STAGGERING LOADS
You can increase the number of devices your generator can power by staggering the load on the
generator. For example, you could alternately power your refrigerator and air conditioner for
limited periods of time -- powering only one of the devices at a time and never powering both at the
same time.
Running
Watts Device
1200 (a) Submersible pump (1-1/2 HP)
800 (b) Submersible pump (1 HP)
1200 Submersible pump (1/2 HP)
1100 Sump pump
875 Table saw
500 Television
250 Toaster
450 Vacuum cleaner
150 VCR
500 Water Heater
Weed trimmer
Greater of
Starting/Running Wattage
1600 W
700 W
1800 W
2100 W
6275W
11
75 W
Running
Watts
2800 (a)
2000 (a)
1500 (a)
600 (a)
2000 (a)
500
1000
250
70
3000
500