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OPERATION
ignition engines and is attributable to the decrease
in atmospheric pressure (and thus the available air
for combustion) as altitude increases.
CONNECTING ELECTRICAL
LOADS
The generator can be used to power 240-Volt AC,
50 Hz, single phase electrical devices. Maintain
normal safety precautions with appliances and
accessories as for use when connected to the mains
power supply.
240-Volt AC Loads
240-Volt AC devices can be connected either
directly or via electrical extension cords into the
240-Volt AC outlet(s) on the generator's control
panel. Lift up the spring-loaded weather resistant
cover on each outlet for access to connect the
electrical device or cord.
240-Volt AC devices may be fitted with either a
three-pin 15 Ampere (typically abbreviated "15 Amp"
or "15 A") plug or a three-pin 10 Ampere ("10 Amp"
or "10 A") plug as shown in Figure 10. Certain
double-insulated devices may be fitted with a two-
pin 10 A plug that doesn't have an earth pin (which
is the longer, vertical pin).
A - 15 Ampere
Figure 10 – 240-Volt AC Three-Pin Plugs
NOTICE
DO NOT connect any 240-Volt AC device that is
fitted with a three-pin 20 A plug. This can overload
the generator.
See 240-Volt AC Extension Cords for detailed
instructions concerning their selection and use.
Power Output and Demand
There are two limits to the amount of electric power
that the generator can usefully provide: (a) its total
240-Volt AC electric power generating capacity or
power output and (b) the electric current or power
output capacity of each individual 240-Volt AC outlet.
13
B - 10 Ampere
The generator's total power output measured in
Watts is listed in the Specifications. Two 240-Volt
AC power outputs are specified for the generator,
namely the running power and the starting power.
NOTICE
DO NOT overload the generator's 240-Volt AC
circuit beyond its rated capacity. This can result
in damage to the generator or to the connected
devices.
The generator should not be run completely
unloaded for extended periods otherwise the engine
may be damaged. It is recommended that the
generator should always be operated with at least
one-third of its rated 240-Volt AC power output.
240-Volt AC devices have two different electric
power demands that must be taken into
consideration, namely the running power and the
starting power. Both are measured in Watts (typically
abbreviated as "W").
The steady state continuous load is the running
power demand and this is often marked on the
device near its model number or serial number.
Sometimes the device might only be marked with
its voltage (i.e. 240 Volt or 240 V) and current draw
(e.g. 6 Ampere or 6 Amp or 6 A), in which case the
running power demand in Watts can be obtained by
multiplying the voltage times the current, e.g. 240 V
× 6 A = 1,440 W.
Simple resistive 240-Volt AC devices such as
incandescent bulbs, toasters, heaters, etc. have
no extra power demand when starting, and so
their starting power demands are the same as their
running power demands.
More complex 240-Volt AC devices containing
inductive or capacitive elements such as electric
motors have a momentary extra power demand
when starting, which can be up to seven times the
running power demand or more. Manufacturers
of such devices rarely publish this starting power
demand and so it's often necessary to estimate it.
A rule of thumb for devices fitted with an electric
motor is to apply a starting power multiplier of
1.2 for small hand-held or portable devices and
a value of 3.5 for larger stationary devices. For
example, a 900 W angle grinder can be assumed
to have a starting power demand of at least 1.2 ×
900 W, which equals 1,080 W. Similarly, a 1,650 W
air compressor can be assumed to have a starting
power demand of at least 3.5 × 1,650 W, which
equals 5,775 W.
To prevent overloading of the generator's 240-Volt
AC system:
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