Don't Overload Generator - Briggs & Stratton Generator Operator's Manual

Don't Overload Generator
Capacity
You must make sure your generator can supply enough
rated (running) and surge (starting) watts for the items you
will power at the same time. Follow these simple steps:
1. Select the items you will power at the same time.
2. Total the rated (running) watts of these items. This is
the amount of power your generator must produce to
keep your items running. See the table on the right.
3. Estimate how many surge (starting) watts you will need.
Surge wattage is the short burst of power neededto
start electric motor-driven tools or appliances such as a
circular saw or refrigerator. Becausenot all motors start
at the same time, total surge watts can be estimated by
adding only the item(s) with the highest additional surge
watts to the total rated watts from step 2.
Example:
Tool or Appliance
Water Well Pump
Refrigerator
Furnace Fan
Television
Light (75 Watts)
Running(Rated)
Watts
1200
700
800
500
75
3275 Total
Running Watts
Total Rated (Running) Watts
Highest Additional Surge Watts
Total Generator Output Required
AdditionalStarting
(Surge) Watts
21O0
2200
2350
2350 Highest
Starting Watts
= 3275
= 2350
= 5625
Power Management
To prolong the life of your generator and attached devices, it
is important to take care when adding electrical loads to your
generator. There should be nothing connected to the
generator outlets before starting its engine. The correct and
safe way to manage generator power is to sequentially add
loads as follows:
1. With nothing connected to the generator, start the
engine as described in this manual.
2. Plug in and turn on the first load, preferably the largest
load you have.
3. Permit the generator output to stabilize (engine runs
smoothly and attached device operates properly).
4. Plug in and turn on the next load.
5. Again, permit the generator to stabilize.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each additional load.
Wattage ReferenceGuide
Running* Additional
Tool or Appliance (Rated) Starting
Watts (Surge)
Watts
Essentials
Light Bulb - 75 watt 75 --
Furnace Fan Blower- 1/2 HP 800 2350
Sump Pump - 1/3 HP 800 1300
Refrigerator/Freezer 700 2200
Water Well Pump - 1/2 HP 1000 2100
Heating/Cooling
Window AC - 10,000 BTU 1200 3600
Humidifier- 13 Gal 175 --
Central AC - 24,000 BTU 3800 11400
Kitchen
Microwave Oven- 1000 Watt 1000 --
Coffee Maker 1000 --
Electric Stove - 8" Element 2100 --
Toaster 850 --
Family Room
DVD/CDPlayer 100 --
VCR 100 --
Stereo Receiver 450 --
Color Television - 27 in 500 --
Personal Computer w/17 in 800 --
monitor
Other
Security System 500 --
AM/FM Clock Radio 100 --
Garage Door Opener - 1/2 HP 875 2350
Electric Water Heater 4700 11700
DIY/Joh Site
Quartz HalogenWork Light 1000 --
Airless Sprayer- 1/3 HP 600 1200
Reciprocating Saw 960 --
Electric Drill - 1/2 HP, 5.4 Amps 600 900
Circular Saw - 7-1/4 in 1400 2300
Miter Saw- 10 in 1800 1800
Table Planer - 6 in 1800 1800
Table Saw/RadialArm Saw - 10 in 2000 2000
Air Compressor - 1 HP 1600 4500
NEVERadd more loads than the generator capacity. Take
special care to consider surge loads in generator capacity, as
described above.
* Wattages listed are approximate only. Checktool or
appliance for actual wattage.
14 BRIGGSandSTRATTON.COM