Wattage Calculations - Porter-Cable D26981-028-0 Instruction Manual

Porter-cable generator instruction manual

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Table Of Contents

Table of Contents

Never exceed the rated capacity of your generator. Serious damage to the

generator or appliance could result from an overload.

1. Starting and running wattage requirements should always be calculated

when matching a generators wattage capacity to the appliance or tool.

2. There are two types of electrical appliances that can be powered by

your generator:

Items such as radios, light bulbs, television sets, and microwaves

have a "resistive load". Starting wattage and running wattage are

the same.

Items such as refrigerators, air compressors, washer, dryer, and

hand tools that use an electrical motor have an "inductive load".

Inductive load appliances and tools require approximately 2 to 4

times the listed wattage for starting the equipment. This initial load

only lasts for a few seconds on start-up but is very important when

figuring your total wattage to be used.

Always start your largest electric motor first, and then plug in other

items, one at a time.

NOTE: On 120-volt loads the maximum starting wattage should NOT

exceed one half of the rated generator wattage. Example: a 5000 rated

wattage generator = 2500 maximum starting wattage.

DETERMINING WATTAGE REQUIREMENTS

Before operating this generator list all of the appliances and/or tools that are

going to operate at the same time. (Then determine the starting wattage

requirements and the running wattage requirements by following example

and/or refer to household wattage calculator.)

First total the running wattage of all appliances and/or tools that will be

operated at the same time.

Example 1:

Lights

Television

Slow Cooker

Next the starting wattages of any appliances and/or tools that will start and

stop during operation.

Example 2:

Small Refrigerator

TOTAL

The running wattage of examples 1 & 2 totals 1150 watts. The starting

wattage of the small refrigerator is 2000 watts which is 1500 watts more

than the running watts. Take this difference of 1500 starting watts from the

refrigerator and add to the total running watts of 1150.

Example 3:

TOTAL

Generator must have a maximum capacity of at least 2650 watts.