What Size Generator Do I Need? A Simple Sizing Method
Size a generator in four steps: list what runs at once, add the running watts, allow for the largest motor starting, then add headroom. Includes a wattage table.
Read GuideStep-by-step guides for sizing, setting up, storing and using engine-powered equipment safely.
These guides answer the practical questions: what size generator do I need, how do I connect it to the house, how long does gasoline last, how much fuel will I use, how do I size a pump or a compressor. Each one gives a method you can follow and a worked example, and links to the calculators that do the arithmetic for you.
Size a generator in four steps: list what runs at once, add the running watts, allow for the largest motor starting, then add headroom. Includes a wattage table.
Read GuideA plain-language tour of what happens inside a portable generator, from the engine to the outlets, and why inverter models produce cleaner power.
Typical fuel consumption for portable generators from 2,000 to 12,000 watts, how to work it out from a spec sheet, and practical ways to…
The three safe ways to power a house from a portable generator: extension cords, a manual transfer switch, or an interlock kit with an…
The handful of rules that prevent nearly every generator death and injury: where to run it, how to handle fuel and cords, and what…
Stale fuel is the main reason stored generators refuse to start. Here is how to put a generator away for a month or a…
A practical checklist for before, during and after a power outage: generator readiness, fuel, food safety, heat, communication and the mistakes that cause injuries.
Why diesels struggle in the cold, and the fixes that work: winter-blend fuel and anti-gel, block heaters, glow plugs, batteries, oil and what to…
Pump gasoline starts to degrade within a month. How long it really lasts in a can, a tank or an engine, how stabilizers help,…
Suction lift, discharge head, friction loss and the pump curve, explained with a worked example so you can tell whether a pump will actually…
CFM, SCFM, PSI, tank size and horsepower all appear on the box. Only one of them tells you whether a compressor can run your…