AC Home Generator: Appliance Load Chart

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 at 7:27 am

Help Sizing Home GenSet

Whether using a GenSet to charge up battery banks or power your home as a backup to grid failure, you must take the same steps used to size a renewable energy system to ensure you are sizing your generator properly. You must never run your generator at maximum output for more then 30 minutes and in a perfect world this should only be to support start-up loads.

This chart is only to be used as a rough guide to get started. You must identify and calculate all electrical loads your generator will support and size properly. Always keep future additions in mind, more is always better in this case.

Use this chart as a rough guide to establishing your power needs. Double check the actual power requirements of each appliance you wish to power via your home genset to properly size your unit or charge you battery bank.
Appliance/Tool	Run Wattage @ 120v	Start Wattage @ 120v
Air Conditioner, Central, BTU 13,500	3,955	6,700
Air Conditioner, Central, BTU 15,000	4,395	7,400
Air Conditioner, Central, BTU 22,000	6,446	11,000
Air Conditioner, RV BTU 13,500	1,632	1,960
Air Conditioner, RV BTU 15,000	1,680	2,050
Air Conditioner, Window, 8000 BTU	1,200	2,100
Bench Grinder	700	2,000
Blanket, Electric	400	670
Blender	200	335
Bread Maker	600	2,300
Broiler	1,400	2,300
Broom, Electric	500	850
CD player & Speaker	100	168
Clothes Dryer Electric	750	1,800
Clothes Dryer Gas	650	720
Coffee Maker	550	1,000
Computer & Large Monitor	900	1,500
Computer & Monitor	720	1,200
Computer Network Equipment	100	170
Computer Printer Inkjet	350	585
Computer Printer Laser	720	1,200
Converter	600	1,000
Copy Machine	1,600	2,700
Dehumidifier	650	800
Dishwasher, Hot Dry	1,400	1,500
Dishwasher, Cool Dry	700	1,400
Freezer	700	2,200
Fry Pan, Electric	1,300	2,100
Furnace Fan, gas or fuel, 1/2 HP	875	2,400
Furnace Fan, gas or fuel, 1/3 HP	700	1,400
Furnace Fan, gas or fuel, 1/4 HP	600	1,000
Garage Door Opener, 1/3 HP	725	1,400
Garage Door Opener, 1/4 HP	550	1,100
Hair Dryer	900	1,500
Heat Pump	1,100	4,800
Hot Tub Heater	1,700	1,900
Hot Tub Pump	800	950
Iron	1,000	1,500
Lighting Flood	500	800
Lighting Fluorescent	90	125
Lighting Incandescent	100	170
Microwave Oven	625	800
Oven	3,400	5,700
Pump, Sump, 1/2 HP	1,100	2,200
Pump, Sump, 1/3 HP	800	1,300
Pump, Well, 1 HP	2,000	4,100
Pump, Well, 1/2 HP	900	2,000
Pump, Well, 2 HP	3,750	7,000
Pump, Well, 3 HP	5,000	10,000
Pump, Well, 3/4 HP	1,500	3,000
Pump, Well, 5 HP	7,500	15,000
Radio	200	350
Radio or Stereo	350	575
Range, Electric, 6-inch elements	1,500	2,500
Range, Electric, 8-inch elements	2,100	3,500
Refrigerator	700	2,200
RV Refrigerator	1,800	2,000
Saber Saw	500	1,400
Security System (Alarm Panel)	200	350
Sewing Machine	200	350
Slow Cooker	130	210
Space Heater	800	1,400
Table Saw	1,000	3,200
Television Color	300	500
Toaster	900	1,500
Toaster 4-slice	1,700	2,700
Vacuum Cleaner Heavy Duty	1,100	1,800
Vacuum Cleaner, Standard	800	1,340
VCR	200	350
Washer & Dryer	2,000	3,000
Water Heater, Electric	2,000	3,000

When selecting a home genset, consider the run time to cover your battery bank charge or emergency power supply, fuel availability, safety and convenience of use as well as load. Whether installing a home generator for piece of mind during a grid failure or as a part of your off-grid system, the addition of a properly sized and installed GenSet will increase the value and marketability of your home.

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