Q&A: What is the best watt generator for our house?
Question by Sarah Emm: What is the best watt generator for our house?
Well, if you haven’t heard, North Dakota is in national disaster at a federal level (officially declared by Obama), and our family has decided that it’s time to get a generator, just in case. At our Fleet Farm they have three – a 3500, 5500, and 6200 watt. We live in about a 4000 sq. ft. home, if that matters. Price kind of is an issue, but we can always take it back if we end up not using it. Which one would you recommend getting? Thanks so much!
Best answer:
Answer by alergic3
You need at least 5,000 watts just for an electric hot water heater.
You need about 5,000 watts for an electric range.
You need about 5,000 watts for an electric heat pump, 15,000 watts if emergency heat kicks in.
Most of the rest can be done with a 3,500 watt generator, if you are frugal about power.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Generator sizes depend on what you want to run with it not the house size. If you want to know the size add the loads of all things you want to power on the genset. exp. Refrigerators need 600-2500 watts, Lights x the number x the watts of each and look at the name plates on all items you want to run and add the amps to get the watts.
exp. 20 amps x 120 volts= 2400 watts. Gen-size would be 3500 to allow for start ups and heat loss.
Don’t forget some loads need extra power to start up and then they draw less power as they run so add 15% to total power.
Some generators have watt ratings that are fictitious numbers. exp. is 6200 watt rating is only if the 220 volt is connected and that is at 70 degrees for a short time at max power BUT in real life it is 5000 or less. Buy a generator and keep it you may need it more often than you think.
Recommendations are likely 7500-10kw diesel with transfer switch hooked up by qualified person to prevent backfeed. Extension cords are dangerous when used with generators unless deigned for such and wire size is larger. Smaller watts if you only run 1 or 2 things for limited time like 1-5 hrs.
Diesel is better since less flammable, fuel stores longer and cheaper buying farm fuel, can run bio diesel, waste cooking oil, Diesels runs at less speed, less noise, last 10x longer, resale value, less maintenance, longer run times and more fuel efficient. More stable power quality. Downside is about 2x more upfront.
Gas generators are cheaper initially, Downside is the opposite of diesel generators. Gas gensets have a short lifetime before failure most 50hrs. The best gas ones are Subaru and Honda.
Hope this helps, just hate to see people make mistakes thinking small gas generators will run a house for 500.00, they will run a few items for a short time, most are made of cheap parts because of selling price and will breakdown at the worst times when you may need it most. Wish the answer was shorter but it’s your money and selection should not be based on the initial cost but the value and performance to do the job.
November 24th, 2012 at 2:06 pmMike