THE GENERATORCALC FIELD GUIDE
Generator Sizing & Backup Power Guides
Generator sizing guides built on our free generator calculators: appliance watts, RV setups, outage planning and finding the generator size that fits.
Latest guides
Practical answers. Clear next steps.Home backup 8 min read
Home Backup Power Planner
For the registered base schedule, plan on 3.3 kWh of energy each day and 9.89 kWh over 72 h across the 72-hour planning period. The highest scheduled demand is 1,500 W. Under this scenario's headroom policy, that produces a planning running target of 1,875 W. The one-motor-start estimate is 2,300…
Generator sizing 5 min read
Running Watts vs. Starting Watts
Running watts are the power appliances need while operating. Starting watts are the higher, short-duration demand that some equipment can impose when it starts. A generator choice must satisfy both checks: its running rating must support the loads operating together, and its surge or starting rat…
Generator sizing 5 min read
How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use?
For planning, the bound dataset gives a standard 18–22 cu ft refrigerator a typical running demand of 275 W range 132–800 W and a typical starting demand of 1,000 W range 800–2,900 W. The registered side-by-side class displays 275 W range 132–800 W while running and 1,000 W range 800–2,900 W at s…
Generator sizing 5 min read
What Size Generator Do I Need for a 1/3 HP Sump Pump?
For this storm-outage scenario, plan around 1,325 W of continuous running capacity and 1,860 W of AC starting capacity. These targets cover the modeled 1/3 HP sump pump, refrigerator and lighting loads. They are screening values, not a product-specific compatibility result. The decisive constrain…
Generator sizing 5 min read
What Size Generator for a 30 Amp RV?
For the supplied reference setups, plan for 1,222 W running and 977 W starting with no rooftop AC, 3,409 W running and 3,952 W starting with a 13,500 BTU AC, or 3,642 W running and 4,627 W starting with a 15,000 BTU AC. In the two AC setups, starting capability is the decisive requirement. These…
Generator sizing 6 min read
How to Size a Generator for an RV
To size a generator for an RV, total the appliances that must run together, divide that running load by the calculator’s 0.80 planning factor, and check motor-starting demand separately. Choose a generator whose continuous rating meets the planned running figure and whose starting or surge rating…
Home backup 7 min read
What Can a 7,500 Watt Generator Run?
A generator labeled 7,500 W can run many common 120 V household loads, but the result depends on whether that number is its continuous or peak rating. - If 7,500 W is the continuous running rating: the checker places 36 of the 48 registered appliance profiles within its running, starting, voltage…