1. What is Whole House Generator Wattage?

Whole house generator wattage calculation helps determine the appropriate size generator needed to power your entire home during an outage based on your energy consumption.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Total home kWh} \) — Your home's total energy consumption in kilowatt-hours
• \( \text{Hours} \) — Time period over which the energy was consumed
• \( 1000 \) — Conversion factor from kW to watts

Explanation: This calculation converts your energy usage from kWh to watts to determine the continuous power requirement for your generator.

3. Importance of Proper Generator Sizing

Details: Correct generator sizing is crucial for ensuring your home has adequate power during outages while avoiding overspending on an unnecessarily large unit.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your total home energy consumption in kWh and the time period in hours over which this energy was used. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Where can I find my total home kWh?
A: Check your electricity bill - it typically shows your energy usage in kWh for the billing period.

Q2: What time period should I use?
A: Use your billing period (usually 30 days) for whole-house sizing, or a shorter period if calculating for specific usage scenarios.

Q3: Should I add a safety margin?
A: Yes, it's recommended to add 20-25% to the calculated wattage to account for startup surges and future needs.

Q4: Does this account for peak usage?
A: No, this gives average continuous power. For peak demand, you may need to calculate based on your highest usage periods.

Q5: What about motor starting currents?
A: Large motors (AC, fridge, etc.) require 3-5 times their running wattage to start. Consider this when selecting a generator.