How Big of a Generator Do I Need for Emergencies?

We’ve been relying for almost everything on power, it’s unimaginable to live a day or two without electricity. What if an emergency occurs and the power supply disrupts? It can be because of a storm or damage to electrical infrastructure. Living without power for hours or days is not something you would like. You must prepare for such a situation. A backup generator is a sustainable solution to cope up with grid supply disconnections during emergencies. 

Remember, any generator would not work. There are multiple factors to consider when setting up a backup generator. The most critical question is how big of a generator would be sufficient. We’ll help you in choosing the right generator size and provide expert insights on different aspects like specs, associated factors, etc. So you can get a generator already before you have to tackle any emergency situation which causes a power outage. 

What Determines the Generator Size for Emergencies?

Emergencies are always unpredictable, and power outages can go on for days or weeks. The havoc it may bring in your life is immense. Experiencing continuous power outages can impact basic life necessities like drinking water availability, home heating/cooling, connectivity, food cooking etc. Since impact is high, you must be considerate about preparing to cope with it. 

Here’s a few factors that are more likely to determine generator size, especially if you’re accounting for emergency situations like storms, floods, etc. 

Power Outages Frequency

How often do you experience power outages? Depending on power outages frequency in your area, the generator size would change. For instance, a few hours of disconnections can be sustained with a portable generator. In case, the disruptions last days, you would need a large stand-by generator. You should also account for events like thunderstorms, heavy snowing, and electrical failures.

Daily Power Requirements

Checking your daily power requirements in watts also determines the generator size. You can check the specifications of all appliances to know their power requirements in watts. Adding them will give you a number like 3 Kilo-watts or 8 kilo-watts, which will be a reference for generator size. During emergencies, you can run  the generator on minimum consumption, using essential appliances only for one or two days depending on the fuel. 

You can check the following table for reference:

*You should refer to product specifications on your appliances/devices to check actual watts.

Fuel Availability

During normal operations, fuel may be readily available for generators. However, when there’s an emergency like a flood, fuel availability becomes a problem. No petrol or diesel generator would work without fuel. In this case, solar generators are gamechangers. They run on solar energy and power your house seamlessly. You can consider these options to tackle emergency power outages better. 

Understanding Generator Specifications

You often come across technical jargon like wattages, amperes, and volts when browsing for generators. These terms are related to generator specifications. Understanding them will keep you in a good position to determine the right generator size. 

Wattages

The power output from a generator is calculated in watts. A  thousand watts make up a single kilo-watt. You can also calculate your power requirements in watts by adding up the wattages of your appliances. The information is written on the product or can be seen on the internet.  Don’t confuse starting wattage, rated wattage, and surge wattage, they’re different. 

Surge Wattage

It is the maximum wattage a generator can produce. Usually, a surge refers to a sudden increase in power. Whenever the generator first takes the load, a surge is observed. The phenomenon is inherent to electricity. Keep an additional room for surges when determining generator capacity. 

Starting Wattage

Some heavy appliances like motors, electric ovens need a high starting wattage. It is different from their rated wattage, maybe 1000 or 2000 watts higher. The generator must provide for this starting wattage for smooth operation.

Rated Wattage

Rated  wattage is the amount of watts an appliance would consume during normal operation. For example, the rated wattage of an electric stove may be around 5000 watts. Similarly, it’ll have different starting watts and surge watts. 

Amps and Volts 

Amps or Ampere is the unit of measurement for current whereas volts is the measurement unit for voltages. When we multiply volts and amperes (wattage = amps x voltage), the result is watts. You will come across numbers like rated voltage 110V and rated current 0.8 amps on different product specs. These will help you calculate power in watts. Don’t want to get into detail? You can use any online tool to make the calculation.

How Big of a Generator Do I Need for Emergencies?

Choosing the right generator size is no rocket science. You will have to do some basic math and that’s all. Let’s take you through the step-by-step process:

Calculate Your Power Needs 

Now that you know about watts and the science behind it, you can easily calculate your power needs. Make a call whether you want to run your entire house during power outages or just some essential appliances. Account for all the appliances that you would be running. In case, you will be relying on batteries, you should also consider the time in hours  that the appliances would run. 

Keep Some Extra Room 

Power needs fluctuate or you may miss out on something in your calculations. It’s always better to keep a 10-20% room in capacity. You should not assume that the generator will run at 100% capacity at all times. Additionally, be very considerate about starting/surge wattages. If any of your appliances/devices have a higher starting wattage than your generator can provide, it won’t run. 

Generator Sizes 

Generators come in different sizes based on their power capacity in watts. You can find portable, small-to-medium, large, and extra-large generators on the market. Portable and small generators are not suitable for running house loads, especially during emergencies. You can choose between medium, large, and extra-large generators. Let’s explore more:

These numbers can vary from product to product. It is to give you a rough estimation about generator sizes and what to expect when browsing the market. You should select the generator size that fits your power needs. 

Solar Generator Kits for Better Reliability

The world is moving towards sustainable power options. One of the best solutions for power outages, especially during emergencies is solar generator kits. They offer great energy independence and seamless power connectivity. You will not need to worry about fuel availability or starting and shutting down the generator manually. It’s automatic, smooth, and highly reliable. 

Are you considering this option? BLUETTI is the world's leading manufacturer of solar generator kits. It offers hi-tech devices that connect with your existing system to keep powering it. You can stay completely off-grid with solar generator kits. There's a wide range of products with different capacities to cater to your power needs. Let’s explore:

BLUETTI AC200MAX + 2*B230 + 3*PV200 Solar Generator Kit is a complete solution for your home backup. It has 2048 Wh capacity and to run all your essential appliances. You can expand the capacity up to 8193 Wh with addition of new battery packs. It comes with advanced LiFePO4 battery technology that’s known for reliability and longevity. The solar kit supports dual-way charging, you can charge using solar and grid supply simultaneously. 

You will get three solar panels of 200 watts each. They will recharge the batteries independently. The BLUETTI PV200 Solar Panels are high efficiency and portable. They are durable and can withstand rough usage. The Long-lasting ETFE coating acts as a protection shield for the panels. Moreover, the panel design is foldable and you can store it conveniently when not in use. These panels are a key element of the solar kit. 

The BLUETTI 2*AC300 + 4*B300 + 1*P030A + 6*PV200 Solar Generator Kit is an ultimate power solution for home backup. You can rely on this system for days without needing to connect with grid supply. It has 12288Wh expandable capacity and can provide up to 6000 W surge capacity. The system has EPS which enables automatic start during a power outage. It supports dual fast recharging for added reliability.

This solar generator kit comes with advanced LiFePO4 batteries having high efficiency and longevity. In case you are stuck in a difficult situation with no grid supply or solar power, the system can recharge through other sources like car generators and portable fuel generators. You will get six 200W solar panels with the system. Get it now!

Final Thoughts

Although power has become a commodity, power disruptions are still a reality. The electrical infrastructure is prone to damages, especially during weather emergencies and other similar situations. No one would want to live without access to power even for a few minutes. What in case you face a long power disconnectivity? Your life will turn upside down affecting your normal routine. 

It’s imperative to prepare for such a situation beforehand. Generators are a reliable solution and convenient to use. Hope this guide has answered all your queries related to generator sizing and associated factors. There’s a key takeaway at the end; be very critical about your capacity and keep some additional room for varying needs. Signing off!