Depending
on how you will use your generator, there are different categories to meet your
needs. This can include recreation, home standby and construction. Honda also
offers Inverter Generators. Inverter generators are smaller and lighter as power
is created electronically and not through a conventional alternator. Inverter
power offers the cleanest power output, ideal for sensitive electronic devices.
If you want a generator for home standby, for example, if you want to run your
refrigerator, you’ll need at least 2500 watts or more. And if you want to use
a transfer switch so that power can go directly into your home, you’ll want a
generator with at least 3000 watts.
You’ll also need to consider the maximum and rated power of the generator. This
is important depending on what items you want to run off of your generator. Items
such as toaster, lamps, and coffee makers are resistive, or constant loads and
their total load can be calculated at amps x 1. Items such as saws and drills
are reactive loads and while the running load may be small, the starting load
should be calculated at running amps x 3. Remember, after the initial start less
power is required for actual operation.
Always remember that simple power management will allow a smaller generator to
do a big job. Very seldom are all tools or appliances operating simultaneously.
When calculating power requirements, consider the starting requirements are only
for the initial start and then additional tools may be operated in addition.
Remember Ohm’s Law from High School Physics?
Watts = Volts x Amps
Amps = Watts/Volts
So if you have two of the numbers (e.g. volts, amps) then you can find out the
other (e.g. watts). This can help you to determine the rated power that you’ll
need from your generator.