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of our Tech Department. We will be adding to this section regularly. If
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Generators
- Q: How do I figure what size of generator I need?
- A:The formula you need to start with is how many
amps is the generator putting out?
Take the watts and divided it by the volts and that will give you the
amps. and that’s what
you need to know before you buy that generator.
So your generator is a 3500 watt and 120 volt…..watts (3500)
divided by the volts (120) and that is 29 amps.
Average roof top air conditioners need 17 t0 18 amps to get started,
then they will kick down to operate at 13 amps.
When turning on lights, furnace, water pump, vent fan, refrigerator,
they are all 12 volts, the power supplied to them come from the power
converter which pulls 8 amps.
Here are just some examples of the amps appliances will need. So looking
at this chart you can see if you want to run your roof air-conditioned
and microwave you will need a generator that can supply 21 amps plus
8 amps for the power converter that supplies power to, ( 12 volt system,
interior lights, furnace, water pump, Rv refrigerator, gas water heater)
to operate you will need 29 amps.
| Lights |
0.5-1.5 |
| Fantastic fan |
3 |
| Air conditioner |
13 |
| Coffee maker |
12 |
| Water heater (electric) |
12 |
| Washer/dryer |
13 |
| Microwave |
8 |
| Convection |
15 |
| Converter (charging) |
8 |
| Iron |
8 |
| Electric blanket |
2 |
| Hair dryer (1500 watts) |
13 |
| Hair dryer (400 watts) |
3.5 |
| Curling iron |
0.7 |
| TV |
0.5-1.0 |
| VCR |
0.2 |
| Computer |
2 |
- Q: My equipment causes my generator to surge or
gallop in rolling cycles, why is this?
- A: Air compressors, tile saws, table saws, and industrial
vacuums draw as much as 3 times the running load. For example, the
average 1 HP electric motor requires about 1500 watt running load.
However, under startup, the load exceeds 4500 watts, which is at the
high limit for this generator. Whenever any additional load is added,
such as the compressor starting with 80 lbs. to 100 lbs. existing air
in the holding tank, the electric motor will labor until fully up to
its running RPM. The same holds true with a circular saw that is cutting
through a large piece of wood. As the voltage drops, the amperage increases
until the possibility of exceeding the circuit breaker load.
Note -
champion Power Equipment offers a 5500 watt generator that is now available
and will easily run this equipment in most cases. It is always important
to check the amperage or wattage needs before loading the generator.
This will prevent equipment or generator damage. A call to our technical
line at anytime including weekends will answer your questions regarding
your existing equipment needs.
- Q: What is the difference between running load and peak/surge load?
(All generators)
- A: When using an appliance that has a motor, you will need to compare
the running current (amps) with the starting load. For instance a 1
hp capacitor start electric motor typically runs at about 1500 watts,
but has a starting load of about 4500 watts. This application would
be considered at the upper edge of the model C46535 performance and
may not be suitable for your needs. Our larger model 5500w generator
would be much more desirable for your use. A peak or surge rating would
only be good for a few seconds until the motor spins up to its operation
RPM. In the event that the startup load is too high, it will cause
the generator to labor and possibly stall from too much electrical
loading. Air compressors and commercial grade circular saws are common
problems with this possible for the compressor or saw to work properly.
240v motors will usually require less amperage for their operation
which is a better condition for your generator. When in doubt, be sure
to call our tech line.
- Q: My generator runs great for about 20-40 minutes and then the engine
just quits. (All generators)
- A: As the outside temperatures rise, it is possible for the fuel tank
to pressurize or actually become vacuum sealed due to the gas cap failing
to check the pressure or vacuum. As the tank gets warmer the gas expands
and requires the expansion of air space to breathe and balance from
inside the tank to the outside atmospheric pressure. In the event that
the gas cap fails to allow air to balance, it is possible for a vacuum
to be created as the fuel is gravity drained to the carburetor. If
a vacuum happens, it will cause the fuel to stop its flow until the
vacuum is allowed to balance with the outside air. If this happens,
when you open the gas cap, you will hear a rush of air into the tank.
The fuel cap is defective and must be replaced. If you think you have
these symptoms, it is best to call our tech line for evaluation and/or
replacement.
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