When you decide to buy a generator, you’re going to have more questions than answers. There are too many things that you need to know and not that many people willing to answer. For instance, many people want to know what does surge watts mean on a generator or what are continuous watts. These are crucial things that you must educate yourself to make sure that you get the right generator for your specific needs.
So, what do surge watts mean on a generator? Surge watts provide extra surge power to start electric motors. These types of motors like the air conditioner require this surge of power to get started. So, depending on how many electric motors you have, the type of generator you need will change.
Now, it’s important to know this so you can choose the right one since the generator’s classification refers to surge watts or continuous watts. That’s why it’s important to know how much power you’re going to need.
Still, you can get it wrong because the number of the generator may refer to the continuous watts and not the surge watts. That’s why it’s important to read everything carefully to now get this wrong.
So, if you want to know the difference between continuous watts and surge watts, how to calculate how much power you need, and more just read the article below. Make sure that you get the math right and choose the right type of generator that will fill your exact needs.
Continuous Watts VS. Surge Watts
Let’s get started by understanding the difference between the two power capabilities that a generator has and that you need to know. Continuous watts is the most watts that a generator can continuously produce. This is what they’re designed to deliver to you on a regular basis. This is the power that will feed most of the electronic things that you have.
Now, the surge watts are extra surge power that certain electric motors need in order to run. These types of motors need an extra push of power to get them started. Things like air conditioners or an electric saw need those things. That’s why the generator needs to provide surge watts, and that’s why you need to know about them.
The next step that you need to do is to check the surge watts capacity of the generator that you’re considering getting and figuring out how much you need it. The figuring-out part only involves looking for how much power your devices need.
So, once you know how to choose a generator that can power your devices, you’re good to go. The WEN 56200i 2000-Watt Portable Generator is an excellent compact generator that you can take anywhere without losing potency. Check it out on Amazon here.
Watts Equals Power
It’s important to keep in mind that watts equal power. This means that the more watts a generator has, the more devices it can power. This is obviously important because it changes whether or not you need to have more than one generator during a power outage.
Remember to always check the maximum capacity of continuous watts your generator has and doing the math with all your devices, so you don’t cause the generator to shut down or overheat.
Now, make sure that you get a generator that has the watts that you’re going to need to run your house or RV during a power outage.
So, if you have a big house, make sure to pick the generator that has the highest number when it comes to watts. This will ensure that you have more power to keep things running, even if it’s only the basic stuff. Also, make sure that you verify the surge power for the devices that need that extra surge to run.
Consider The Largest Motor You Plan To Run
The easiest way to figure how much surge power you need, it’s to consider the largest motor you plan to run on the generator. Usually, you need three times or more surge watts than your motor needs. This makes sure that you can not only run the specific motor but also all the other devices that you want to run at the same time.
Now, if you don’t know how much power you need, all you have to do is to check the tags that are placed behind or on the side of your electronic devices. You can also check the manufacturer’s website to make sure that you’re choosing the right generator for what you need.
So, once you do have that all you need to do is to pick the generator that works best for what you want. The first thing is to check its capacity. Then, consider what you need it for. For example, give preference for compact generators that give you mobility. The Jackery Portable Power Station is an excellent generator for all purposes. Take a look at this great item on Amazon here.
Do The Math Before Choosing The Generator
You must get the math right to make sure that you don’t overwhelm the generator and overheat it. If you ever do this, the generator will shut down as a precaution but it can still get damaged due to it. So, the best that you can do is to calculate how much power you’re going to need and buy the generator accordingly.
You need to add all your devices together and add three times the watts that your largest motor needs to run. That is the safe number that you need your generator to handle. With that number, you can know exactly how much power your generator must be able to provide to run things smoothly without further problems.
So, make sure that you have a generator that can safely run the amount you need. Also, it never surpasses the generator’s capacity even by 5 watts. It isn’t safe. Choose a generator that has more power than you think you’re going to need. The DuroMax XP4850EH is one of the most powerful compact generators that you’ll ever find. Get yours on Amazon here.
Consider Having More Than One Generator
The average American household needs a lot of electrical power to run normally. You have computers, television, fridge, freezer, stove, shower, and a lot of other things that run on electricity. The point is that you’ll rarely get to keep everything running as it usually does unless you have more than one generator.
That’s why the best thing that you can do is to have more than one generator. You can have one for the essential things and another for the less essential things. This way, you don’t risk using all your electrical power on things that aren’t a priority. You still get to keep your lifestyle for as long as possible without compromising the essential things.
So, make sure to consider having more than one generator. It’s effective and safer to do things this way. If you can’t have two generators of the same capacity, get a less powerful one for the unessential stuff. The Pulsar 1,200W PG1202S Generator is excellent for a small household or to be a secondary generator. Click to view the best pricing on Amazon here.
What Can A Portable Generator Run
The great thing about technological advances is that you don’t need to buy a generator your size to get the power you need. There are a lot of great options for compact generators. They have the same power as big ones, but they’re portable. This is great in case you need to move somewhere else and need to take the generator with you.
Now, if you get the right capacity, you can run all the basic things on a portable generator. We’re talking about your fridge, your TV, and a lot of other things that you normally use.
So, it’s more a question of what size you think is more practical to you than whether it has the power to run certain things. If you do need a portable generator, consider what you’re going to run on it and what is the size of your trunk. The DuroStar DS4000S is the best choice when you want a balance between size and power. Grab yours on Amazon here.
Never Surpass The Generator’s Capacity
The final tip, never surpasses the generator’s capacity. If you do, you’re going to ruin the generator making it a useless piece of metal. Ideally, if you’re limited by the power of the generator, the only thing you can do is to turn something off before connecting something else.
Now, you do this by adding how much power you’re running through the generator. Once you have this number, make sure that you never go beyond what the manufacturer says the generator can take.
So, make sure that you never surpass the generator’s capacity. If you do, the generator will shut down and it may be permanently damaged.
Final Thoughts
So, that what surge watts mean. They’re the extra surge that a generator can provide to specific motors that need that in order to run like air conditioners, for example. Remember to do the math of how much power you need before getting a new generator.