PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

retmil46 · #3 09-11-2010, 12:11 PM

If you want to be able to run most anything in the house besides a heat pump, something on the order of 10 to 12 KW would be what you'd need. Especially if you have an electric water heater and your own water well, electric stove, and want to be able to take a shower and cook food.

In particular for a water heater, pump, and stove, you'll need a generator that can put out 220/240 volts at some level of amperage. A 12 KW generator should be able to supply 220 volts/50 amps if it's set up to provide full capacity thru the 220 volt connection.

Not the best way to decide, but better than nothing - look inside the breaker panel for your house. Note the voltage and amperage ratings for the breakers of the stuff that you'd absolutely want to be able to run. Note the amperage rating of the largest breaker, and/or add together the amperage rating of the breakers of items that would have to be running at the same time - ie, water pump and electric water heater. Then look for a generator which has a voltage and amperage output that can handle this load.

Usually, the items in question won't pull anywhere close to what the breakers are rated for once running, but using the above method you won't be caught short either, and also gives some headroom for starting surge current as well.

More exact method would be to look at the electrical rating labels on each of the appliances you want to run and add them up - ie, 5 lamps with 100 watt bulbs, water heater rated at 3000 KW off of 220 volts, water pump that pulls 10 amps off of 220 volts, etc.