What are the number of factors and considerations to be taken into account before sizing a prime rated generator ??
Electrical – How to determine what size Generator I need
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If you take the running watts that should be enough. The starting watts should be taken into account by the 8250 number. This is assuming every connected load will not be starting at the exact same time.
The general advice seems to be
- 3 feet (1 meter) from buildings, equipment, and combustible materials.
- 10 feet away from bystanders, children, and pets.
But the only way to know for sure, is to read the manufacturer's documentation for your specific unit.
This service manual says "Keep the generator at least 1 meter (3 feet) away, including overhead, from any structure..."
This owner's manual says "Operate generator at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from buildings and other equipment."
This operator's manual says "Keep the generator a minimum of 3 feet away from all types of combustible material."
and also says "Keep all bystanders, children, and pets at least 10 feet away."
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Best Answer
You'll have to decide what you want to run (Refrigerator, furnace, TV, air conditioning, etc.). Then you'll have to determine how much power each item requires.
To determine how much power each item uses, you can use an estimate like this one provided by Energy.gov
You could also check the nameplate of each device, which should either list wattage directly or provide enough information for you to calculate it. If you have to calculate wattage from the nameplate, Ohm's law will be your friend.
Watts (P) = Volts (V or E) x current (A or I)