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It takes a lot of calculation to
properly size a home generator, and you'll need to talk to a
dealer in Pietermaritzburg to be sure you've got it right. In a
nutshell, though, the machine's wattage has to be slightly
larger than all simultaneous loads. First, tally the running
watts of the appliances and devices you will use at the same
time. Now add the startup wattage of the largest motor-operated
load liable to come on line with the other loads. Motor wattage
is three to five times greater at startup than it is running at
steady state, and your largest startup load will usually come
from a furnace fan or a well pump. (That assumes you won't be
running an air conditioner during a power outage.) Wattage is
listed on a motor's nameplate or on the electrical data plate
affixed to an appliance. If wattage isn't listed but amperage
is, calculate wattage by multiplying amps by volts. Aside from
motor wattages, other loads, such as those imposed by electric
water heaters, can severely strain a generator's output.
Calculate accordingly.
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The risk from
carbon monoxide poisoning is not to be taken lightly, so locate
the machine to minimize that risk. The Consumer Product Safety
Commission estimates that in 2005, for 10.6 million portable
generators, there were 85 CO deaths. A rule of thumb is to keep
a portable generator 10 ft. away from the house. Permanently
installed generators are much safer in this regard since they
are fuelled not by gasoline but by cleaner-burning natural gas
or propane. Make sure the generator's distance from the house
meets both the manufacturer's specifications and the
requirements of building and zoning codes (it can't infringe on
your neighbour's property line, for example).
The next major safety issue with generators is electrical. Don't
operate a portable generator using a homemade extension cord
with two pronged ends, connecting one to the generator and the
other to a wall outlet receptacle. Electrifying a house's branch
circuit this way can create a fire and shock hazard, especially
in older homes with weak or improper wiring.
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