Winco 50PTOC-3 PTO Series Tractor Driven Single Phase 50Kw Generator: 2011

Buying a generator can be a scary process. However if you take control by being informed and getting organized its not that complicated. This checklist will help in choosing the correct generator to protect your home and family.

• Determine wattage needs. Determine how much power you need. This will depend if you are catering for frequent power outages, emergencies or if you are dependant on a generator 24/7. Refer to the post on “What size generator do you need? “ for a power selection worksheet.

Remember if you are using a “portable” generator as emergency back up you will also need a transfer switch to safely power the circuits in your home.

• Decide: Standby or portable? Considering your budget, convenience, and power needs, choose which type of generator you want.

• Take care of home power issues. Locate your existing electrical service panel and gas line to target any potential problems before buying a generator.
Determine how the generator is going to be powered - Electricity is not an option.

• Perform product comparisons. Compare power outputs, run times, and prices, as well as what’s included in those prices, such as accessories, warranties, support and installation. Determine hourly running costs for various fuels.

• Determine financing options. Some retail stores offer financing options for generator purchases. Is there free shipping? Where will the generator be delivered to the road side or where it will be used?

• Consider items needed to make it work. Does the generator come with warranty or maintenance package? What about a power cord, oil, wheels, and funnel?

• Consider additional costs. How much more will it cost for installation by a qualified professional? Will you need an accessories like a cover for protection from the elements or a transfer switch? What are the annual maintenance requirements? Will it need a base or addition protection to be built?

• Establish your budget. Generator prices fall across a wide range, so determining how much you’d like to spend is important.

• Understand electrical terms. You’ll see a lot about watts, volts, amps and more, make sure you have a working knowledge of these terms.

Getting a generator that can handle all your power generation needs is one of the most critical aspects of the purchasing decision Whether you are interested in prime or standby power, if your new generator can't meet your specific requirements then it simply won't be doing anyone any good because it can put undue stress on the unit and even damage some of the devices connected to it.

Dont fall into the trap of believing smaller generators can be used for standby electric power because they are not running all the time. This is not only a myth but can actually be very detrimental. Generator under sizing is one of the most common mistakes committed by buyers Not only does it involve the risks of damaging your new asset (the generator), but it can also damage other assets connected to it, create hazardous situations, and even limit overall productivity of the unit and/or the business relying on it If nothing else, the key thing to remember here is that more is always better than less, or put another way buy the biggest you can afford.

When calculating the “size/capacity” or wattage of the generator you need, there are two main considerations:

• Continuous Power (or running watts) is the wattage required for operation of your appliances under normal load. This may be some or all of the appliances depending on circumstances.

• Extra Peak Power (or startup watts) is the extra wattage required for appliances at startup or when they are running at their highest levels of power consumption.

Generally an average size home requires from 5000 to 7000 watts to power essential items.

Step 1: Review the chart below and identify the number of tools/ appliances that will be running at peak time. To determine your needs, total the watts for the items you would like to run at the same time . This provides you with the number of continuous or running watts your generator must supply.

Step 2: Now select the largest number of starting watts assigned to the items you wish to use.

Step 3: Total these two numbers and this will indicate the size generator required to meet your need.

To be on the safe side you may wish to add an extra 10%

Tools or Appliances	Surge Watts	Running Watts	Number of appliances	Tool / Appliance total watts
Lighting - Estimate 1 watt per sqare foot	0
Cell Phone Battery Charger	0	10
Christmas Lights (50-string, small) (RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	20
Laptop Computer (Home/RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	75
PDA, iPod, iPhone, Blackberry, Cell Phones	0	80
13-Inch TV (Home/RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	100
Outdoor Buglight (RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	100
AM/FM Radio / CD Player	0	100
20-Inch Box Fan	0	200
Video Game Console	0	200
Crockpot (Home/RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	250
Desktop Computer	0	300
TV/DVD Combo (Home/RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	300
Refrigerator – Dorm Size (Home/RV/Camping/Tailgate)	500	350
Food Processor/Blender (RV/ Camping/Tailgate)	500	350
Small Power Tools; Electric Drill 3/8-inch, jig saw…)	600	440
Color TV 27-Inch	0	500
Frying Pan / Skillet (Home/RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	600
Refrigerator / Freezer	2200	600
Microwave Oven 750W	800	750
Single Element Hot Plate (Home/RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	750
Washing Machine	2300	750
Coffee Maker (Home/RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	800
Sump Pump	1400	800
Toaster – 2 Slot (Home/RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	850
Furnace Fan Blower ½ HP	2300	875
Griddle/Deep Fryer (Home/RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	1200
Toaster (Home/RV/Camping/Tailgate)	0	1250
RV Low Profile Air Conditioner 13,500 BTU – Heating	2300	1600
Circular Saw	3000	1500
Space Heater	0	1800
Electric Range	0	2100
Electric Water Heater	0	4000
Garage Door Opener (1/4 hp)	1000	550
			TOTAL WATTS

If you have items that are not on the list, check the appliance, the product manual, or the manufacturer’s Web site for the device’s continuous and surge wattage. If amps are noted on the device, you can calculate watts by multiplying amps times the voltage. For example, a 7 amp device on 120v AC current would equal 840 watts (7 x 120 = 840).

Advantages of choosing the right size generator: Now that you have an idea on how to choose the appropriate size of generator to suit your needs, here's just a few of the benefits obtained by going through that process:

- No unexpected system failures
- No shutdowns due to capacity overload
- Increased longevity of the generator
- Guaranteed performance
- Smoother hassle-free maintenance
- Increased system life span
- Assured personal safety
- Much smaller chance of asset damage

Things to know before investing in a generator

What size generator do you need?