Check off what you want to run during an outage. The watts are typical values; edit them to match your nameplates.
Typical values, not your nameplates. Motor loads (fridges, pumps, AC) draw extra current for a moment when they start. The estimate adds the largest single starting surge to the total running watts, assuming only one motor starts at a time. 240-volt loads such as well pumps and central AC need a 120/240 V generator and the right inlet. A 30 A 120/240 V inlet carries up to about 7,200 W; a 50 A inlet up to about 12,000 W.
How do I connect a portable generator safely?
Use an inlet with an interlock or transfer switch, never an outlet. See generator inlet and interlock (IES: $1,750 to $1,960).
About these prices: rough starting-at prices from the IES price book. The final price depends on what we find on site, your utility and your city or county. Estimates are free.
Common questions
What size generator do I need to run a refrigerator and furnace?
Often a few thousand running watts, plus the starting surge of the largest motor. Check off your loads in the estimate and confirm with nameplates.
General information for California homes under the California Electrical Code (based on the NEC). Local rules and inspectors can vary. Not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Never work inside a panel, at the meter or on live circuits.