To determine whole-house generator sizing, the first step is for the homeowner to determine the number of appliances and electrical devices that will be run and calculate the total wattage.

Find the right generator size and calculate the power you need to keep your home running smoothly.

Choosing the right size generator can save you from overpaying and coming up short during a power outage.

Your generator also must have at least a 30-amp/240-volt output. To calculate wattage for a standby generator, check a year's worth of electric bills to find the highest kilowatt usage.

Another option is our wattage calculator, which adds up the wattages from a list of appliances you check off to help you determine the right generator size.

This additional wattage is known as surge or start-up amperage and is not sustained; it is required to start the refrigerator and is extremely valuable in calculating the generator size.

Generators come in all sizes and configurations and accurately calculating power needs is critical to generator safety.

A gas piping module, the first in a series of enhancements to the Power Design Pro™ software, a generator sizing tool, has been added. The gas piping module is used to determine the required pipe size ...