What Size Generator Do You Need?
Calculate generator wattage needed based on the appliances you want to power during an outage.
Vatios Necesarios
Suma vatios de funcionamiento + el mayor pico de arranque. Refrigerador: 700W (arranque 2,200). Bomba de pozo: 1,000W (arranque 3,000). Calefacción: 700W (arranque 2,350). Luces: 300-600W. Total típico esencial: 3,500-5,000W de funcionamiento + pico de 5,000-7,000W. Un generador de 7,500W portátil cubre las necesidades básicas.
Tipos
Inverter portátil (2,000-4,000W): silencioso, $500-1,500. Convencional portátil (3,500-10,000W): más ruidoso, $400-1,200. Standby (7,500-22,000W): instalación permanente, arranque automático, $3,000-15,000.
The most dangerous generator mistake: running it indoors or in an attached garage. Carbon monoxide from generators kills 70+ people per year in the US. Run generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from any door or window, with the exhaust pointing away from the house. Buy a CO detector for inside the house — they cost $20 and save lives.
