Suitcase Generator

Standby generators produce enough AC current to power most appliances in our homes just as what your electric utility firm produces with the AC outlets on your walls. But their power is limited as they are generally not meant to take over your power utility firm in the event of an outage.

Typical residential power requirements for standby generators can range anywhere for 2kw to 5kw. It’s comforting to note that with miniaturization and more efficient engines, there are now suitcase generators in this power envelop. The higher the power rating, the more home appliances you can plug into it, but of course, the more expensive it gets. These are gasoline power engine-based generators that have affinity with what you use with motorbikes. There are smaller variants that can power 1 to 2 low powered appliances like a coffer maker or blender, but not both at the same time.

How much power do you need?

The power capacity of generators is typically rated in watts, though there are some rated in KVA or kilovolt-amperes, which amount to the same thing. You will need to ensure that your generator can accommodate the power needs of the appliances you plan to hook to it.

Appliances have their power rating indicated on its ID label. Most indicate the AC voltage rating in volts and its corresponding current rating in amperes. Just multiply the two to arrive at its approximate the power rating in watts. Bear in mind that a kilowatt is a thousand watts. So an appliance with an AC rating of 120 volts and a current rating of 5 amperes means it consumes 1.1 Kilowatt of electricity. Now if that is all you need to power up in the event of a power outage, you may think that a 1.1KW generator would be suited. It is but barely. Make sure to provide a safety margin. Get a generator rated at least 1.5kw. There are many suitcase generations in this power point.

If you often use a motorized or compressor driven appliance, you need to get at least a 2KW generator. That’s because starting a motor has surge or peak current requirement that can go to twice or even thrice the continuous power needs after it gets started.

So it’s advisable not only to check the power ratings of your appliance, but to be informed on what appliances will require peak power when starting.

• Air conditioners and refrigerators have compressor motors that can require twice to thrice its rated power when starting. There are suitcase generators with a power range from 2kw to 3kw that can accommodate a single airconditioner and ref simultaneously.
• Electric drills and saws and just about all motorized power tools can require as much 3 times its rated power under load. Because you’d be starting and ending these tools quite often when used, they’d be always under load. So make sure your generator is at least thrice the rating of your motorized tools.
• Water pumps or submersible pumps and air compressors may require thrice its power when starting.

What if the load is more than what the generator can handle?

Almost all suitcase generators come with protection circuits that will trip off in the event they sense loads they can’t handle, the generator’s circuit breaker – a feature that comes standard in just about all portable home-bound generators. If your generator trips, turn it off or take out the appliance load and re-check the power match.