How do I work out an electrical, estimated load calculation?

Question

I need to buy a generator for our office in Iraq....and need to estimate the load that i will be pulling.....

Answer 1

First, figure the lighting load. Assuming all the lights in the building are on, how much power do they draw? (Use the wattage figures on the bulbs; if the fixtures are fluorescent, add 20% for the ballast loss.) Now add the computers; there should be rating plates on all the computer gear which give some idea of how much power they draw. (If you can't find this, use 250 watts per computer, which should be close enough.) Add this up and set the number aside.
Now, figure the load for air conditioning: take the electrical load number, add 200 watts per person in the building, and allow 0.3 watts of air conditioning power per watt. Now add enough to this to take care of the heat coming through the walls (there are web sites that can help), convert wall and ceiling BTU/h to watts by multiplying by 0.293, and divide this by 2.5 because an air conditioner can move several watts of heat per watt of input power. (You can use the EER of the A/C to get a more precise value.) Add this number of watts to the basic electrical load in watts, and that's how big to make your generator.

Answer 2

what will be the wattage of the equipment it will run ( don't forget starting load ) how hard is that ? ( you might want to look at the little labels that give the wattage - see , easy ) oh and just to complicate things you will note that the generator has to be hooked up to a distribution system and this will have to have enough circuits for the equipment . You also might want to make sure it all is 120v or 240v equipment if it is European it has a different 'phase' and will not work with a US generator ( OK not so easy - go to a Generator Manf website if you don't follow this )

Answer 3

Remember when a motor starts up it uses a lot more energy than normal but your office should have only lights and computers etc. 3Kw generator should be enough if you reduce your 3Kw kettle, best to reduce it to a 1kw kettle.
Lights would be 300w and each computer 100w.


gen.DG3600CLE-3 3000 watt Diesel Generator
Long running time. With DC output for charging batteries. As well as two 16amp AC outputs.
The design life of this generator is twice that of a petrol generator.
£625.95

this may be required for larger office:

gen.GG7200CL-3 AC output of 6800 Watts.
12 volt DC output for battery charging.

Electric Start

With wheels
£785.95

Answer 4

you need to add up the wattage of all equipment that runs concurrently on the generator. This number you multiply with 1.3.

Answer 5

mmmmmmm id ring the people u was getting the generator off, they would know surely

Answer 6

stick a screwdriver in the wires if you get a good shock then it must be a high load !!!