how many Kilowatts does it take to run the average home? How big a generator do I need?

Answer 1

Consider your source of water as well. A deep well pump will require 240VAC at upwards of 30A startup current. Even operating current will be 6A or more.

I have a 5500 watt generator for backup use during power outages. It allows the furnace, fridge, freezer, and several kitchen appliances to operate. I wouldn't recommend anything less, especially with a deep well pump being powered.

There are other safety and operating ideas on my web page, far more than I can place on this answer...
http://members.rennlist.org/warren/generator.html

Answer 2

First of all, determine what equipment you want to run with the generator. If you want "life as usual" then the generator will start getting pretty big.

Turn on all the equipment that you'd like to run off the generator. Then walk out to the electric meter and count the revolutions of the spinning disk in one minute. (hopefully you don't have a solid-state meter). You'll also need a meter parameter known as Kh. If you look at the face of the meter, you should see a Kh factor.

The RPM's of the meter x 60 x Kh gives you the instantaneous demand in watts. Divide by 1000 to convert the value to kW.

If you have a transformer rated service (with CT's) then you'll also need to multiply by the CT ratio. Most homes have a self-contained meter and this does not apply.

The biggest problem you're going to encounter will be starting motors such as the central AC compressor or a well pump. The inrush of these motors may be too much for a small generator.

On the hottest in the middle of summer my home has a peak demand just under 7 kW.

Answer 3

I glanced over the answers and they were pretty good. There are some good points made as to how to figure the size of the generator based on what you are going to use. If you combine energy sources so that you are not relying on just electricity, you could do very nicely with just 10 KW. While this is quite low, consider the following. Passive solar heating during the winter. This is going to require planning for your area so far as how to point the house for best radiation absorption. In addition to passive heating, I would include a god wood heater. Hot water can be had by using waste heat from the generator, or from solar water heating. If you use the hot water generated by the generator for domestic hot water, you could also use it for space heating of the home as well. Cost for cost, and head ache for head ache, forget the generator and use solar photo-voltaic panels, with a small generator just in case. A small generator, like 5 KW. I'd recommend Diesel as a generator engine type since it would be easy to make your own fuel from vegetable oils that you can probably get for free. Check out the magazine "Home Power" for more ideas. You just might want to trash the generator idea, except for the small 5 KW unit.

Answer 4

So far so good. Also - Consider the fuel for the generator and its storage location for safety . there will be noise considerations and consider the exhaust .Because of economies of scale it will cost you more to provide power to your home than the utility. So design to minimize the energy requirement. In planning your house there can be some critical areas and some optional. If you are in a hot climate, consider multiple A/C units to stagger the starting, and to allow shutting one down. Consider gas as an option to oven/ range-top, water heating, and clothes drying - all large energy users. Don't skimp on the insulation, especially in the attic.
Use minimum size Thermalpane windows and place them for northern exposure or with shading in hot climates. Use a modified gable roof with a draw-thru attic ventilating fan located on the south or west side. For your whole house air conditioning system provide for the induction of outside air into the suction side before the filter during mild weather for economizer-type cooling so that the A/C compressor will not be needed. The inlet would be thru the roof overhang on the norh side. An 8" -10" duct with easily accessible manual damper will do. Put a decent exhaust hood in the kitchen -one with a quiet, two-speed squirrel cage fan if you can find it.

Answer 5

I have a 6500 Watt Generator, (54 Amps @ 120 V or 27A @ 240 V) which operates off of a 13 HP overhead valve gasoline engine, and have it set up to run the following during a power failure:

All kitchen circuits, except for electric stove and oven, but including lighting, microwave, phone and fridge, and outlets.

Dining room lighting circuits and outlets.

All bathroom circuits. (2-bathrooms)

All garage circuits including a large chest freezer and garage door opener.

All den circuits including two tvs, two computers, and other electronic equipment including phones.

Gas furnace in basement and one basement lighting circuit.

Two other miscellaneous outlet circuits upstairs.

The generator does not have to be sized to run the entire house.

We have lost power several times over the years since installing this system and it works very well.

We do have to keep spare gasoline on hand and monitor the fuel level while the generator is running. It is located just off the patio in the backyard, near the main breaker box and has a generator power switch that must be activated to transfer the power from the main power supply to the generator power supply.

Answer 6

a typical electrical service to a home is 200Amps
That means the power delivered is about 23kW
(Power = voltage * current = 115 * 200)
But the typical usage is less - maybe around 7kW

this might be higher in areas where temperatures are high and you use large air conditioners

however - you do not necessarily need a 20kW generator - it depends what you are trying to do.

Are you interested in a standby generator for emergency use, that will come on at frequently and is permanently wired to your house?
this might be a 10kW hot standby generator with autostart

Are you in need of a standby generator that will come on infrequently? either permanently wired or pluggable?
This might be a 3000-6000W generator

Are you after a portable?
This might be a 1000 - 2000W type

Personally I live in a cold area - and i have a 1000W compact portable - i have gas furenace heating - the generator is to provide lights, recharge batteries..

Most people get a 3000W if they want to run the fridge.

And of course if you want to run your whole house then 10kW

if it is permanently wired, make sure that you install a transfer switch for safety

There are several good sites with size calculators that enable you to determine what you want to power and the size generator you need

Answer 7

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Answer 8

There is no definite rating, it depends upon consumer. Say if you have two bed rooms(fan60watts,light40watts,bed lamp11watts,computer so total 171watts),one kitchen room(60watts light,250watts refrigerator,750watts electric cooker,etc total 1200watts),main hall(60watts fans two nos, TV & DVD 150watts,Computer150watts etc., total500watts), two bath rooms(Electric geaser1000watts,60watts lamp etc 2500watts) and varandah(250watts). Total peak consumption is 5621watts. Power factor say 0.75. There fore total KVA of a generator is 5621/(0.75*1000)=7.49466. Approximately 7.5KVA rating of generaor for above said house model is required.

Answer 9

Maybe 3KW for one family