So, you have decided to get yourself a hefty generator instead of a portable generator. A large generator offers more power than a small or medium-sized one. So, in that sense, you did make a good choice. And a good example of such a generator would be a 7.5 KVA generator.
That said, before you get a 7.5 KVA generator, you should know what can a 7.5 KVA generator power. If your requirement is more than what the standby generator has to offer, you might want to reconsider. And if you want to know all about the topic, you should stick till the end.
What Can a 7.5 KVA Generator Actually Power? How Much Power Can It Actually Offer?
You will notice people referring to the 7.5 KVA generators as a 7500-watt generator. Well, both are the same thing. KVA stands for Kilo Volt Ampere. It is a unit of apparent power. And if you do a simple calculation with the P=VI formula, you will notice that 7.5 KVA does stand for 7500 watts.
Nonetheless, standby generators such as this one can handle not just a particular appliance but many appliances. In fact, considering how much the 7500-watt generator can offer, many pick them to power the entire house. That said, let us give you a brief idea of each of the categories.
Home Appliances
With a 7500-watt generator, you will have the running power to power up air conditioners, washing machine, coffee maker, water heater, space heaters, a few lights, chest freezer, well pump, and other appliances. In fact, it will be possible to run all the appliances that have low power ratings at full capacity.
Now, if you are thinking about how many appliances you can run simultaneously, you need to calculate how many watts they require together. If the running power or running wattage is lower than 7500 watts, it will be possible to run multiple appliances simultaneously.
However, you should also consider the starting wattage of the equipment. The starting generator wattage will have different values. It will vary from one generator to another. And if the starting power for all of the appliances is higher than the overall generator power, you should not connect them to the generator.
Kitchen Appliances
A 7500-watt generator has enough power factor for running different kitchen appliances. It will be possible to connect the generator directly with the electric range, electric kettle, space heater, and other kitchen devices.
However, consider that some of the kitchen appliances have higher power needs. Again, before you connect the appliances to the generator, calculate the running power and starting power of the machines. If both the starting and running wattage match with the power factor of the generator, you will be all good.
Power Tools
The 7500-watt generator is the right generator for a small job site. It will offer the power required to operate loads of tools. That includes an electrical panel, sump pump, water heater, etc. In fact, you will notice a professional electrician opting for a 7500-watt generator to different tools during a power outage.
If you want to operate different tools simultaneously, you would need to consider the running and starting power for this case. Consider how much power the devices will require and compare it with the generator’s rated power. If both matches, you will face no issues at all.
What Can’t a 7500-watt Generator Run?
Well, if you think about the electrical power of this unit, you will realize that 7500 watts is a load. In that sense, the 7500-watt generator should be capable of running everything, right? Not really!
For example, central air conditioners have a higher power rating. Some can even range in the 4000 to 5000 watts. Now, if you want to run one of those along with a large-sized washing machine, well pump, and extension cords, the generator will struggle a bit.
You might notice that the air conditioning is not working adequately if the generator does manage to make the devices run. The amount of power is not enough to run the air conditioner with the other power-hungry devices at the same time.
Can You Run Kitchen Appliances and Air Conditioner with a 7500 watts Generator?
Yes, it is undoubtedly possible to run an air conditioner and some other kitchen appliances simultaneously with a 7500 watts generator. However, it will highly depend on how much power does the kitchen appliances require.
To illustrate, if the air conditioner takes 4500 watts, there will be about 3000 watts of power left. Now, if the kitchen appliances require more power than the air conditioner, they will not work. Even if they do start, there will be a lot of fluctuation in terms of performance.
For that reason, it is pretty essential to make the power calculation before hooking devices up with the generators. You might risk damaging the generator and the components connected to it if you make it go through an intense amount of load. And it is better to be safe than sorry.
What Is Running and Starting Wattage?
All of the devices will have a wattage rating. This rating will usually be the running rating, which means the devices would require a continuous flow of that amount of watts to operate. However, the starting power will be a bit higher than the running wattage. This boost of wattage is required to turn the devices on.
On that note, the devices will draw that amount of wattage in the first two or three seconds. After that, it will switch to drawing the running wattage.
Generator Safety Tips
Now that you have a fair idea of what a 7500-watt generator can handle, we would like to discuss a few safety tips. To start with, you should get a transfer switch installed. This switch will generally be in the bottom of the unit and will hinder the power from back-feeding onto the power lines.
When the power back feeds, the current will go back into the electrical lines, making the generator nonoperational.
Alongside that, you should not plug the power line of the generator into the outlet of the home. It can also cause back feeding.
Furthermore, it would be best to always rely on an electrician to set things up. Do not try to connect the generator with the home yourself if you do not know what you are doing. It can lead to serious accidents, and you will even risk losing your life.
Next, you should not overload the generator. You should factor in the power requirement of the devices you want to connect before starting it. If the power goes over what it can offer, its components can get damaged. And the damaged parts can even ruin the devices connected.
Other than that, it is a good practice to plug in the large equipment first. The large equipment would have a higher power requirement than the others.
After that, connect the smaller and less power-hungry devices. Why? This method will ensure the proper distribution of electricity.
Lastly, ensure that the generator is at a place with proper ventilation. If it heats up too much during the operational process, its parts can get damaged.
Sometimes, it can even cause fire, which is something that you would not want, right? So, avoid setting it in closed spaces, such as garages.
On that note, do not keep any water near it. As you know, water and electrical components do not go well. And if the water can does spill onto the body, it will seep into the internal parts and cause a short circuit. That can cause serious accidents.
Final Words
We hope you now know what can a 7.5 KVA generator power after going through this article. Overall, it is a decent pick if you want to power most of the electrical components of the whole house.
However, before connecting loads of devices to it, consider the starting power and running power of both the generator and the components.
