The useful question is what you need a generator to run during an outage. Powering a refrigerator and a few lights is a different job from supplying a well pump, central air conditioning or an entire home. This section focuses on turning those needs into a load plan.
Start with a list of essentials and the information on their labels or in their manuals. A load’s running demand and its startup demand can be different. Which appliances you use at the same time matters as much as the size of any single appliance.
What belongs here
The sizing section will cover appliance wattage, starting loads, essential circuits and whole-home capacity. It also includes runtime, fuel consumption, load management and the assumptions behind worked examples. A fuel-powered generator’s output and a battery system’s stored energy answer different questions; a comparison needs both power and duration.
Use sizing to define the job before moving to model comparisons. A system that fits the load still needs an appropriate connection to the home and a safe operating plan. For medical equipment, include the device manufacturer’s requirements and your care provider’s outage plan rather than relying on a general household example.