What Are Watts?
A watt measures the amount of energy an appliance uses per second. A kilowatt is 1000 watts.
Watts = Amps x Volts
Generators are rated by two types of wattages:
1. Rated Watts
Rated (or run) watts are the amount of watts your appliance needs to keep it running. For example, a refrigerator typically needs 500 watts to run.
2. Surge Watts
Surge (or starting) watts are the amount of watts your appliance needs to start its motor. For example, it can take up to 2,000 watts just to get your refrigerator's motor and compressor started.
Which Rating is Better?
Electric Generators Direct dispays the rated and surge wattages for all portable generators. However, we recommend comparing rated watts when shopping for a generator, since it is usually a more accurate number.
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