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Another post-storm generator thread - 6500w
Posted on 10/30/20 at 2:27 pm
Posted on 10/30/20 at 2:27 pm
I purchased a 6500 watt generator (8125 surge) a few storms ago but I haven't had to use it yet thankfully. Growing up my dad always had around a 5500 watt generator to run the freezer and ice box, a few fans and a few lights and that's about it.
I did the math to understand approximately what I can run on the generator, however knowledgeable people around me, whose opinions I respect, are of the mindset that "6.5kw" is a big generator and can handle "most of my house." It seems like they think I can hook up more than what the numbers are showing me I can comfortably have hooked up. I understand that not everything will be running at the same time, but they seem to be comfortable with me being able to hook up (turn on the breakers for...) all of my lights, ice box and freezer, hot water heater, small appliances, tv's, etc.. plus a window unit with no problem.
I guess my question is: is there any credence to being able to run more than I think I can due to appliance run times and surge times? If so to what extent? My lights are all LED fwiw.
I did the math to understand approximately what I can run on the generator, however knowledgeable people around me, whose opinions I respect, are of the mindset that "6.5kw" is a big generator and can handle "most of my house." It seems like they think I can hook up more than what the numbers are showing me I can comfortably have hooked up. I understand that not everything will be running at the same time, but they seem to be comfortable with me being able to hook up (turn on the breakers for...) all of my lights, ice box and freezer, hot water heater, small appliances, tv's, etc.. plus a window unit with no problem.
I guess my question is: is there any credence to being able to run more than I think I can due to appliance run times and surge times? If so to what extent? My lights are all LED fwiw.
8
Posted on 10/30/20 at 2:35 pm to TheBoo
6500W provides you ~50A at 120V or 25A at 240V.
if your diversity is good, you can handle quite a few loads. Lights won't be much of a load to worry about. Running a fridge, freezer and water heater at the same time might be a tall order.
You need to have the load info of your large items to know more.
if your diversity is good, you can handle quite a few loads. Lights won't be much of a load to worry about. Running a fridge, freezer and water heater at the same time might be a tall order.
You need to have the load info of your large items to know more.
Posted on 10/30/20 at 2:39 pm to TheBoo
all that but water heater should be fine as long as not over probably 6000 btu window unit
Posted on 10/30/20 at 2:58 pm to TheBoo
I never did the math or figured out what all my electronics are pulling...but I run the following at 1 time with my 6500 generac portable generator in my mother-in-law building with ease:
3 deep freezers
3 refrigerators with freezers (2 refrigerators at main house, 1 in mother-in-law building)
2 small A/C window units
1 water heater
lights
2 TVs and games for kids
ceiling fans
everything that is in my shop plugged in (dewalt battery chargers, air compressor, battery chargers (trickle chargers)
If I need to run the microwave or wife needs blow dryer, I will turn off A/C window units for that time.
3 deep freezers
3 refrigerators with freezers (2 refrigerators at main house, 1 in mother-in-law building)
2 small A/C window units
1 water heater
lights
2 TVs and games for kids
ceiling fans
everything that is in my shop plugged in (dewalt battery chargers, air compressor, battery chargers (trickle chargers)
If I need to run the microwave or wife needs blow dryer, I will turn off A/C window units for that time.
This post was edited on 10/30/20 at 3:01 pm
Posted on 10/30/20 at 4:25 pm to TheBoo
An electric water heater can have two 4500 watt heating elements. Your water heater could draw 9000 watts. You would have to look at your water heater elements to determine what you have.
Posted on 10/30/20 at 4:39 pm to TheBoo
Simplest answer. V x A = W
Of course don’t push to max watts to account for surge
Of course don’t push to max watts to account for surge
This post was edited on 10/30/20 at 4:40 pm
Posted on 10/30/20 at 4:40 pm to SaDaTayMoses
Thank y'all for the feedback. These responses are pretty much the same dichotomy my OP is referring to.
SaDaTay can run all that on the same kind of generator I have. The friends I'm talking to are in that dugout, but the research I'm doing on the numbers for all my stuff aligns with the other responses, where I might be pushing my limit with only a few of those items.
SaDaTay can run all that on the same kind of generator I have. The friends I'm talking to are in that dugout, but the research I'm doing on the numbers for all my stuff aligns with the other responses, where I might be pushing my limit with only a few of those items.
This post was edited on 10/30/20 at 4:57 pm
Posted on 10/30/20 at 4:58 pm to weadjust
quote:
An electric water heater can have two 4500 watt heating elements. Your water heater could draw 9000 watts. You would have to look at your water heater elements to determine what you have.
I may be wrong, but most water heaters, the elements only run 1 at a time. the top will come on first assuming the tank is cold. then when it swaps off the bottom comes on. then as water leaves the tank the top comes back on and the bottom turns off.
I still think it is a tall order for all of that to be running on one generator. maybe if you unplug fridge, freezers, tv, and air conditioners you may be able to turn the water heater on until it warms up the water.
Posted on 10/30/20 at 6:02 pm to TheBoo
The sure fire way to know for sure would be to either buy you an amp probe or get someone that has one to help you. That way you could turn on and off things and see what your loads are. That is truly the best way to find out
Posted on 10/30/20 at 6:10 pm to Miketheseventh
The biggest loads are going to be the heating elements and the AC.
The rest of the stuff is relatively small and shouldn’t be a problem at all.
I test ran my 5500w generator at the beginning of the season and had almost my whole house running and didn’t really load up the generator. Now I didn’t have an AC or electric water heater running either. But multiple fridge/freezers, all my lights, receptacles with minimal stuff (chargers, etc.).
The rest of the stuff is relatively small and shouldn’t be a problem at all.
I test ran my 5500w generator at the beginning of the season and had almost my whole house running and didn’t really load up the generator. Now I didn’t have an AC or electric water heater running either. But multiple fridge/freezers, all my lights, receptacles with minimal stuff (chargers, etc.).
Posted on 10/30/20 at 6:19 pm to diat150
quote:
I may be wrong, but most water heaters, the elements only run 1 at a time. the top will come on first assuming the tank is cold. then when it swaps off the bottom comes on. then as water leaves the tank the top comes back on and the bottom turns off.
Google says you are correct. I learned something new today
Posted on 10/30/20 at 6:23 pm to TheBoo
I wired my 5500 into my house after Laura. I was running a window unit, 2 portable ac, fridge/freezer, and all of my lights and ceiling fans. Never had an issue.
I think my electric water heater would have been too much though.
I think my electric water heater would have been too much though.
This post was edited on 10/30/20 at 6:27 pm
Posted on 10/30/20 at 6:41 pm to TheBoo
I posted this in another thread today. YMMV
“ You should be fine. I back fed my whole house with a generac 6500 for 40 days without one single issue. I ran my 2.5 ton ac (set on 70) and everything else in my house except the water heater and stove. I bought a cheap microwave from Walmart instead of using my big built in. Trust me, my family was not being conservative at all with power consumption, we lived like we weren’t on generator power the whole time and never had a problem.”
“ You should be fine. I back fed my whole house with a generac 6500 for 40 days without one single issue. I ran my 2.5 ton ac (set on 70) and everything else in my house except the water heater and stove. I bought a cheap microwave from Walmart instead of using my big built in. Trust me, my family was not being conservative at all with power consumption, we lived like we weren’t on generator power the whole time and never had a problem.”
Posted on 10/30/20 at 7:15 pm to Chuckd
quote:
I back fed my whole house with a generac 6500 for 40 days
Good Lord.
Posted on 10/31/20 at 10:19 am to LSUtigerME
I had a 5500 coleman doing this with no problem. I'm going to switch to a champion 11500 early next year so hopefully I can get the AC unit on with everything
Posted on 10/31/20 at 8:14 pm to notsince98
Will a 6500w run a water pump for well water? Just curious as I have a 6500w too but never used it.
Posted on 11/1/20 at 9:25 am to viv1d
Yes
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