Briggs & Stratton Power Products Backup Power System
Owner’s Manual
7
Essential Circuit Selection
When selecting the essential circuits that will be switched
to “Backup Power,” it is important that the sum of the
combined circuit loads does not exceed the
wattage/amperage capacity of the generator.To help you
with your selection of essential circuits, please consider the
following:
Add up the total wattage of all electrical devices to be
connected at one time.This total should NOT be
greater than the generator’s wattage capacity.
The rated wattage of lights can be taken from light bulbs.
The rated wattage of tools, appliances and motors can
usually be found on a data plate or decal affixed to the
device.
If the appliance, tool or motor does not give wattage,
multiply 120 Volts times the ampere rating to determine
watts (Volts x Amps = Watts).
Some electric motors (induction types) require about
three times more watts of power for starting than for
running.This surge lasts for only a few seconds. Be sure
you allow for this high starting wattage when selecting
electrical devices that will be energized by the backup
power system:
Figure the watts required to start the largest motor.
Add that to the total running watts of all other
connected loads.
This Briggs & Stratton Backup Power System
complies with the following “stationary standby
power rating”:
The standby power rating is applicable for supplying
emergency power for the duration of normal power
interruption. No sustained overload capability is available
for this rating.
This rating is applicable to installations served by a
reliable normal utility source.This rating is only applicable
to variable loads with an average load factor of 80% of
the standby rating for a maximum of 500 hours of
operation per year.The standby rating is only applicable
for emergency and standby power where the generator
set serves as the backup to the normal utility source.
Use the “Wattage Reference Guide” provided and mark
those circuits you consider “critical” or “essential”. Make
sure you and your installer consider the system’s altitude
above sea level and the ambient temperature range when
determining total generator load.
