# Generator questions???????????

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/generator-questions/17996>\
**Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\
**Created:** [September 25, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/generator-questions/17996 "2006-09-25T14:48:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 31

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**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/generator-questions/17996/31 "2006-10-17T15:27:36Z")

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> [@Inn-Tune](#):
>
> Some great info there. Can you be more specific about what you’d recommend for:  
> 4 computers  
> 1 good sized electric space heater  
> and probably 2 20amp circuits worth of lighting and small items
> 
> I’ve been hesitating to get one because I figured it would damage the computers. I’m not trying to run the 220V compressor or the water heater or anything…just some essentials. I’m guessing 8000 watts would be safe.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> PS: I wonder how many of you smarties got generators when you made this thread. 🙂
> 
> -Mike

Mike,

Unfortunately, the extent of my generator knowledge was used on the first post.

Figuring out sizing isn’t that hard though. Pretty much every electrical device has an amp rating listed on it somewhere. Watts = amps X volts (volts is almost always 120, 240 for dryers and some other big things).

Keep in mind that electric motors have running watts and startup watts. My 1/3HP sump pump is around 800 watts when it’s running, but when it first kicks on it draws about 1400 for the first few seconds.

I now have a 5550 watt generator at my house, with an 8550 peak. It runs my natural gas furnace (basically just the big blower motor), sump pump, a light in the living room, 19" tv, my laptop (not worried about power because it’s being coverted to 15 volts DC), and a small fridge.

I’m going to look into a UPS for my desktop PC, and if it would be capable of filtering the generator power.

> [@Bigairskier1580](#):
>
> Just had a moment of insight actually, lol. Don’t know if it would work, but I wonder if there is a way to hook up a wind turbine to the chimney for you wood furnace? And using the natural flow of the heat riding to spin the turbine and generate electricity? But then you have the issue of it prolly only making a marginal amount, lol.

Well, my generator has a 10HP gas engine, and when my sump draws 800 watts I can hear the motor lug a bit, so I would say your “exhaust windmill” might make almost enough power to run a single christmas light.

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