I have a cabin to power up using generator?
What size of the generator set needed?
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For someone with the electrical background, this question seen to be a small matter. But for others with no experience and electrical background, this is the guide that will help you to determine what is the size of the generator set required for your usage.
1) What you want to be use in your cabin?
For example, you wanna to have a printer, air condition unit, a desktop computer and others electrical equipment. All of this will contribute to the total load of your usage. Then, calculate your running load requirement.
Total load (W) = Printer (W) + Air condition (W) + computer (W) Note: W is watt.
Now the question is how do we calculate load for those equipment. Some equipment like printer or air condition already have their power usage state in their catalog or on the equipment label itself. If NO, then you have to calculate yourself.
Power usage/load = Current(A) X Voltage (V)
Usually current can be found in the equipment label. All you need to do is multiple the current with the voltage (usually 240~230V) that also state at the label.
Then sum up all the power usage that you need.
2) Are you using equipment with motor inside?
It is well known to the electrical people that motor will need high starting current. It is a high current needed to power up the motor for the first few second before it running at the steady current. Ask your equipment supplier for the starting current and calculate the power usage.
TOTAL LOAD = Power usage + Power usage for starting
3) What is the kVA for the generator needed?
Note that the generator run most efficiently when the load is around 70% of maximum load.
EFFICIENT POWER = TOTAL LOAD / 0.7
The range of your generator set is from TOTAL LOAD to the EFFICIENT POWER.
For example:
TOTAL LOAD = 5.91kW
Then, EFFICIENT POWER = 5.91kW / 0.7 = 8.44kW
Thus the generator set to purchase is with the power output between 5.91kW and 8.44kW
WHAT IS THE kVA FOR THE GENERATOR?
- There are a difference between the kW and kVA. kW is stand for kilowatt and kVA is for kilovolt-amps.
kVA is a power unit for the Generator. Every generator has their own power factor.
Just convert the kW to kVA as bellow:
kVA = kW / Power Factor
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Now you have the generator for your cabin.
:)
source: www.macfarlanegenerators.com.au/power-calculator.php
