A generator is a useful piece of kit for any home. It can offer an emergency energy supply so that in the event of a power outage, you can continue to carry out daily tasks and be confident that things like fridges and freezers will keep running.
What size generator should you choose though? The answer is it depends. You’ll need to think about how many appliances you’ll want to run and for how long. This article focuses on one of our most popular domestic generators, the 6.5kVA.
What Can A 6.5 kVA Generator Power?
A good range of appliances can be powered with a 6.5 kVA generator. The key consideration is how many of these appliances you will seek to power at once.
- Refrigerators: Refrigerators need between 1,000 and 2,000 watts depending on size, so they can be easily powered by a 6.5kVA generator.
- Window air conditioners: A small window air-con unit with a BTU of around 5,000 will need 450 watts of rated power, so it can be run with a 6.5kVA generator.
- Electric clothes dryer: Electric clothes dryers consume a lot of power, usually around 5,000 watts, with a surge potential of 6,000 watts. Whilst a 6.5kVA generator will power your electric clothes dryer, you may struggle to run any other appliances at the same time.
- Televisions: The average television can be powered using a 6.5 kVA generator. Larger screen sizes will use more power, so if you have a super-sized TV, you may need to consider a more powerful generator to allow multiple appliances to run at the same time.
- Water heater: If you have a low-powered electric water heater, you’ll be able to run it easily using a 6.5kVA generator. Look for one below 5000 watts.
- Small appliances: Low-wattage appliances such as hair dryers and microwave ovens can be easily run from a 6.5kVA generator – just remember to think about the cumulative value of all your appliances.
What Can’t A 6.5 kVA Generator Power?
A 6.5kVA generator will struggle to power a whole house in Australia. The average requirement is between 18 and 20 kVA. If you need to use a generator for short periods, then a 6.5kVA generator will be fine because you can choose which appliances to use. This is likely to be unsustainable for longer periods.
Electric clothes dryer: As detailed above, this can be run using a 6.5kVA generator but will use up most of the power.
Central air conditioners: These are power hungry and larger systems may need more than power than a 6.5kVA can give
Heat pumps: Another power muncher – check the size and surge before deciding which generator to buy if you use a heat pump.
Can A 6.5 kVA Generator Power My House?
A 6.5kVA generator is not powerful enough to run a whole house. You will need to calculate which household items you can run at the same time.
Contact Us To Learn More About Choosing The Right Generator For Your Needs
At Chaffey Power, we have years of experience in supplying equipment to homes and businesses across Mackay. To find out more about the ideal generator for you, just get in touch using our contact form or call us on 07 4959 5736.
