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What do I need to know about Start-up Power vs Running Power ?
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Starting vs. Running Wattage: Some appliances and equipment
require extra power to start up, while others maintain the same power
requirements constantly.
If you've ever seen "Apollo 13" you might remember the scene where they are trying to
turn everything on in sequence to keep from overloading the system. Generators work
the same way, if you have a large surge requirement for a single piece of equipment
turning it on first may allow you to buy a smaller generator.
Resistive Loads are pretty simple: They require the same amount of power to
both start and run the equipment. Many resistive loads are involved in heating or
making heat of some kind. Examples:
 | | Light Bulbs
| | | Coffee Maker
| | | Toaster
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Reactive Loads contain an electric motor, which requires additional power to
start, but significantly less power to run once it gets going. Typically starting
power is 3 times the amount of power to run the application. Examples:
| | Refrigerators / Freezers
| | | Furnace fans
| | | Well pumps
| | | Air conditioners
| | | Bench grinders
| | | Air compressors
| | | Power tools
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Some household appliances, like a furnace or refrigerator, have internal fans that come
on intermittently. Extra wattage / power is needed to start the fan each time.
Refrigerators also have a defrost cycle that requires power in addition to the
compressor and fans.
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