Editorial Process

Last updated: 2026

TODO (site owner): once you have a named author/reviewer with real credentials (electrician, engineer, or experienced reviewer), add a byline and short bio here and on future articles — this is a real E-E-A-T signal Google looks for on safety-adjacent content like generator sizing.

Why accuracy matters here

Backup power sits close to real safety concerns — carbon monoxide risk from generators, electrical load on a home's wiring, and life-critical devices like CPAP machines and oxygen concentrators. We treat wattage figures and sizing guidance as safety-adjacent content, not casual product copy.

Where our numbers come from

The running and starting watts used in the calculator on this site are typical industry averages, cross-referenced against manufacturer spec sheets and generator-sizing charts commonly published by power station and generator brands. They are planning estimates, not a substitute for the nameplate rating printed on your specific appliance — the calculator and every relevant answer on this site says so explicitly.

How we size recommendations

Our starting-watts calculation deliberately uses a conservative, worst-case assumption (only one large motor starts at a time, added on top of everything else already running) rather than an optimistic best case. When in doubt, our tools point you toward a larger power station or generator, not a smaller one.

Updates and corrections

If you spot a wattage figure that looks off, or a recommendation that doesn't match your real-world experience, please tell us via the contact page — we review and correct the underlying data set directly.