⚡ Kohler Generator Size Calculator
Enter your electrical loads to find the exact Kohler generator kW rating you need for reliable backup power.
| Appliance | Running Watts | Starting Watts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Air Conditioner (3 ton) | 3,500 W | 7,500 W | Largest surge load |
| Central Air Conditioner (5 ton) | 5,500 W | 11,000 W | High surge multiplier |
| Well Pump (1/2 HP) | 750 W | 1,500 W | 2x starting surge |
| Well Pump (1 HP) | 1,500 W | 3,000 W | 2x starting surge |
| Electric Furnace (5 kW) | 5,000 W | 5,000 W | Resistive, no surge |
| Refrigerator | 150 W | 450 W | 3x starting surge |
| Chest Freezer | 100 W | 300 W | 3x starting surge |
| Electric Range (full load) | 6,000 W | 6,000 W | No motor surge |
| Electric Water Heater (40 gal) | 4,500 W | 4,500 W | Resistive load |
| Sump Pump (1/2 HP) | 800 W | 1,600 W | 2x starting surge |
| Washing Machine | 500 W | 1,500 W | 3x starting surge |
| Clothes Dryer (electric) | 5,000 W | 5,000 W | Resistive + motor |
| Dishwasher | 1,500 W | 1,500 W | Resistive heating |
| Microwave (1000W) | 1,500 W | 1,500 W | Resistive + inverter |
| Lighting (LED, whole house) | 600 W | 600 W | No surge |
| Computer / TV / Electronics | 400 W | 400 W | Sensitive to surge |
| Medical Equipment (CPAP) | 100 W | 100 W | Use ATS for critical |
| Garage Door Opener | 400 W | 1,000 W | 2.5x starting surge |
| Model (kW) | Standby kW | Prime kW | LP (gal/hr @ full) | NG (cu ft/hr @ full) | Amps @ 240V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kohler 8 kW | 8 | 7 | 1.2 | 130 | 33 |
| Kohler 14 kW | 14 | 12 | 1.6 | 173 | 58 |
| Kohler 20 kW | 20 | 18 | 2.1 | 245 | 83 |
| Kohler 30 kW | 30 | 27 | 3.1 | 370 | 125 |
| Kohler 38 kW | 38 | 34 | 3.9 | 450 | 158 |
| Kohler 48 kW | 48 | 43 | 4.8 | 560 | 200 |
| Kohler 80 kW | 80 | 72 | 8.2 | 930 | 333 |
| Kohler 125 kW | 125 | 113 | 12.5 | 1,450 | 521 |
| Home Size | Essential Loads Only | Whole-House (Basic) | Whole-House (Full) | Recommended Kohler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,200 sq ft | 5–8 kW | 8–12 kW | 12–14 kW | 8 or 14 kW |
| 1,200–2,000 sq ft | 8–12 kW | 14–20 kW | 20–22 kW | 14 or 20 kW |
| 2,000–3,000 sq ft | 12–16 kW | 20–28 kW | 28–32 kW | 20 or 30 kW |
| 3,000–4,500 sq ft | 16–22 kW | 28–36 kW | 36–45 kW | 30 or 38 kW |
| 4,500+ sq ft / Commercial | 22–30 kW | 38–50 kW | 50–80 kW | 48 or 80 kW |
Election of the right size for Kohler Generator can seem hard but some useful resources and practical cases simplify the task. The company Kohler offers a website for guessing the ideal generator for home or business. There also exists a chart for sizing that allows to compare the needs of home with the right Kohler Generator.
It guesses the needed watts for various devices during dangerous loss of electricity and the total amount helps to figure out that home generator answers best.
How to Choose the Right Kohler Generator
For more full business needs Kohler has something called Centre of Power Solutions. That website-based program for sizing and specs includes management of load with shedding and automatic single-line diagrams. It is key to choose the right large generator soon, so that the needs of the place are met and costly changes later are avoided.
The program runs calculations to ensure that the best Kohler Generator is suggested for separate needs on the site.
Kohler Generator stalls for homes with air cooling come in sizes of 8.5 kW up to 20 kW. Their liquid-cooled generators extend from 22 kW up to 150 kW. For business targets the range reaches even 4 000 kW.
Like this there really is something four every case, from tiny home to huge commercial building.
In small houses up to 2 000 square feet, a generator of 7 to 10 kW is enough to feed the important circuits and some common devices. A Kohler Generator of 14 kW fits to run a whole house, which is helpful, because it escapes the safety risks of portable generators, especially during snow with danger of carbon monoxide. Some homeowners choose a 20 kW Kohler Generator for full home backup power on propane or natural gas.
For instance, one such unit delivers 75 amps on natural gas. Others favor a 26 kW Kohler Generator, commonly because of devices like tankless gas water heaters, that need much energy.
The tool for sizing of Kohler once offered a 30 kW unit for a certain home, and the contractor agreed with that calculation. For commercial tasks, like a kitchen in high school, the Kohler Generator program also answers for sizing generators, covering all needs step after step.
Important practical advice is, that too strict limits about voltage sag or harmonic distortion can lead to too big a generator, that is not needed. Close dealers and installers can guess the kW size directly at the place. Control of peak use by means of exact data from the company helps also.
Automatic transfer switches must handle the whole load or automatically remove it until the capacity of theKohler Generator. Both Kohler and Generac offer calculators for sizing, to help homeowners in the decision.
