What Happens If You Overload a Generator – Answered

You might want to continue your work without interruption, but you may often face a power failure due to bad weather or any other reason. Consequently, portable standby generators are necessary for every house and office to continue working even in the absence of power.

Having a generator is so important, as well as keeping a close eye on it to avoid any mishappening that usually happens due to overloading. You should know the reasons behind overload and what happens if you overload a generator. If you are unaware of this, leave this to me as I have covered everything in this article that you need to know.

In your daily life, you have to ensure that you are not overloading a generator. But how will you come to know about this? For this purpose, you have to understand the generator’s wattage capacity and the attached devices’ wattage load. Each appliance uses starting wattage, which is compulsory to start it while running wattage is required to keep it running. This wattage is considered a load for the generator; when it is exceeded, the generator is considered to be overloaded.

For example, if you have a water motor with 3/4 HP has 3000 starting wattage and 1500 running wattage. So, firstly look at the available power supply of the generator, if it is less than 3000 and you turn on the water pump, you are overloading it. Keep a watch on both factors to stay on the safer side.

1. Exceed Wattage Limitation

Each generator comes with specific peak wattage and running wattage. If you attach too many appliances to your generator at a time than its wattage capacity, it will surpass the load and result in overloading. A generator usually runs at peak wattage for a shorter period. Peak wattage or starting wattage is the capacity to provide wattage to start your appliances without interruption. So, you have to keep in consideration running wattage while switching on any additional devices such as another fan or AC.

2. Absence of Circuit Breaker Causes Trouble

Most modern generators come with a circuit breaker. A circuit breaker trips when you overload a generator, so you become aware of it. But in old generators, the absence of circuit breakers causes trouble as you know about the overloading thorough its harmful effects which often cause injuries to you or damage the generator itself.

You have to keep a check on your generator to avoid any mishaps. Here I am sharing some signs that will indicate to you about overloading.

If you notice any of these indicators, shut down your generator immediately and fix your generator with some professional assistance. Make sure to remove appliances that cause overloading.

Effects of Overloading

Having a precise idea of the effects of overloading a generator helps you to keep things under control. Here are the results you can face in case of generator overloading.

1. Temperature Rise – Lead to Fire or Even an Explosion

This is the most common response of a generator as overloading creates pressure on its parts, resulting in heat. This heat raises the temperature to the extent that it leads to fire and even an explosion. Although many latest designs come with a heat control feature and try to manage the overload, they still have a limit to bear overloading.

2. Intermittent Power – Damage Expensive Devices

Overloading can affect the working of your generator and disturb the way it should work. If you put extra pressure on your generator, it will also result in intermittent power that can damage expensive devices like laptops, ovens, mobiles, AC, etc. These devices require a stable power supply, and sudden fluctuations result in the worst outcome.

3. Damage of Parts of Generator – Shorten Life Span

When you overload a generator, it raises the temperature. Sometimes heating causes fire or blast, but if the generator survives, it still damages the parts of the generator. Extra heat damages many parts and reduces the functionality of the generator. It also shortens a generator’s life span or requires frequent parts replacement.

Knowing what happens if you overload a generator and keeping a few aspects in consideration will help you to save your generator from overloading. These minor steps save you a lot of money as well as from accidents.

Here I am sharing a generator which I found really suitable to supply power without getting overloaded.

If you are going to choose a generator that not only saves you from overloading but is easy to use, then Westinghouse WGen7500 Home Backup Portable Generator is the one you are looking for. It comes with a remote start key, 12V battery, oil, oil funnel, a tool kit, and a Users’ manual.

So, you can immediately get started without much ado. Moreover, it has a peak wattage of 9500 watts and a running wattage of 7500 watts which is enough to keep your necessary appliances working. On Amazon, Westinghouse WGen7500 Home Backup Portable Generator has 11503 reviews and a 4.6-star rating out of 5. These reviews are positive and recommend this generator.

Westinghouse WGen7500 Home Backup Portable Generator is a good partner for your house and office to save your work to a standstill due to power loss. If it is according to your need for wattage, go for it.

Now you know a lot about overloading, like what it is, the causes of overloading, and what happens if you overload a generator. So, you have to be careful while investing in a portable generator. You have to consider the wattage requirement of appliances you want to attach with it. Then go for a generator with 30% more wattage capacity than you want to run with it. Moreover, make sure to know the wattage of every appliance you are going to attach to it to avoid overloading. Buy a suitable generator for you for a continuous workflow.