Q. How many watts does it take to power basic items in an average size house? A. In a typical home, essential items will average 4000 - 6000 watts of power to run.

Q. What is the difference between running watts and starting watts? A. Running watts are the continuous watts needed to keep items running. Starting watts, are extra watts needed for two to three seconds to start motor-driven products like a refrigerator or circular saw.

Q. Why is only one additional starting watt item used to calculate your total watt requirement? A. Unlike running watts, starting watts are only needed during the first few seconds of operation. In most cases, only one item will start or cycle at the same time, therefore this is the most accurate estimate.

Q. What if I can't determine the running or the starting watt requirement for a tool or appliance? A. If the running watts are not on the tool or appliance, you may estimate using the following equation:

WATTS = VOLTS X AMPS. Only motor-driven items will have an additional starting requirement. The additional starting watts required may be estimated at 1 - 2x the rated running watts.