Westinghouse WGen Generator | Reviews | WGen2000, WGen3600, WGen5500, WGen7500

7,500 Running Watts and 9,500 Peak Watts. (Buy from Amazon)

Westinghouse continues to impress with their new line of Westinghouse WGen Generators. In this article we review and discuss each generator so you see if any of these generators are right for you. We Review the following:  WGen2000, WGen3600(v), WGen5500, WGen7500.

All of these generators have a 3 year warranty, which shows you how confident Westinghouse has in their products. The truth is, Westinghouse genuinely gives you a lot of value for your money.

The Westinghouse story takes back all the way to 1865 when George Westinghouse established a name for himself developing and manufacturing steam engine products. At the time, Westinghouse was a revolutionary in the field of steam innovation. With the advent of electric power and its potential to change the lives of all Americans, Westinghouse was one of the first to explore this new and exciting industry.

The Westinghouse Electric Company was established in 1886 and in 1888, Nikola Tesla joined the company. The Tesla name needs no introduction. When talking about electric power, Tesla is synonymous with innovation and forward thinking.

Westinghouse became the leaders in electric power generation from the start. Building the world’s first hydroelectric industrial AC electrical plant was but one of many accomplishments that the company would earn over the years to follow. Through the course of the 20^th century, Westinghouse went on to develop countless electronic devices and remained at the forefront of innovative electric technology. The list of world firsts that came from the Westinghouse development team would fill the page so I won’t be listing all of them here.

It was only 2011, that the company turned their attention toward portable generator products. So while we can consider them a newcomer to this market, they bring with them almost a century and a half of experience and some of the best knowledge in the industry.

So, while we’re all familiar with names like Honda and Briggs & Stratton in the portable generator realm, Westinghouse may not be the first that comes to mind. Be that as it may, we cannot ignore that the company’s long-standing reputation has earned them a place in the history books, time and again. To keep you in the know, we’re going to be reviewing a wide selection of Westinghouse generator products for home, work, and play.

VIDEO | Learn more About Westinghouse Generators

What I find surprising, is that despite being some of the best generators, from a company with more experience than almost any other, Westinghouse portable generators aren’t all that expensive. That makes this review all the more important. Before you go spending large sums of money on a portable generator, you really have to see what these products have to offer. I’m sure that, like me, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you get for your money.

So whether you’re looking for a rugged little 2000W generator for camping trips or a super powerful 7500W generator for almost any Home, RV or job site application, you’ll find it here. This review should be the most comprehensive buyers guide to Westinghouse generators that you’ll find on the internet.

Westinghouse portable generators come in two basic formats, the iGen range which are sophisticated (and more expensive) inverter generators and the WGen range which are more conventional gas generators, costing considerably less.

This review is going to focus exclusively on the Westinghouse WGen generator product range. These are rugged and dependable portable generators at a refreshingly good price. When it comes to value for money, it’s going to be hard to beat the quality vs price that these portable generators offer you. Coming from an established brand, albeit relatively new to portable generators, means that you can be assured of backup and service well into the future. This is quite important to remember when buying a portable generator.

Westinghouse WGen2000

Reliable small gas generator. Affordable high-quality portable power.

Includes a Lifetime Technical Support.

Features:

• 212cc, OHV Engine with Cast Iron Sleeve
• The WGen2000 portable generator produces enough power to keep you up and running when you need it.
• Long Run Time – runs up to 20 hrs on a single tank
• Westinghouse’s open frame generators won’t need to be constantly refilled.
  Dual 120V Duplex Outlets
• Plug in up to four items directly to the generator – giving you the ability to do more simultaneously.
• Circuit protected, Low-Oil Shutoff, and more
• The WGen2000 portable generator comes with features for your safety – including overload prevention, and low-oil shutoff.
• The WGen3600 comes with everything you need for rugged portable power
  Everything you need is in the box
• The WGen2000 also comes with Oil, Funnel, Tool Kit, Manual, and Quick Start Guide.
• 3-Year Warranty

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the Westinghouse WGen2000.

Overview

All Westinghouse Portable Generators come with a 3-Year Residential Warranty and Lifetime Technical Support.

Affordability is the name of the game here. With a running wattage of 2000W and a peak (starting) capacity of 2500W you could run a small to medium refrigerator off this generator, but not much more. So you are fairly limited when it comes to output. For an RV without too many high-current appliances or tailgating, you could get good use from the Westinghouse WGen2000. It will also do fine for a job site where you’re using a number of hand tools, if you’re using larger equipment, like an air compressor, you might be disappointed.

Light enough for 2 people to carry or one really strong person.

Considering that many people have a limited budget for a portable generator, this is an ideal unit to you give you the power that you need to keep many home comforts powered up during an emergency or for an outdoor vacation.

Powered by a 212cc OHV engine with a cast iron sleeve, you can be sure that this is a durable little generator that’s going to give you years of reliable service. It has a recoil starter, which can sometimes be a headache. This isn’t really the case with the Westinghouse WGen2000 and it starts very easily, usually, one pull will do the job. The engine is also CARB, EPA, and CSA compliant – it meets the most stringent emission regulations and can be used in 50 states.

The fuel consumption for the Westinghouse WGen2000 is truly remarkable, especially if take into account that it doesn’t have the electronic throttle control of their more sophisticated iGen range. It has a 4-gallon gas tank and at a 50% load, you’ll get about 20-hours run time from a tank of gas – that’s amazing.

The cheapest and most basic of all the WGEN generators. (Buy from Amazon)

The Westinghouse WGen2000 weighs 97 LBS and measures 23.23” in length, with a width of 17.52” and it stands 18.7” tall. This makes it easy to carry and transport. The sturdy steel frame that surrounds the machine, protecting it from knocks and scrapes, also provides you with plenty of gripping positions to lift and carry the generator. It doesn’t have wheels but, then again, it’s not a particularly heavy generator. One person with a good deal of strength could lift and carry it, with two people, it’s really no problem to move.

You get two duplex 5-20R 120V household outlets – that gives you a total of four outlets. It’s nice to see that the outlet sockets have rubber covers, this makes them safer and also protects them from moisture and dust.  Naturally, it has a circuit breaker to protect it from circuit overload and a low-oil shutoff to protect the engine.

This Entire of Line of WGEN Generators Are Well-Made

Westinghouse gives customers a lot of value for their money.

I’m thoroughly impressed with the build quality of this generator, it has a really sturdy and robust frame and the engine and alternator are mounted with four strong rubber mountings. You get a full kit to get you started and this includes, oil, a funnel, toolkit and a handle. The controls are simple with an on/off switch for the engine, as well as a switch for turning the electrical outlets on or off and a main circuit breaker. There are no gauges and nor is there an hour meter. It’s a basic and easy to use generator with no extras.

Without spending a lot, you’ll get a solid generator that’s going to work hard without any hassles. Westinghouse provides good service backup, this is something they pride themselves in, and you get a 3-year warranty. At this price, you won’t easily find a better deal.

Westinghouse WGen3600 (Wheels) —  Westinghouse WGen3600v (No Wheels)

Long Run Time – runs up to 12 hrs on a single tank.

Features:

• 3,600 Running Watts / 4,650 Peak Watts
• 212cc, OHV Engine with Cast Iron Sleeve
• The WGen3600 portable generator produces enough power to keep you up and running when you need it.
• Long Run Time – runs up to 12 hrs on a single tank
• Outlets : One 5-20R 120V Household Duplex Receptacle, One L5-30R Receptacle, and One TT-30R RV Receptacle
• Safety Icon : Circuit protected, Low-Oil Shutoff, and more
• The WGen3600 portable generator comes with features for your safety – including overload prevention, and low-oil shutoff.
• The WGen3600 also comes with Oil, Funnel, Tool Kit, Manual, and Quick Start Guide.
• Westinghouse Generators come backed by a 3 year warranty
  3-Year Warranty : All Westinghouse Portable Generators come with a 3-Year Residential Warranty and Lifetime Technical Support.
• EPA, CSA, CARB Compliant

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the Westinghouse WGen3600 / WGen3600v

Overview

The Westinghouse WGen3600 comes in two variations. They are both the same generator, producing 3600 running watts and a peak power of 4650 watts. The WGen3600 includes a wheel kit (with 8” solid wheels) and a rubber grip handle. For a few dollars less, the WGen3600v doesn’t have the luxury of wheels and a handle, so it’s not as easy to move. This is the only difference between the two.

Pushing out 3600W constant power, makes the Westinghouse WGen3600 a better option for backing up your home during a power outage or making full use of most RV electrical equipment. The 4650W peak load is also beneficial when you have capacitor starters and ballasts staring simultaneously. Though, I would say that if you’re using a refrigerator and AC, with both starting at the same time, it’s possible that the circuit breaker will trip – this will depend very much on the size and energy rating of these appliances. An Energy Star refrigerator will be preferable in this situation.

Straightforward Control Panel | Weather Protected Outlets

RV ready generator. (Buy from Amazon)

It looks very much the same as all the other Westinghouse WGen generators. It has a strong steel frame, on this model the frame is 1-inch thick. The WGen3600 (with the wheel kit) also has strong rubber feet opposite the wheels to stand it on and this reduces vibration slightly when compared to WGen3600v.

As is to be expected, the WGen 3600 weighs more than the WGen2000. I’m not sure whether the specified weight is with or without the wheel kit and handle because the specs on the Westinghouse website gives the same weight for both models (112 LBS). The inclusion (or exclusion) of the wheel kit and handle won’t affect this weight by too much, probably only about 3 LBS and this would hardly make a difference when transporting the generator.

The control panel is slightly different for the 3600W model when compared to the smaller 2000W model. The Westinghouse WGen3600 only has a single duplex 5-20R 120V outlet, this means two standard household 120V outlets. It does have two additional outlets because at 3600W it delivers exactly 30A at 120V, this means that you get an L5-30R outlet and a TT-30R outlet for an RV. These outlets have circuit breaker protection. Like the smaller model, you don’t get any gauges, hour meter or voltmeter. It has an engine on/off switch and one for turning the electric circuits on or off. It also has a low-oil shutoff.

with WHEELS | Westinghouse WGen 3600

EPA, CARB, and CSA Compliant; Backed By a 3-Year Limited Warranty.

The engine is the same as the WGen2000, being a 212cc OHV 4-stroke engine with an iron sleeve. This does mean that the engine on this model is going to be working harder and will be more likely to require extra maintenance as it gets older. Though it seems to be a particularly tough little engine, so this is more a guess than anything else. Despite having the same engine as the smaller model, you shouldn’t expect the same fuel efficiency, simply because you’re probably going to be drawing more current from the larger alternator. This means that at 50% load, you’ll get about 12-hours from the 4-gallon gas tank. Being the same engine, this one also meets all the same emission regulations (EPA, CARB & CSA compliant).

When you buy the Westinghouse WGen3600 or the WGen3600v, you also get enough oil to get you started, a funnel and a toolkit. Basically, for around fifty bucks more than what you’ll be paying for the WGen2000, you get a generator that gives you a higher current output and weighs 15 LBS more. There’s also the option of wheels and a handle for easier portability if you opt for the WG3600, in which case, you’ll be paying around a hundred bucks more.

I’d say that for the difference in price and the fact that they weigh almost the same, the Westinghouse WG3600v is a better deal. Having an extra 1600W running load capacity is a big difference and you’re not paying much more for this. You get the same 3-year warranty and excellent Westinghouse service.

Westinghouse WGen5500

This model will give you some extra power to play with.

Features:

• 420cc, OHV Engine with Cast Iron Sleeve
• The WGen5500 portable generator produces enough power to keep you up and running when you need it.
• Long Run Time – runs up to 13 hrs on a single tank
• Westinghouse’s open frame generators won’t need to be constantly refilled.
• Westinghouse Outlets : Dual 120V Duplex Receptacles and One L14-30 Receptacle
• Two 5-20R 120V Household Duplex Receptacles and One L14-30R Receptacle give you multiple outlets to power your items.
• Circuit protected, Low-Oil Shutoff, and more
• The WGen5500 portable generator comes with features for your safety – including overload prevention, and low-oil shutoff.
• The WGen5500 also comes with Oil, Funnel, Tool Kit, Manual, and Quick Start Guide.
• 3-Year Warranty : All Westinghouse Portable Generators come with a 3-Year Residential Warranty and Lifetime Technical Support.

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the Westinghouse 5500W.

Overview

With a constant power output of 5500W and a peak load of 6850W, we’re heading into whole different league here. The Westinghouse WGen5500 is going to be a much more practical option for backing up your home, though you’re still going to be somewhat limited and you will need to select what appliances are important to you and omit some of the less important ones. With this increased power, your price jumps quite a bit when you compare it to the smaller models.

Great for emergency power when you need it most.

Of course, your fuel consumption is going to climb a bit too. So this is going to be a more expensive generator to own, but that’s to be expected and it still comes at a very reasonable price for a generator in this class. If you want to power up your RV without compromising on your air conditioning and other home comforts, the Westinghouse WGen5500 is going to be your best option.

Providing the power for this more potent generator requires a larger engine. So they’ve stepped the engine capacity on the Westinghouse WGen5500 up to 420cc – just about double the size of the engine used on the WGen2000 and WGen3600. This engine is similar in its design and is also a 4-stroke, OHV engine with a cast iron sleeve. It meets the same strict emission levels as the others and is, therefore, compliant in 50 states. Fuel consumption is excellent for a generator of this size and the power output to fuel efficiency ratio is very much the same as the smaller models. It has a bigger, 6.6-gallon gas tank and this will give you about 13-hours running time at 50% load.

How much power do you need?

Despite the bigger engine, Westinghouse has not gone for an electric starter on the WenG5500, so it has the same recoil starter. Generally, with larger engines, you get an electric starter. I’ve looked into this quite a bit, to see how people feel about the recoil starter on the WGen5500. It seems that the Westinghouse 420cc engine is really easy to start and, even in cold weather (using the choke), it starts with one pull. You might need to give it a second tug in really cold weather or if it’s been standing for a long time – but it’s going to start without much effort.

The advantage of omitting the electric starter is that this reduces the weight of the generator – you don’t have the weight of the starter motor and battery to contend with. This means that the Westinghouse WGen5500 weighs in at 179 LBS. This is very reasonable for a generator of this size with a very durable 1” tubing frame. Solid 10” wheels, rubber standing feet and a foam grip handle come standard with the WGen5500 and this makes it easier to move around. If you’re going to be transporting the WGen5500 a lot, dimensions can be of some importance, so here they are; Length: 27.32”; Width: 26.18” and height: 26.2”.

The control panel on the Westinghouse WGen5500 includes a digital display for your essential information like volts and hours. It also includes 2 X 5-20R 120V duplex household receptacles and an L14-30 Receptacle. It has the same on/off switches as the others and a low-oil shutoff. You’ll also be getting the same 3-year warranty on the Westinghouse WGen5500.

Westinghouse WGen7500

NOTE : This also comes in a dual-fuel model, which means it runs on either gas or propane. To learn more about the dual-fuel model, read our indepth review of the Westinghouse WGen7500DF.

Remote start key fob to start your generator from a distance.

Features:

• Push Button Start
• Starting the WGen7500 couldn’t be easier with our Westinghouse Push-Button Start.
• 420cc, OHV Engine with Cast Iron Sleeve
• The WGen7500 portable generator produces enough power to keep you up and running when you need it.
• Long Run Time – runs up to 10 hrs on a single tank
• Westinghouse’s open frame generators won’t need to be constantly refilled.
• Dual 120V Duplex Receptacles and One L14-30 Receptacle
• Two 5-20R 120V GFCI Duplex Receptacles and One L14-30R Receptacle give you multiple outlets to power your items.
• Circuit protected, Low-Oil Shutoff, and more
• The WGen7500 portable generator comes with features for your safety – including overload prevention, and low-oil shutoff.
• Remote start key fob to start your generator conveniently and easily
• The WGen7500 also comes with Oil, Funnel, Tool Kit, Manual, and Quick Start Guide.
• Plug-and-Play: Comes with a Remote Start Key Fob, 12V Battery Charger, Oil, an Oil Funnel, a Tool Kit, and a User’s Manual to Get You Started Right Out of the Box (Minimal Assembly Required)
• 3-Year Warranty

Overview

Although the Westinghouse WGen7500 uses the same durable 420cc OHV engine as you’ll find on the WGen5500, this one gives you 7500W running power and peak starting power of 9500W. This makes it great for backing up just about an entire household. When you upgrade to the Westinghouse WGen7500, you also get a few additional features.

All the Outlets you Need for A Variety of Circumstances

Well-laid out panel and covered outlets. Smart design. (Buy from Amazon)

The most notable difference is the inclusion of an electric starter. Of course, the starter motor, battery, and larger alternator push the weigh up to 207 LBS. It has the same handle design and solid 10” wheels as you get on the WGen5500. The gas tank is also the same (6.6-gallons) and the extra load that you’re likely to be placing on the WGen7500 is going to reduce your running time on a tank of gas to about 10-hours at 50% load.

Remember that the engine is the same size. So if you run the same load on the WGen5500 and the WGen7500, you’re going to be using roughly the same amount of fuel, it’s just that 50% of 7500W is more than 50% of 5500W. The larger alternator on the WGen7500 will use slightly more fuel, even with no load, but this is barely noticeable.

Even though it’s heavy, it’s easy to move around

This is consistently one of the top selling generators. (Buy from Amazon)

Your power outlets are the same – 2 X 5-20R 120V duplex household receptacles and an L14-30 Receptacle. It also has the same digital output display and, like all the others, you get a funnel, toolkit and engine oil in the box when you buy it. It also has the same 3-year warranty as all the other Westinghouse WGen generators.

Learn more or purchase online on Amazon or visit the Westinghouse brand and browse their extensive line of generators.

Westinghouse WPro8500 | Best Jobsite Generator

17.5 hours of running time at 25% load.

OSHA compliant with a GFCI protected control panel.

✓ Note : We’ve reviewed the Westinghouse WPro8500 in detail so rather than repeat ourselves here, I recommend reading the article to learn everything you need to know. As of November 10, 2018, this is the latest generator from Westinghouse and Coming Soon on Amazon (we hope) is the powerful : Westinghouse WPro12000 : 12000-rated watt and 15000-peak watts (visit the Westinghouse site to learn all about it). We’re big fans of Westinghouse products for you here so we’re always happy when they release new products.

Features:

• 11,500 Peak Watts / 8,500 Running Watts
• Low Noise : 74 dB operational volume
• 17.5 hr. Run Time at 25% Load   /  12 hr. Run Time at 50% Load
• Electric Start and Remote Start (Key Fob Included)
• 457cc Westinghouse OHV Engine with Cast Iron Sleeve
• Fuel tank allows for 17.5-hours of run time at 25% load
• OSHA, EPA, and CARB compliant with full panel GFCI equips this generator with industry standard safety features
• 3-way ignition start including electric start, remote start with key fob, and recoil start allows accessibility based on which is best for you
• 13.5 HP 457cc OHV 4-stroke Westinghouse engine is constructed for professional applications
• Hassle-free 1-touch electric start push button with remote start key fob lets you start you generator up from up to 109 yds. Away
• Transfer switch ready
• Water-resistant outlets with durable rubber covers
• Automatic voltage regulator, automatic low oil shut-down, and overload protection provides peace of mind
• VFT Data Center display gives you real time updates for : voltage output, frequency, and lifetime hours
• Rugged steel frame with supplementary lift bracket and 10 in. heavy-duty never-flat wheels with foam-grip handle offers easy worksite portability
• Clean Power – Safe for electronics (<5% THD)
• OUTLETS :
  • (1) 120-Volt 20 Amp 5-20R standard home outlets,
  • (1) 120-Volt 30 Amp L5-30R receptacle,
  • (1) 120-Volt/240-Volt 30 Amp L14-30R receptacle
  • (2) 5-Volt USB ports
• Smart Idle – Automatic Efficiency Idling
• OSHA compliant with a GFCI protected control panel, delivering power and safety to your job site.
• Includes Lift Hook : Easy to move with a robust lift hook.
• Low THD Provides Clean Power : Produces <5% Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) giving you clean power for electronics.
• Electric Start and Remote Start with Key Fob
• Circuit protected and Low-Oil Shutoff
• Includes : Battery, Battery Charger, Key Fob, Oil, Funnel, Tool Kit, Manual, and Quick Start Guide.
• 3-Year Residential Warranty, and 1-Year Commercial Warranty and Lifetime Technical Support. (This is true for all Westinghouse generators)

Documents for the Westinghouse WPro8500 :

• View or download the MANUAL
• View or download the SPEC SHEET
• View or download the QUICK START GUIDE

Westinghouse iGen4500 | 224cc

3800 Rated Watts and 4500 Peak Watts

Quiet, Mounted Wheels and Telescoping Handle.

Features:

• Compact and Powerful Design: the iGen4500 is Much Lighter than Comparable Traditional Generators and Features Wheels for Easy Transportation
• Safely Powers Sensitive Electronics Such as Laptop Computers, Cell Phones, & More
• 3800 Rated Watts and 4500 Peak Watts at <3% THD)
• Features 2 USB Ports (5V DC), a 120 VAC 20A Household Duplex Outlet, and a 120V 30A TT-30R Recreational Vehicle (RV) Receptacle
• Enhanced Fuel Efficiency – 30-50% More Fuel Efficient Than Comparable Traditional Generators!
• Quiet Operation: the iGen4500 Utilizes a Double-Insulated Acoustic Enclosure, Assymetrical Cooling Fans, and Low Tone Mufflers to Reduce Operating Noise

Choosing the Right Size Generator for Your Needs

When it comes to generators, bigger is most certainly better. The more watts you have at your disposal will provide you with the best versatility. You never know what you’ll want to run off the generator. What seems adequate today, may leave you wanting more in the future – our needs change. Even if you’re not using all the power that the generator provides, a bigger generator won’t take as much strain at any load when compared to a generator with a smaller engine. Of, course we all have limitations and this is going to affect your decision.

Money talks. Let’s face it, a generator isn’t cheap and although Westinghouse WGen generators are among the cheapest when it comes to quality portable generators, the larger you go, the more expensive they get. A larger engine will also use more fuel, even when it’s just idling with no load. So if you’re going for a larger generator it’s going to increase your running costs. So, now we can say that you should get the largest generator that you can afford but there’s one more consideration to take into account.

If you’re going to be transporting your generator, size and weight can be a limiting factor. Only you can decide what is too big or too heavy for a portable generator.

Wheels are essential for large generators. You power needs to move.

In the end, you’re going to want to estimate what kind of wattage you need from the generator in order to decide if it’s going to meet your minimum requirements. The load that you place on a generator changes constantly, you switch appliances and lights on and off as you need them. In addition to this, you’ll have a number of appliances that switch automatically – thermostats and timer switches can change your load demand without you knowing about this.

Ideally, you want to be able to use all your electrical equipment without worrying about the circuit breaker tripping when you overload the generator. If you’re using a smaller generator, this may require some compromise on your part. When you’re using several appliances on a smaller generator, you’ll have to monitor your load and will, most probably have to switch some items off to use others.

Another factor that you have to consider is starting wattage. Induction motors are very common, they’re used in everything from refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners to many pumps and power tools. This means that they use a capacitor when they start. A capacitor pushes up the current when an induction motor starts to give it the extra power that it needs to go from a stationary position to its spinning action. This increase the amps and, therefore, the watts. This only happens for a brief moment, usually less than a second.

Even though this only happens when the motor starts, the generator must be able to provide the power that these devices need to start. Starting wattage will vary, a motor that starts under load will require up to 150% more amps than what they need to run normally. Generally, motors that start under load will be found on compressors that have to contend with the resistance of the compressed gas or air inside the compressor tank – these include refrigerators, air conditioners, and air compressors.

Quieter! How Will You Use Your Generator? Champion 100302

Hybrid design makes this quieter and more portable.

All the Westinghouse WGen generators have a good peak load spec, this means that they can step up their output for a brief period to allow for capacitor startup. You need to remember that you have no control over when your refrigerator or AC is going to start (they use a thermostat to do this). So when calculating your peak load requirement, you need to take into account that you could have a refrigerator and air conditioner starting at the same time. This can result in a very high combined starting wattage. As an example, let’s look at a typical room air conditioner (1200W) and a standard household refrigerator (also 1200W). If they both start at the same time, you can expect a peak wattage of about 4400W-5500W, this is a lot more than their combined running watts of 2400W.

Capacitors are not the only electrical components that push up the starting watts. Ballasts are also common in many household electrical items – mostly lights that use gas instead of a filament. Fluorescent, mercury vapor, and HMI lights are few examples of lighting equipment that use a ballast. Microwaves also use a ballast. Any electrical device that uses a ballast will require a starting current of about 50%-100% of its running load.

LED lights require a low startup, about 15%-25% of their normal load. CFL lights have a very small ballast and will push up the load by about 25%-30% of their normal wattage. When calculating your ballast load, remember that your TV uses a light source – these days, it’s either an LED or CFL light. A 42” LED TV will probably use about 30W for its backlight and a CFL light source used in plasma screen TVs will be about double this.

What you need to do is add up all your appliances and lights and log their wattage. The total of all these appliances will give you your maximum running load. Consider the likelihood of all these appliances running at the same time. It’s very seldom that one actually uses even 60% of your maximum power requirement. This will give you your running watts. You then have to list your peak watt appliances and see what kind of load increase you can expect from electrical appliances that switch on at a high wattage. Again, consider how many of these appliances are likely to switch on at the same time. This will give you your peak or starting watts requirement.