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Farm Emergency Power Worksheet
Farm Emergency Power Worksheet
tractoriron.com
Print this worksheet and walk your property. List every load you must run during an outage, note its running and starting watts from the nameplate, then size a generator to cover your running total plus the single largest starting surge, with about 20 percent headroom.
Step 1: List your essential loads
- Well pump (note horsepower and voltage: ______ HP / ______ V)
- Refrigerator
- Chest or upright freezer(s): ______ units
- Furnace blower or boiler
- Sump or effluent pump
- House and barn lights
- Stock tank heater(s)
- Window or central air conditioning
- Shop equipment (compressor, welder): ______
- Electronics, internet, medical devices
- Other: ____________________________
Step 2: Record watts for each load
- Write the RUNNING watts from each nameplate next to the item above
- Write the STARTING (surge) watts for anything with a motor (2 to 3x running)
- Add all RUNNING watts you will run at once: ____________ W
- Find the single LARGEST starting surge: ____________ W
Step 3: Size the generator
- Running total + largest surge = minimum requirement: ____________ W
- Add 20 percent headroom: multiply running total by 1.2
- Choose a generator whose RUNNING-watt rating exceeds the larger of those two numbers
- Decide fuel type: gasoline, propane, dual-fuel, or battery station
- If you own a 30+ PTO HP tractor, compare a PTO generator
Step 4: Safety and connection
- Plan a safe connection: manual transfer switch or interlock by a licensed electrician
- Never back-feed through a wall outlet
- Run fuel generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house
- Confirm a built-in CO sensor and low-oil shutoff
- Store stabilized fuel and keep a battery CO alarm indoors
Educational checklist from tractoriron.com. Verify equipment nameplates, manufacturer specs, and local regulations for your situation.