Read the manual thoroughly and understand all of the instructions, cautions, and warnings before using this equipment. If any section of the manual is not understood, contact your nearest authorized dealer, or contact Generac Customer Service at 1-888-436-3722 (1-888-GENERAC), or www.generac.com with any questions or concerns.
Managing large appliance loads on home standby generators
Generators are only designed to handle a certain amount of electrical load (measured in Kilowatts, or kW) without potentially causing damage to the generator or sensitive electrical devices. In cases where the amount of load present exceeds the limitations of the generator, several options are available to aid in managing the load. The two places where load management occurs is either within the transfer switch itself, or with a load management device.
In any case, in scenarios when the combined electrical load exceeds the generator's limits, the excess load must be removed to help ensure safe operation. While it is possible to remove loads from a generator by manually turning off circuits in the house's electrical panel, two options exist for the automatic "shedding" of non-essential loads until the load can be added back to the circuit.
The two forms of load management available to a homeowner are:
Note: Depending on the model of automatic transfer switch, either a SACM or a Fuse Control Module (FCM) may be present. Refer to pertaining sections in the automatic transfer switch owner's manual for information on what module is installed in the product.
Using one or more of the above options makes it possible to automatically shed up to 12 loads, including up to four Air Conditioning units. For more information on each of these units, click the links above.
A Generac authorized dealer can help uncover available options for managing large electrical loads for the most cost-effective solution. To contact a Generac dealer in your area, see here.
