Running computer equipment with generator

jezebelstorm · 05-23-2005, 05:13 PM

My friend and I have a mobile business that requires using a tower, monitor, three printers, battery charger for digital camera, and a couple of small clip-on fans. We need to know what size (wattage) of generator will safely run our equipment. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

batty_professor · 05-23-2005, 05:36 PM

Hi,and welcome to TSF. Each of those items should have labeling indicating it's power requirements. The tower is likely 300 watts or so, more or less, depending on it's internal accessories. The monitor 80-110 watts, again an estimation. The printers? inkjet printers require very little power, though laserprinters require much more, as they have substantial heaters within. Small fans, I'll guess 35 watts each. The camera charger will also be labeled, probably 50 watts or less. The way it looks, if the printers are inkjets, and you only needed this to operate for short periods of time, you could run a couple of hours on a deep-cycle battery and a 1000W. inverter. The smallest portable generator you would find is probably 1500 watts. Which should be sufficient. The bottom line is you need to check the requirements on each item's label, and simply add them up for a total.

Volt-Schwibe · 05-23-2005, 05:44 PM

i might mention, for the purpose of safety, make sure and use a good noise filter on these machines, as a generator usually puts out "noisy" power, and can damage equiptment.

personally, i would do this entirely differently, with a second alternator under the hood of the van, (assuming it's in a vehicle... if not, then a generator is definately easier.) and an array of 4 car batteries in 12volt parallel, and then run a nice huge inverter.

the fans could run directly on the 12 volt, and if you find a good LCD monitor, some of them run on 12vdc.

you can also find power supplies for desktop computers that will run on 12 volt as well.

that's more how i would do it, with only the printers running on inverters, and the rest of the setup running on 12 volt.

or, you could avoid any question, and just get a 3000 watt generator, i am sure that 3000 watts would handle that load.

jezebelstorm · 05-24-2005, 04:35 AM

Thanks Walt and BP for the replies. Walt...by "noise" do you mean the noise than can tranfer through the extension cord to the computer equipment? And, if so, what kind of a noise filter? I haven't heard of them before. I have found a 3500 generator that a friend is going to lend me for this weekend, but I sure don't want to damage our equipment.

Volt-Schwibe · 05-24-2005, 02:40 PM

any computer store should have surge supressing noise filters.

they are usually inside of a power strip, and are about 20-30$

05-23-2005, 05:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
jezebelstorm Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2 OS: Win2000	Running computer equipment with generator My friend and I have a mobile business that requires using a tower, monitor, three printers, battery charger for digital camera, and a couple of small clip-on fans. We need to know what size (wattage) of generator will safely run our equipment. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

05-23-2005, 05:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
batty_professor Asst. Manager, Alternative Computing Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hooterville Il 45 mi. east of St. Louis mo Posts: 2,608 OS: Fedora Core 5 for now	Hi,and welcome to TSF. Each of those items should have labeling indicating it's power requirements. The tower is likely 300 watts or so, more or less, depending on it's internal accessories. The monitor 80-110 watts, again an estimation. The printers? inkjet printers require very little power, though laserprinters require much more, as they have substantial heaters within. Small fans, I'll guess 35 watts each. The camera charger will also be labeled, probably 50 watts or less. The way it looks, if the printers are inkjets, and you only needed this to operate for short periods of time, you could run a couple of hours on a deep-cycle battery and a 1000W. inverter. The smallest portable generator you would find is probably 1500 watts. Which should be sufficient. The bottom line is you need to check the requirements on each item's label, and simply add them up for a total. __________________ It's better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me. B. While users are never under any obligation, if you feel the urge please feel free to visit our donation page. Every little bit helps. And we thank you for your support. Microsoft free Registered Linux user 397458

05-23-2005, 05:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Volt-Schwibe Asst. Manager, Automotive Forums; HJT Trainee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you, watching you as you type. Posts: 7,323 OS: Click "My System" to view details My System	i might mention, for the purpose of safety, make sure and use a good noise filter on these machines, as a generator usually puts out "noisy" power, and can damage equiptment. personally, i would do this entirely differently, with a second alternator under the hood of the van, (assuming it's in a vehicle... if not, then a generator is definately easier.) and an array of 4 car batteries in 12volt parallel, and then run a nice huge inverter. the fans could run directly on the 12 volt, and if you find a good LCD monitor, some of them run on 12vdc. you can also find power supplies for desktop computers that will run on 12 volt as well. that's more how i would do it, with only the printers running on inverters, and the rest of the setup running on 12 volt. or, you could avoid any question, and just get a 3000 watt generator, i am sure that 3000 watts would handle that load. __________________ <signature> TSF is funded by our Admin's pocket, care to help? Power Tip: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. New Members: Creating a single new thread in the correct section is the best way to assure your thread will receive a reply. </signature> Last edited by Volt-Schwibe; 05-23-2005 at 05:46 PM.

05-24-2005, 02:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Volt-Schwibe Asst. Manager, Automotive Forums; HJT Trainee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you, watching you as you type. Posts: 7,323 OS: Click "My System" to view details My System	any computer store should have surge supressing noise filters. they are usually inside of a power strip, and are about 20-30$ __________________ <signature> TSF is funded by our Admin's pocket, care to help? Power Tip: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. New Members: Creating a single new thread in the correct section is the best way to assure your thread will receive a reply. </signature>

05-24-2005, 04:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
jezebelstorm Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2 OS: Win2000	Thanks Walt and BP for the replies. Walt...by "noise" do you mean the noise than can tranfer through the extension cord to the computer equipment? And, if so, what kind of a noise filter? I haven't heard of them before. I have found a 3500 generator that a friend is going to lend me for this weekend, but I sure don't want to damage our equipment.