SupportPurchasing Generator Power Cords and other cable assemblies shouldn’t be a daunting task and it’s not meant to be overwhelming whatsoever. In avoidance of this, Temporary Power Supply has written this blog with one goal in mind – to help you understand how to properly size generator cables for your portable generator or portable power distribution equipment. After reading this article, you should have a better understanding of generator cable assemblies, portable generators, and how these products work in tandem with power distribution equipment.
When it comes to choosing the correct type of generator cables for your application, Temporary Power Supply recommends that you begin by creating a checklist that includes how many watts, volts, and amps the generator supplies, along with how many amps you’ll need to power the load. For example, if this is a home generator and the existing house panel is rated at 200 amps, a 15 to 22 kW generator will be sufficient to power the majority of your home including the refrigerator, air conditioning unit, and a few minor lights or appliances. Now, we understand that most generators are measured in watts, and that can be confusing for some. But today we’re going to walk you through one simple formula, A=W/V, which can help you determine the precise amperage output of your generator. Ultimately, this will help you narrow down the search to find the exact generator cables that will fit your application and budget.
Let’s imagine that you have an 18Kw Generator operating at 120 Volts. You can quickly reference the formula and verify that 18,000 Watts/120 Volts = 150 Amps. Also, you’ll begin to notice that most electrical equipment is measured in amperage, and we would say It’s generally considered a safe practice to measure all of your electrical appliances in amperage. The higher the amperage, the more electrical current that will flow through the circuit, which means when you increase amperage, you should increase the size of the wire or cable as well to stay in accordance with National Electric Code and electrical safety standards.
Which Generator Cables Are Right for My Generator?
Now that we have a simple understanding of how generators and amperage work with one another, it’s time to choose which generator power cable is best for your application. Once the amperage is determined, you can then choose a generator cable that correctly corresponds with the associated amperage. For example, one of our 50A Spider Box Locking Cables is the perfect cord for any 50A generator outlet or power distribution box. Whereas, if you need generator cables for minor applications like powering tools, lighting, or even shore power, our Weatherproof NEMA Extension Cords would be perfect for the job. Our NEMA cables are available in multiple configurations that are customizable to your preferences. Some of our standard ends are the L5-20s, L21-20s, L21-30s, and 5-15s which are minor-duty plugs and connectors that range from 15, 20, and 30 amps.
For more heavy-duty or industrial applications, Temporary Power Supply often recommends using generator feeder cables with camlock ends. These are available in three-phase, single phase, and are color-coordinated to phase match your voltage requirements whether that’s 120/208V, 120/240V, 277/480V, and so on. We generally recommend Type-W and DLO camlock extension cables for more industrial-grade environments that require a lot of power throughout the specified location. That’s because most of our camlock feeder cables are rated for higher amperages ranging from 190A to 400A and above.
After reading this blog, if you’re still not certain about the size or type of generator cables you need, or whether they’re a good fit or not, please reach out to one of our temporary power agents by simply filling out our contact form here and we will be more than happy to find a solution for you. We are eager to assist our customers and can’t wait to hear from you!