A Quick Guide to Our Power & Fuel Calculation Tools

About Our Calculators

Using the Power Requirement calculator

The Power Requirement calculator helps you to estimate the real power consumed by your facility’s electrical circuit, measured in Kilowatts (kW). This can then help you determine what size generator your facility or project needs, either as a primary power source or as a standby/backup power system.

Using the kVA to kW calculator

The kVA to kW calculator helps you accurately determine the amount of real power (kW) your facility needs based on your apparent power (kVA) and power factor (PE). kW represents the actual amount of power used in your facility or worksite. kVA signifies the total amount of power your entire electrical system would use. PE indicates how efficiently your electrical system uses the power drawn from your generator, ideally using most or all of it. Knowing the actual amount of real power your facility needs will help you choose the best generator.

Using the kW to kVA calculator

The kW to kVA calculator allows you to find the precise amount of apparent or total power drawn from an electrical circuit. This involves converting the amount of real power used in a system to the amount of total power a system may need. kVA helps provide a basic estimate of how much power all of your electrical systems need to function properly. Because of this, it is one among several key metrics you need to find the best size generator for your facility or work site. 

Using the Generator Fuel Consumption calculator

This tool provides an estimate of how many gallons per hour a given generator consumes. Additionally, the generator fuel consumption calculator can also help measure potential fuel cost by multiplying the cost of fuel per gallon by the total amount of gallons consumed per hour. In this sense, you could also consider it a cost of diesel calculator.

Reasons to Use Our Power & Fuel Consumption Calculator Tools

Selecting the right power source for your facility or project can involve many complex electrical calculations. To help simplify your search, Global Power Supply provides an intuitive set of power and fuel consumption calculators. Here are some strong reasons why we recommend you use them:

1) Prevent Waste

Generators are vital components of any facility, whether you use them for primary power systems or temporary backup power. Their importance makes them extremely expensive.

Therefore, we recommend using these calculators to determine the best generator size for your needs. This will prevent you from purchasing an oversized generator that consumes more fuel than necessary.

2) Avoid Overloading

Another reason to use our tools is to select a correctly sized generator to meet the precise power requirements of your facility or project. Knowing the correct size and requirements will ensure that the generator you choose doesn’t experience overloads.

3) Maintain Fuel Efficiency

Our generator fuel consumption calculator specifically helps you estimate how much fuel your generator needs or will need once installed. It also allows you to calculate fuel consumption depending on its load level (either 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or Full). The fuel consumption calculator ensures you pick a generator with a feasible fuel economy while also being capable of powering all necessary equipment and systems at different load levels.

4) Budget More Accurately

The fuel consumption calculator can also help you determine many other important calculations, such as the total cost of fueling your generator (this can vary depending on your local fuel price). You can then make a more precise estimate of your facility’s energy and operational costs.

What You Need to Calculate The Size of a Generator

While our power and fuel consumption calculator tools can help you determine what size generator you need, they only offer general estimations.

It is still important to make exact measurements and calculations, especially with the help of a certified electrician or experts in industrial power like Global Power Supply.

To ensure you select a generator that delivers reliable power, here are step-by-step instructions to help calculate the generator size you need:

1. Make an inventory of all your equipment and systems. This should include lighting, HVAC systems, security and alarm systems, critical equipment, computers, servers, etc.
2. Measure every device and system’s power rating. Every device should have its power consumption listed in watts (W) or Kilowatts (kW).
3. Add them up to determine your total power demand. When you calculate, assume they are all running simultaneously.
4. Account for differences in starting and running loads. Some industrial equipment requires a high power surge to start, often 2-3 times the power it needs while running. This is important to account for in your calculations.
5. Consider future energy demands. Will your facility or work teams add new equipment in the future? Could there be an increased demand for higher energy loads in the future? To account for this, it is often a rule of thumb to add 20%–30% to your projected total power demand.
6. Include phase requirements. Single and three-phase power requirements vary and can greatly affect your final calculations.

Benefits of Using Our Calculators for Power & Generator Size

Our power requirement, kVA/kW conversion, and fuel consumption calculator tools make it easy to calculate basic estimates for the correct generator size. Moreover, you also gain several potential advantages:

Tailored Solutions for Unique Needs

Our calculators allow users to account for specific variables like load types, voltage, and operational requirements. This ensures a solution customized to the exact needs of your business or project.

Whether it’s a hospital requiring uninterrupted power or a construction site with fluctuating energy demands, the calculator adapts to these situations and strongly estimates what size generator will work.

Enhancing Equipment Longevity

Generators that are consistently underloaded or overloaded experience more wear and tear, reducing their efficiency and lifespan. Our calculators ensure the generator operates within its optimal performance range, protecting your investment for longer.

Streamlined Comparison of Generator Options

The calculators also make it easy to evaluate different generator models by providing key data points such as total and usable power capacity. This saves time and helps you quickly identify the most suitable generator for your needs.

Improved Safety for Critical Operations

Facilities like hospitals, data centers, and manufacturing plants rely on uninterrupted power to ensure safety and productivity. Our calculator tools give you a strong estimate of the backup capacity needed to keep critical systems running smoothly, reducing safety risks and operational disruptions.

Enhanced Collaboration with Experts

Our calculators help you communicate your needs more clearly with generator suppliers, electricians, and consultants by providing clear information in a simplified manner. For example, the right data points will help us at Global Power Supply quickly find the right diesel generators for your facility’s needs.

Increased Confidence in Investment

A generator is a significant investment, and choosing the wrong size can lead to wasted resources or inadequate performance. Our calculators provide general estimates that will help you start your journey to finding the best generator for your needs.

Time and Cost Savings

Manually calculating power requirements can be time-consuming and error-prone. Power calculators streamline the process, saving time while reducing the likelihood of mistakes that could lead to costly mistakes like purchasing an over or undersized generator.