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Your Home Generator for Load Shedding and Power Cuts, in Drawings What It Can Run, Where It Stands, How to Start It

How many kVA your house needs, why it trips when the fridge and the kettle start together, how many litres a four-hour outage takes, how far from the window it must stand, and why it never goes into a wall socket. One topic per page: the drawing first, then the numbers to remember. 72 illustrated pages.

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Every topic, its own pageEach rule drawn, with the explanation beside it
72 illustrated pages9 parts, from your generator opened up to when to call a professional
Up-to-date sourcesSANS 10142-1, the Electrical Installation Regulations (OHS Act 85 of 1993) and manufacturers' manuals
PDF by emailFormat

Look Inside the Book

Every page has one large drawing and a box with the numbers and rules you need to know:

Engine, alternator, tank, air filter, exhaust and control panel, each labelled with its job
Engine, alternator, tank, air filter, exhaust and control panel, each labelled with its job
Motor loads can need 2–3× their running watts to start; a pool pump about 1.4×
Motor loads can need 2–3× their running watts to start; a pool pump about 1.4×
900 W running + one fridge spike of 750 W = 1 650 W peak
900 W running + one fridge spike of 750 W = 1 650 W peak
At least 6 m from doors, windows and vents, exhaust facing away; follow your manual if it asks more.
At least 6 m from doors, windows and vents, exhaust facing away; follow your manual if it asks more.
CoC: issued by a registered person, renewed after new work, kept with the generator documents
CoC: issued by a registered person, renewed after new work, kept with the generator documents
Overload signs: engine labours, lights dim, breaker trips. Low oil can shut it down.
Overload signs: engine labours, lights dim, breaker trips. Low oil can shut it down.
Each use · 20 h · 50 h · 100 h · 300 h · 2 years: whichever comes first
Each use · 20 h · 50 h · 100 h · 300 h · 2 years: whichever comes first
Questions for the shop: rated kVA, THD, fuel at 50% load, noise, oil-alert, spares
Questions for the shop: rated kVA, THD, fuel at 50% load, noise, oil-alert, spares

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These are real pages from the book. The table of contents is the full one: 9 parts and 67 topics.

The Problem Isn't You. It's How It Was Explained to You.

It's the evening before a long outage in Gauteng. You're at the kitchen table with the family's list: fridge, borehole pump, kettle, lights, TV, router. Outside stands an 8 kVA generator. You need to know if it can carry all of that.

The manual covers it in three dense paragraphs: rated power, maximum power, starting current, altitude derating. Every word is there, but nothing tells you what to switch on first.

900 W running + one fridge spike of 750 W = 1 650 W peak

In the book, that same family home is one page. The loads are drawn in a row and started one after another, and the box gives the result: about 6.4 kVA staggered, instead of 8.8 kVA all at once at altitude. On a 6 kVA unit, that means one load has to wait its turn, and the page shows which one.

Other topics get their own page too: starting watts, litres for one outage, the safe distance in metres, backfeed and the 6-point pre-start check.

You look at the page, write your load order on a scrap of paper and start the fridge first. You know what runs, what waits, and you didn't have to open the manual.

COMPARE FOR YOURSELF

The Same Topic, Two Ways to Learn It

THIS
  • The manual: line after line
  • Starting surges explained only in words
  • You face the next outage still unsure
Electrical loads incorporating induction motors, such as refrigerators, freezers, borehole pumps and air-conditioning compressors, draw an inrush current upon start-up that substantially exceeds their steady-state running current. This transient demand, which may persist for several seconds, is commonly two to three times the rated running wattage, although the ratio varies with motor type, starting mechanism and load condition. The generator's maximum output must therefore accommodate the highest anticipated starting demand in addition to the aggregate running load, failing which the overload protection may operate.
FOR THIS
  • Starting watts in one drawing
  • The multipliers in a box
  • You see it and you get it
Motor loads can need 2–3× their running watts to start; a pool pump about 1.4×
CONTENTS

Take a Look at the 9 Parts and 67 Topics

Know your machine, choosing the right type, sizing in 5 steps, fuel and running time, placement and carbon monoxide, connecting safely, start-up and shut-down, maintenance and storage, and review checklists: 72 pages, all illustrated.

IKnow Your Machine · pp. 6-12
  1. Your generator, opened up
  2. The control panel, button by button
  3. Watts, volts, amps and kVA on one page
  4. Rated power vs maximum power
  5. Running watts and starting watts
  6. Resistive vs motor vs electronic loads
  7. The two rules that repeat on every page
IIChoosing the Right Type · pp. 13-19
  1. Conventional portable vs inverter generator
  2. Clean power and sensitive electronics
  3. Petrol, diesel or LPG
  4. Dual-fuel generators and LPG cylinders
  5. Pull start, electric start and remote start
  6. Altitude and heat: why Gauteng gets less power
  7. Generator, inverter-battery or solar: what each covers
IIISizing in 5 Steps · pp. 20-29
  1. The 5-step sizing method
  2. Step 1: your load list
  3. Where to find the watts on a label
  4. Step 2: add up the running watts
  5. Step 3: add only the biggest starting spike
  6. Step 4: the margin
  7. Step 5: convert to kVA and correct for altitude
  8. The heavy hitters: kettle, geyser, oven, borehole
  9. Worked example: a small home on a 3 kVA unit
  10. Worked example: a family home on a 6-8 kVA unit
IVFuel and Running Time · pp. 30-36
  1. Litres per hour: read it at real load
  2. Fuel for one outage, worked out
  3. Fuel for a week of load shedding
  4. Tank size and refuelling mid-outage
  5. Storing fuel safely at home
  6. Stale fuel and fuel stabiliser
  7. Inverter eco mode and running at partial load
VWhere to Place It: Carbon Monoxide · pp. 37-44
  1. Carbon monoxide: why you cannot smell it
  2. The safe distance, drawn in metres
  3. Wind, walls and enclosed corners
  4. Carports, lean-tos and rain covers
  5. CO alarms inside the house
  6. Neighbours, flats and complexes
  7. Noise: decibels you can live with
  8. Theft, rain and a level surface
VIConnecting Safely: Leads, Changeover and Backfeed · pp. 45-52
  1. Backfeed: the danger you cannot see
  2. Option 1: extension leads straight to the appliances
  3. Choosing the right extension lead
  4. Option 2: a changeover switch, fitted by an electrician
  5. Inlet socket and dedicated circuits
  6. Earthing and the earth leakage unit
  7. The CoC, your insurance and selling the house
  8. Load order: what you switch on first
VIIStart, Run and Shut Down · pp. 53-58
  1. Pre-start check in 6 points
  2. Starting it: choke, pull and warm-up
  3. While it runs: what to watch
  4. When the breaker trips
  5. Shutting down when the power returns
  6. Children, pets and the hot exhaust
VIIIMaintenance and Storage · pp. 59-66
  1. The maintenance calendar on one page
  2. Changing the oil
  3. Air filter: foam and paper
  4. Spark plug: check, gap and replace
  5. Exercise run: once a month
  6. The 12 V starter battery
  7. Long-term storage
  8. Diesel and LPG units: what changes
IXReview: Checklists and Frequent Mistakes · pp. 67-72
  1. The 10 most frequent mistakes
  2. Will it start? Troubleshooting chart
  3. Outage checklist: before, during, after
  4. Buying checklist: questions for the shop
  5. Quick reference: formulas and numbers
  6. When to call a professional

One Page, One Topic, All Clear

Think of it this way:

Ten at night, the generator has been running since six and the tank is nearly empty. Do you top it up while it runs, or switch it off first?

In the book you open the refuelling page: the hot engine drawn in red, switch off and let it cool, then refuel, and the fuel can drawn well away from the exhaust.

CoC: issued by a registered person, renewed after new work, kept with the generator documents

The same goes for litres per hour, the safe distance in metres, backfeed, the pre-start check and the oil change: each one on its own page.

Home Generator Illustrated is 9 parts and 67 topics, all drawn, and at the end come the 10 most frequent mistakes, a troubleshooting chart, the outage and buying checklists and a quick reference of formulas and numbers.

What you see drawn, you don't have to memorize.

What's Inside Home Generator Illustrated:

Ipp. 6-12

Know Your Machine

Your generator opened up, the control panel, watts, volts, amps and kVA, rated vs maximum power, running and starting watts, and the two safety rules.

IIpp. 13-19

Choosing the Right Type

Conventional vs inverter, clean power for electronics, petrol, diesel or LPG, dual-fuel, start types, altitude and heat, and generator vs battery vs solar.

IIIpp. 20-29

Sizing in 5 Steps

The 5-step method from load list to kVA, reading labels, the biggest starting spike, the margin, altitude correction, the heavy hitters and two worked homes.

IVpp. 30-36

Fuel and Running Time

Litres per hour at real load, fuel for one outage and for a week, refuelling, storing fuel safely, stale fuel and eco mode.

Vpp. 37-44

Where to Place It: Carbon Monoxide

Why you can't smell carbon monoxide, the safe distance in metres, wind and corners, carports, CO alarms, neighbours, noise, theft and rain.

VIpp. 45-52

Connecting Safely: Leads, Changeover and Backfeed

Backfeed, extension leads straight to the appliances, choosing a lead, a changeover switch fitted by an electrician, earthing, the CoC and load order.

VIIpp. 53-58

Start, Run and Shut Down

The 6-point pre-start check, choke and warm-up, what to watch while it runs, a tripped breaker, shutting down and the hot exhaust.

VIIIpp. 59-66

Maintenance and Storage

The maintenance calendar, oil, air filter, spark plug, the monthly exercise run, the 12 V battery, long-term storage, and diesel and LPG units.

IXpp. 67-72

Review: Checklists and Frequent Mistakes

The 10 most frequent mistakes, a troubleshooting chart, outage and buying checklists, formulas and numbers, and when to call a professional.

At the end of the book: The 10 most frequent mistakes, a troubleshooting chart, outage and buying checklists, and a quick reference of formulas and numbers.

SHOW ME WHAT'S INSIDE

Plus: 2 Free Books

Generator Sizing Workbook: 20 Homes to Work Out

BONUS 1: «Generator Sizing Workbook: 20 Homes to Work Out»

Value on its own: US$ 17.90

Practise the 5-step sizing method on 20 real household load lists, with the answers worked out, until you can size any generator yourself.

Generator Quick Cards: Start, Stop, Refuel, CO

BONUS 2: «Generator Quick Cards: Start, Stop, Refuel, CO»

Value on its own: US$ 14.90

Print the start-up, shut-down, refuelling and carbon monoxide rules on cards and keep them next to the generator, so anyone at home follows the same steps.

Home Generator Illustrated with 2 Free Books

  • Home Generator Illustrated: 72 illustrated pagesUS$ 63
  • BONUS 1: Generator Sizing Workbook: 20 Homes to Work OutUS$ 17.90
  • BONUS 2: Generator Quick Cards: Start, Stop, Refuel, COUS$ 14.90
  • High-resolution PDF to printIncluded
Total value US$ 95.80
YOUR PRICE:
US$ 27
You save US$ 68.80
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Who This Book Is For

You're about to buy one

You're about to buy one

Work out the kVA your house needs before you walk into the shop, so you don't pay for a machine that's too small or far too big.

It's already in your garden

It's already in your garden

See what it can run, how many litres each outage takes and where it must stand, then keep it serviced so it starts when the power goes.

Your parents run one

Your parents run one

Print the carbon monoxide, refuelling and start-up pages for their house: big drawings anyone at home can follow.

Everything You Get Today

US$ 95.80US$ 27
YES, I WANT HOME GENERATOR ILLUSTRATED FOR US$ 27

📄 This is a digital PDF book sent to your email: nothing is printed or shipped.

30DAYS
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30-Day Guarantee

Try Home Generator Illustrated for 30 days, bonus books included.

We refund everything if the file won't open, if the book isn't what you see here, if you were charged twice or if the email doesn't arrive. Just email us.

You pay once. No subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it for me if I'm not an electrician or a mechanic?

Yes. It's written for homeowners who run a portable or inverter generator, on petrol, diesel or LPG. Every topic starts with a drawing, in metric units.

Where does the content come from?

It's cross-checked against SANS 10142-1, the Electrical Installation Regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, SANS 10087-1 for LPG and generator manufacturers' manuals. For your model's ratings and service intervals, your own manual always comes first.

Is it official material?

No. It's an independent illustrated book. It isn't affiliated with, approved by or endorsed by the SABS, the Department of Employment and Labour or any manufacturer, and it reproduces no text from the standards.

Does it replace an electrician or my generator's manual?

No. It never teaches you to wire the house or connect to the distribution board: a changeover switch is fitted by a registered electrical contractor, who issues a CoC. The book explains why and what to ask.

Isn't this the same as the manual that came with my generator?

No. Your manual gives your model's ratings and service intervals, and you still need it. This book shows what the manual doesn't: how to turn your appliance labels into kVA, the order to switch things on, the litres for one outage and where the generator must stand. One drawing per page. The 20 homes in the workbook are written for this book.

When and how does it arrive?

The book and the 2 gifts arrive as PDFs by email, at the address you enter at checkout.

Do I have to pay every month?

No. It's a one-off payment, with no subscription.

Can I have it on paper?

Yes. The PDF is made to print at home or at a print shop, in A4. The quick cards are made to keep next to the generator.

How does the refund work?

You have 30 days. We refund everything if the file won't open, if the book isn't what you see on this page, if you were charged twice or if the email doesn't arrive: just email us.

Before You Close This Page

No more rereading the manual without it sticking.

Starting watts and kVA: you see them drawn, and that's it.

You face the next outage knowing where everything is.

Drawings make studying faster.

The book is right below.

One-time payment: US$ 27 · Guarantee: 30 days · PDF by email

YES, I WANT HOME GENERATOR ILLUSTRATED FOR US$ 27

📄 This is a digital PDF book sent to your email: nothing is printed or shipped.