When purchasing electrical appliances, I’m sure you can see two familiar words, starting power and continuous power. We are familiar with these two words but strange, familiar because you can often see it on all kinds of electrical appliances, strange because we never really know what they mean. So what do they really represent? And what is the difference?
Starting power, as the name suggests, refers to the energy and power required for electrical equipment at the moment of startup. Start-up power may not be noticeable in normal life, as the national grid provides enough power to run any common device. However, if a generator or solar power generator is used to power the appliance, then problems may arise. Large appliances are usually very efficient at starting, and if the maximum output of the generator doesn’t reach the starting power it can lead to a start-up failure or overloading of the power supply.
Continuous power is the average amount of power that an appliance can continue to deliver over a long period of time. The measurement of continuous power is essential to the performance evaluation of an appliance and reflects the ability of the appliance to operate consistently over a period of time. The level of continuous power directly affects the operating efficiency and reliability of the appliance. Correct assessment of continuous power is essential to ensure stable, efficient operation of the appliance.
Starting power and continuous power describe the output capacity of an appliance in different states. Starting power is the power at the moment of startup, also known as peak power, in which the battery quickly releases a large amount of power in a very short period of time to start a large appliance. It is closely related to the starting speed of the appliance and whether it can start normally.
Starting power emphasizes the peak performance in a short period of time. Continuous power is the continuous output power in a steady state. Continuous power emphasizes stability over a long period of time. Generally speaking, the starting power is greater than the continuous power in order to bring the appliance into working condition.
In addition, the types of appliances that are compatible with start power and continuous power are different. Starting power is essential for appliances with electric motors such as air conditioners, refrigerators and power tools. Continuous power is critical for appliances like fans, light bulbs and electronic devices that require a constant supply of electricity.
Starting and running power of common household appliances
| Appliance | Starting power | Running power |
| Electric stove | 1200w | 1000w |
| Washing machine | 500w | 500w |
| Electric frying pan | 1000 to 2200w | 800 to 2000w |
| Refrigerator | 100 to 300w | 70 to 250w |
| Lamp | 0w | 60 to 75w |
| Microwave oven | 1200w | 1000w |
| Television | 250w | 200w |
| Fan | 150w | 100w |
| Vacuum cleaner | 1000w | 800w |
Under normal circumstances, we do not need to know the starting power and continuous power. Because the national uniform voltage is enough to support any kind of household appliances. However, if you are not using grid power and are using a generator or solar power generator, then it is necessary to know the starting power and continuous power of the appliance. It can bring us benefits such as the following.
1. Facilitates us in selecting the right size of generator. Knowing the starting power and generating power of all the necessary appliances, to determine which size of generator can drive the appliances to work, please note that it is better to leave some free power in case of emergency.
2. Avoid danger. If you buy a generator without knowing the power of the appliances, it may lead to the generator into an overloaded state. Overloading an underpowered generator may lead to performance degradation, equipment damage and safety hazards. An overloaded generator may start a fire or electrocute someone.
3. Starting appliances. Appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners that have their own electric motors often require a large burst of power in a short period of time to start, also known as a power surge. If the generator is unable to provide such a large amount of power, then it will not be able to start the appliance.
4. Facilitate the use of appliances in emergency situations. Knowing the starting power and continuous power of an appliance facilitates its use in an emergency. Suppose there is an unforeseen situation that leads to a massive power outage. This time you need to use the generator for the important appliances power supply, different equipment for the power requirements are not the same, to understand the starting power and continuous power of appliances is conducive to the selection of the appropriate power supply.
5. Protection of electrical appliances. Understanding the starting power and continuous power of electrical appliances is conducive to choosing the right power supply. The right power supply can be more stable, durable power supply for appliances, in order to protect appliances.
Understanding the starting power and continuous power of an appliance is a wise choice, which can ensure that the appliance runs efficiently and safely, and also helps to improve the service life of the appliance.
Knowing the starting power and continuous power of an appliance in detail is very important for choosing the right generator or solar generator. The right generator can ensure that the appliance maintains its optimal performance, obtains a stable supply of electricity, minimizes the probability of electrical malfunctions, and extends the life of the appliance at the same time.
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