Generator
Size a generator for a given load and power factor.
Questions
Each answer describes what this tool calculates. The result is a design aid. Verify against the current standard.
What does the generator calculator do?
The tool reports the full load current, the real power output and the fault current of an alternator. It works from the rating in kilovolt amperes, the voltage, the phase count, the power factor and the subtransient reactance.
Which inputs matter most?
The rating and the voltage set the full load current. The power factor sets the real power in kilowatts. The subtransient reactance sets the fault current, which defaults to 15 percent in the tool. A lower reactance gives a higher fault current.
What are the common gotchas?
The fault current is the initial subtransient value, taken as the full load current divided by the per unit reactance. Use the machine test sheet value when you have one. Cable impedance is not included. The inputs sit in the page address, so a link reproduces the result.