Generators in home use are generally rated in what unit?

In residential settings, generators are typically rated in watts because this unit correlates directly to the amount of electrical power the generator can provide to run appliances and equipment. Power consumption and generation are fundamentally expressed in watts, which is a product of voltage and current (watts = volts × amps). This measurement allows consumers to determine how much load the generator can handle based on their specific needs, such as running lights, refrigerators, and other household devices simultaneously.

While volts and amps are crucial in understanding the electrical characteristics of the generator, they do not convey the overall power output as effectively as watts do. Hertz refers to the frequency of the electrical supply and indicates cycles per second, which is important for certain electrical devices but does not reflect the generator's capacity in terms of power output. Therefore, rating generators in watts provides a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of their performance capabilities in home applications.