When the electricity goes out, an emergency generator can power a home so that essential tasks aren’t put on hold. Luckily, homeowners who are wondering “How big of a generator do I need ...

Your generator also must have at least a 30-amp/240-volt output. To calculate wattage for a standby generator, check a year's worth of electric bills to find the highest kilowatt usage.

Total Wattage: 1,050 + 350 = 1400 watts The total wattage you need to run a small refrigerator would be 1400 watts, so you would need a generator that provided at least that many watts.