If you buy a generator that is 4000watt is that the output per hour/min/sec or up to 4000w at anytime?

Question

If you buy a generator that is 4000watt is that the output per hour/min/sec or up to 4000w at anytime?

Answer 1

a 4000 watt (4kw) generator puts out 4000 watts all the time.

Watts are a unit of power, which is energy per unit time, Joules per second.

Answer 2

It means that the maximum load that you can safely place on the generator at any given time is 4000 volt amps or watts if the load is completely resistive..  That is the output voltage multiplied times the output current should never exceed 4000.

A 4000 watt generator has the potential to supply 4000 watts at any given time or all the time, however it only puts out what ever the load demands up to 4000 watts. It can supply 1000 watts one minute and 2000 watts the next without a problem. This is contrary to the one answer that stated the 4000 watt generator puts out 4000 watts of power all the time.

Answer 3

Watts is a power level.

If your generator is rated 4000W., it means that

you can draw that much at any time.

Watt/Hours are units of energy.

How much of the time you draw how many Watts

will show up in amount of fuel consumed.