One of the most common questions we get from Sydney homeowners and businesses is: “What size generator do I need?” It’s a fair question — and the answer depends on what you need to keep running during an outage.
Residential Homes: 5–20kVA
For most Sydney homes, a 5–10kVA generator is enough to keep the essentials running: lights, fridge, internet router, phone chargers, and a couple of power points. If you need to run air conditioning or an electric hot water system, you’ll want to step up to 15–20kVA.
Single-phase generators are standard for residential use. They’re compact enough to fit in a driveway or carport and quiet enough (65–70dB) for suburban streets.
Restaurants & Retail: 45–100kVA
A restaurant or retail shop typically needs a three-phase generator in the 45–100kVA range. This covers cool rooms, kitchen equipment, POS and EFTPOS systems, lighting, and HVAC. Food safety regulations mean you can’t afford even a short break in refrigeration — so having backup power on standby is essential.
Apartment Buildings & Commercial: 100–250kVA
For strata-managed apartment buildings, you need enough power to maintain essential services: lifts, fire systems, emergency lighting, water pumps, and common area power. A 100–250kVA generator typically covers buildings up to 15 storeys.
Hospitals, Data Centres & Large Commercial: 400–1250kVA
Critical infrastructure requires containerised prime-power generators with bulk fuel capacity. These are designed for extended outages and include environmental bunding, remote monitoring, and automatic transfer switch compatibility.
Not Sure? We’ll Size It for You
You don’t need to calculate your load yourself. Call us on 0430 880 958, tell us what needs power, and we’ll recommend the right generator — free, no obligation. We’d rather send the right unit the first time than waste everyone’s time with something too small or too big.