How to run a 5000 watt machine at home in California?

[contrails]

I am interested in buying a medical device that says the max watt output is 5000 watts.

As far as I know you can only run up to 20 amp tops at home. I do NOT have a 220 or 240 volt outlet. Everything is 120 volt.

My questions are;

1. I am pretty sure it is not going to work with my current setup let alone safe. Would a generator work for this purpose? I am only going to run this machine about 1-3 hrs a week
2. Which generator do you recommend that can handle this much wattage?
3. I have an option of getting either 120 volt US plug or a 220 EU plug. Would this choice make a difference and which one should I get?
4. Any other options beside the generator? I am not really looking to do electrical work and install a 220 volt outlet

You can tell I am just starting my research on this but your input is much appreciated

 

[Rockingit]

A lot of assumptions about to be made here, but yes a 6-7kvA generator sounds like your best option, along with the right outlets and cables.

 

[Megawatt]

I am interested in buying a medical device that says the max watt output is 5000 watts.

As far as I know you can only run up to 20 amp tops at home. I do NOT have a 220 or 240 volt outlet. Everything is 120 volt.

My questions are;

1. I am pretty sure it is not going to work with my current setup let alone safe. Would a generator work for this purpose? I am only going to run this machine about 1-3 hrs a week
2. Which generator do you recommend that can handle this much wattage?
3. I have an option of getting either 120 volt US plug or a 220 EU plug. Would this choice make a difference and which one should I get?
4. Any other options beside the generator? I am not really looking to do electrical work and install a 220 volt outlet

You can tell I am just starting my research on this but your input is much appreciated

I am interested in buying a medical device that says the max watt output is 5000 watts.

As far as I know you can only run up to 20 amp tops at home. I do NOT have a 220 or 240 volt outlet. Everything is 120 volt.

My questions are;

1. I am pretty sure it is not going to work with my current setup let alone safe. Would a generator work for this purpose? I am only going to run this machine about 1-3 hrs a week
2. Which generator do you recommend that can handle this much wattage?
3. I have an option of getting either 120 volt US plug or a 220 EU plug. Would this choice make a difference and which one should I get?
4. Any other options beside the generator? I am not really looking to do electrical work and install a 220 volt outlet

You can tell I am just starting my research on this but your input is much appreciated

If you want 5000 watts at 120 vac which is 41amps and are just going to it temporarily for 1 to 3 weeks take a 50 double pole breaker and take the connecting bar off so one side will work independently and hook up to that. Use # 8 THHN wire with one for the equipment ground, 1 being your neutral and the 3rd wire as your live wire

 

[pc1966]

Buying and maintaining a generator can end up a major expense and pain in the posterior, as well as the safety issues of keeping it away from children or absolute idiots, risk of fuel spill contaminating ground, etc.

Unless it is absolutely out of the question I would get an electrician in to check the feasibility of and (hopefully) install a feed (even just temporary if you only plan on keeping the equipment for a couple of months) as @Megawatt suggests.

If you already have 120V-0-120V supplies in your board then it would make sense to get a 220-240V version and matching connectors as it is just as easy to get that put in.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

You might not have any 240V outlets at the moment but perhaps you have 240V in your panel, in which case you can use the 240V version that will only require 21 amps if the requirement is 5kW.

But you mention 5kW power *output*, when what you actually need to know for the electrical supply is the power *input*. What type of machine is it and what are its actual power specifications?

5kW is a lot of heat to get rid of, BTW.