How Much Can the Generac RG08045KNAX 80kW Standby Generator Really Power?

Let’s call a spade a spade. You probably don’t need this for your four-bedroom duplex.

The Generac RG08045KNAX is not an oversized residential generator. It is a liquid-cooled, 277/480-volt three-phase standby generator intended for commercial, agricultural and industrial electrical systems.

The generator produces up to 80,000 running watts on natural gas or 75,000 watts on liquid propane. Put another way, running at its full natural-gas output for one hour would produce 80 kilowatt-hours of energy.

Other important specifications include:

1. Generac 4.5-liter, four-cylinder engine
2. Natural gas or liquid propane operation
3. 277/480-volt, three-phase output
4. Less than 5% total harmonic distortion for sensitive electronics
5. Digital voltage regulation within ±1%
6. 68 dBA operating sound level measured from 23 feet
7. Automatic starting during an outage
8. Remote monitoring through Generac Mobile Link
9. Liquid-cooled construction for demanding standby applications

That depends on the starting and running requirements of the connected equipment. However, 80 kW provides enough capacity to support a substantial collection of essential commercial loads.

Depending on the facility, that could include:

1. Rooftop HVAC and ventilation systems
2. Walk-in coolers, freezers and other refrigeration equipment
3. Building lighting and general receptacles
4. Computers, networking equipment and security systems
5. Well, circulation and process pumps
6. Shop equipment and selected machinery
7. Agricultural fans, controls and motor-driven equipment
8. Registers, kitchen equipment and other essential business systems

For a smaller commercial building, it may be capable of backing up most of the operation. In a larger facility, it could keep a carefully selected group of critical systems running until utility power returns.

Eighty kilowatts does not mean you can connect any combination of equipment and expect it all to start simultaneously. Motors found in compressors, pumps, HVAC systems and machinery can briefly require considerably more power during startup.

That is why this generator needs to be sized around more than a building’s total running wattage. A qualified generator dealer or electrical contractor should calculate the running load, motor-starting demand, fuel supply and required transfer equipment.

The RG08045KNAX makes sense for businesses that cannot simply close when the power goes out. That includes repair shops, warehouses, farms, restaurants, retail buildings and light-industrial facilities.

Its automatic operation, permanent fuel connection and remote monitoring reduce the amount of hands-on attention required during an outage. When utility power disappears, the generator is designed to start and supply the connected standby loads automatically.

You probably don’t need 80,000 watts just to keep your Netflix going at home. But if a blackout means you’re losing inventory, productivity, or a whole day’s worth of business, the RG08045KNAX is your go-to.