What’s plugged in?
Enter how many of each. Typical running watts are built in.
Start with house power
Most pop-ups and indoor activations never need a generator. They need an honest answer to one question: how many circuits will the venue give us, and how much can each one carry?
- Count circuits, not outlets. Four outlets on one wall are often one 20 A breaker. The number that matters is breakers you control.
- Load each one to 80%. A 20 A, 120 V circuit carries 2,400 W on paper and about 1,920 W for an all-day event. The calculator uses that figure.
- Give the hungry things their own. Espresso machines, induction burners, heaters and spot coolers each want a dedicated circuit. Never share one with the sound system.
- Ask for the power map early. Which circuits are yours, which ones also feed the venue’s lights or kitchen, and where they land in the room. It decides where the bar and the LED wall can go.
Typical power draw at events
Real numbers vary by model, so check the nameplate when you can. These are the figures the calculator uses:
| Equipment | Typical running watts | Starts at |
|---|---|---|
| LED uplight / par | 10–20 W | — |
| LED moving head | 250–400 W | — |
| Tungsten par or fresnel | 575–1,000 W | — |
| LED video wall | 300–600 W per m² at full white | — |
| Large-venue projector | 600–1,200 W | — |
| Powered PA speaker | 300–600 W | — |
| Commercial espresso machine | 2,000–3,500 W | — |
| Beverage cooler | 400–800 W | ~3× |
| Portable AC / spot cooler | 1,200–2,000 W | ~3× |
| Inflatable blower | 800–1,500 W | ~2× |
The surprises are almost always heat and cold: espresso machines, induction burners, heaters and AC. A photo moment with a few lights is easy. Add a coffee bar and two spot coolers and you’ve tripled the load.
When the outlets aren’t enough: tie-ins
When you need more circuits than the walls offer, the usual answer is a tie-in: a licensed electrician connects a temporary distro box to the venue’s panel with a feeder cable, and your circuits run from the distro. It’s quieter, cleaner and often cheaper than a generator.
- Ask the venue for the panel size, how much spare capacity it has, and which electricians are approved to tie in. Many venues insist on their own.
- Give the electrician the load list. The calculator’s running load and amps per leg on 208 V three-phase are the numbers they’ll ask for.
- Plan the cable path from the panel to the distro, with ramps and cable covers wherever guests walk.
kW, kVA and amps without the headache
- kW is the real power your equipment uses. The calculator works in kW.
- kVA is how most towable generators are listed. At the usual 0.8 power factor, kW = kVA × 0.8, so a 45 kVA unit gives about 36 kW.
- Amps decide your cabling and how many circuits you need. A standard 20 A, 120 V circuit should carry about 1,900 W of continuous load. The calculator counts those circuits for you, and gives the amps per leg on a 208 V three-phase feed, which is what larger towables and most electricians will talk in.
If your count runs past what the walls offer, you’re into distribution: a distro box and a feeder, from the venue’s panel or a generator.
When you need a generator
Outdoor sites, raw spaces, parking lots, or venues that can’t spare the capacity: that’s generator territory. Pick No power on site in the calculator and it sizes one.
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Carry the running load with headroom. Generators are happiest at 50–80% of their rating. A 20 kW unit is not a 20 kW generator for a ten-hour day.
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Survive the biggest start. Coolers, AC and blowers pull two to three times their running power for a moment as they kick on.
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It always runs outside. Fuel-burning generators make carbon monoxide; the unit sits at the curb, in a loading dock or a lot, and cable comes in through a door or cable port.
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Ask for a sound-attenuated unit. Most towables now come in “super-silent” housings. Place them as far from guests, neighbors and press lines as your cable allows.
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Fuel: diesel towables burn roughly 0.07 gallons per hour for each kW of rating at full load. The calculator estimates your daily fuel; ask whether the tank covers it or you need a refuel visit.
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Placement: on level ground, away from doors, windows and air intakes, with clearance for exhaust, and barricaded from the public.
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Backup: if losing power would end the event, rent a second small unit or put critical loads (registers, Wi-Fi, a few lights) on their own circuit.
Permits and paperwork
Requirements vary city by city, but expect some combination of:
- A permit or inspection from the fire department for temporary generators and stored fuel, especially in public space.
- Venue approval and a certificate of insurance naming the venue and property owner.
- A licensed electrician to sign off on tie-ins and distribution.
Start these as soon as you know you need a tie-in or a generator. Use our activation timeline planner to see how far back permits sit in a production schedule.
Questions
How many circuits do I need for a pop-up or activation?
Add up the running watts of everything you’ll plug in and divide by about 1,900 W, which is what a standard 20 A, 120 V circuit should carry for a full day (80% of its rating). A small pop-up with LED lighting, a couple of screens and a register usually fits on two to four circuits. Coffee machines, heaters and spot coolers each want a circuit of their own.
What is house power at an event venue?
House power is the venue’s own electrical supply: the outlets and circuits in the room, plus the main panel behind them. Many venues have plenty of capacity, but it’s spread across circuits that also feed their lights, kitchen or HVAC. Ask for a power map that shows which circuits are yours, how many amps each one is, and where they land in the room.
What is a power tie-in?
A tie-in is when a licensed electrician connects a temporary distribution box to the venue’s electrical panel with a feeder cable, so your build runs off the building’s supply instead of wall outlets. It’s the usual answer when you need more circuits than the walls offer, and it is often quieter and cheaper than a generator. Venues normally insist on their own approved electrician.
When do I need a generator instead of house power?
When there’s no usable supply (outdoor sites, raw spaces, parking lots), when the venue can’t spare enough capacity, or when the event can’t risk sharing a circuit with the building. Size it so the running load stays under 80% of its rating and it can survive the biggest motor starting. Generators always run outside.
What is the difference between kW and kVA?
kW is the real power your equipment uses. kVA is apparent power, which is how most towable generators and some panels are rated. At the usual 0.8 power factor, a 45 kVA generator delivers about 36 kW. Compare like with like when you read a rental quote or a venue spec sheet.