Questions About Electricity/Generators

[Azkarin2]

I have a quick question regarding electricity use and since it has been more than half a decade since I've taken a science class I figured I'd ask here.

I'm about to buy a bunch of equipment for tailgating and want to get the right size generator to power it all. We'll be running a 32-37 inch TV, HD receiver, and two speakers. The speakers are 400W 12'' speakers. The generator we are looking to get comes in two sizes: 1000 watts and 2000 watts. Do we need the larger generator?

From what I've read, the TV will use around 300-500 watts and the receiver/satellite taking up 100-150. Does the 400W rating on the speakers mean that it will draw 400W from the generator or is that a label for sound output? Thanks for the help.

[zoobernut]

Your speakers will only draw as much wattage as provided by the amplifier so it is more accurate to look at how many watts your amplifier will use.

[mootsfox]

The 1000w will be fine, but you might look at efficiency ratings, the 2000w could be cheaper in the long run.

The TV uses <300w, receiver ~100w unless you are going crazy with it, but you're not going to go over 100w per channel or whatever it is + whatever it needs for itself. Again, the 1000w will be fine.

[Azkarin2]

So the wattage use listed on the speakers is not a measure of energy usage? The speakers I am looking at states "Power Consumption Max: 300W". So does that mean I would need to make sure I had 600W available to power two speakers? Here is the link for the speakers we are looking at: Linky

[mootsfox]

I don't know a whole lot about that type of audio equipment...

But it looks like those are self powered?

Generally speakers don't draw near their rated amount.

My system, which is two monitors (one 6" and 1 1" per box) and a 10" sub and draws between 50 and 75w, depending on how loud it is set to.

Those speakers turned loud enough to be at a tailgate probably would pull about 120w-150w each, but again, stage audio isn't something I'm very familiar with.