Gibbons Technical Guide

Choose the right blower, then calculate your energy requirement

A practical guide for inflatable operators, hirers, event companies, parks, purchasers and resellers. Start with the application, identify the likely blower requirement, then assess running load, starting demand and energy cost.

Why blower selection matters

The largest motor is not automatically the best choice. An inflatable needs sufficient airflow at the pressure required by its design. The correct blower should therefore be selected from the inflatable's actual requirements and the manufacturer's specifications.

Electrical demand is only half the story

Once the blower is selected, you need to understand its running current, starting current and the energy consumed over the operating period — especially when several blowers share a generator or restricted electrical supply.

01 — Interactive selection tool

What are you powering?

Select the application that most closely matches your inflatable. The tool provides a starting-point recommendation from the Gibbons range. Final blower selection should always be confirmed against the inflatable manufacturer's required pressure, airflow and connection specification.

Blower & Energy Planner

This is a planning tool, not a substitute for a blower performance test. Where your inflatable supplier specifies a required airflow or pressure, use those figures as the primary selection criteria.

Application

Blower model

Number of blowers

Operating hours per day

Operating days per year

Supply voltage

Electricity price per kWh

6.0 A Combined running current

11.0 A Approx. combined start current

1.38 kVA Approx. apparent running load

11.04 kWh Estimated daily energy

Starting current is temporary. With multiple blowers, start motors sequentially rather than simultaneously where practical.

Estimated daily cost: £3.31 | Estimated annual cost: £165.60

Technical note: volts × amps gives apparent power (VA/kVA), not exact real power (W/kW). The energy figures above are therefore estimates based on apparent load. For accurate commercial energy costing, use measured real power/kWh or manufacturer electrical-input data.

02 — Selecting the blower

Application first. Horsepower second.

Inflatable size can be a useful indication of scale, but dimensions alone do not determine the correct blower. Different inflatables have different air requirements, operating pressures, construction, seams, valves and intended operating conditions.

01Identify inflatable

02Check required pressure

03Check required airflow

04Select suitable blower

Use manufacturer requirements wherever available

If the inflatable manufacturer states a minimum airflow or operating pressure, those values should take priority over a generic size-based recommendation. A blower that produces high airflow at the wrong pressure may not be the best solution.

03 — Gibbons examples

Published blower figures

Model	Motor	Airflow at 1.0 kPa	Running current	Starting current	Typical planning role
GX-900	1.0 hp	900 m³/hr	6.0 A	11 A	Smaller inflatables
GX-1250	1.5 hp	1,250 m³/hr	10.5 A	25 A	Medium / larger inflatables
GX-1650	2.0 hp	1,650 m³/hr	10.5 A	25 A	Large inflatables

04 — Understanding energy

How to calculate electricity use

Basic energy relationship Energy (kWh) = Real power (kW) × time (hours)

For a precise energy calculation, use the blower's actual real-power input. A plug-in power meter suitable for the load can provide measured watts and accumulated kWh. This is preferable to estimating kW from amps alone.

Running cost

If a blower uses 1.1 kW and runs for 8 hours, the simplified calculation is 1.1 × 8 = 8.8 kWh. At £0.30/kWh, that is £2.64.

Annual cost

If the same blower runs 50 days per year, the example becomes 8.8 × 50 = 440 kWh, or £132 at £0.30/kWh.

05 — Motor starting

Why starting several blowers together can be a problem

When an electric motor starts from stationary it must accelerate its rotating components to operating speed. The current drawn during this starting period can be substantially higher than the normal running current.

One GX-1250

A GX-1250 has a listed running current of 10.5 A and starting current of approximately 25 A. The 25 A figure is a temporary starting demand, not a continuous 25 A consumption.

Three GX-1250 blowers

Three units have a combined listed running current of 31.5 A. If all three started simultaneously, their nominal starting currents could total approximately 75 A. Actual system behaviour depends on the supply, motor characteristics and protection equipment.

Recommended practical sequence Start → reach speed → start next blower

Sequential starting reduces the chance that several motors impose their temporary starting demand on the generator or electrical circuit at the same instant. It does not eliminate starting current.

06 — Real-world scenarios

What this means for different users

Home users

For occasional use, check that the household circuit and socket are suitable for the blower. Estimate energy cost from measured or manufacturer-supplied real power and the time used.

Professional hirers

Calculate annual energy consumption across the blower fleet. When comparing equipment, consider useful airflow and pressure alongside electrical input, reliability and operating hours.

Public events

Temporary supplies and generators must accommodate the continuous blower load plus starting demand and every other connected load, including lighting, sound, catering and refrigeration.

Generator-powered events

Consider generator continuous rating, motor-starting capability, power factor, transient response and the distribution equipment. Starting multiple blowers together can cause an avoidable peak.

Indoor inflatable parks

Long daily operating hours and many continuously running blowers can make electricity a significant operating expense. Accurate metering is particularly valuable for forecasting and cost control.

Outdoor inflatable parks

Multiple large blowers may create substantial electrical demand. Distribution capacity, cable runs, voltage drop, protection and generator capacity all need consideration.

07 — Generator planning

Don't size a generator from blower horsepower alone

Simplified apparent-power relationship kVA ≈ Volts × Amps ÷ 1,000

Generator selection is more than adding motor horsepower. Consider the total continuous electrical load, motor starting requirements, generator starting capability, power factor, other equipment and the electrical distribution system.

Example: three GX-1250 blowers

At 230 V and 31.5 A combined running current, the simplified apparent running load is approximately 7.25 kVA. The temporary starting demand can be much higher, which is why generator transient performance and sequential startup matter.

Generator sizing, temporary distribution, circuit protection, cable selection and voltage-drop calculations should be assessed by a suitably competent electrical professional and in accordance with applicable local requirements.

08 — Purchasing & resale

What should buyers compare?

Performance

Airflow at a stated pressure, operating pressure capability and the blower's suitability for the inflatable should be compared.

Electrical demand

Running current, starting current, voltage, real electrical input and compatibility with generators or site supplies should be checked.

Whole-life cost

Purchase price is only one part of the equation. Consider energy, maintenance, reliability, operating hours and expected service life.

Practical operation

Weight, handling, stacking, protection, environmental suitability, noise and connection arrangements can all affect the real-world value.

09 — FAQs

Blower energy questions

Does a 1.5 hp blower use 1.5 hp of electricity?

No. Horsepower is a motor-output rating. Electrical input depends on motor efficiency, power factor, operating conditions and the blower's design.

Does a bigger blower always cost more to run?

Not necessarily. The useful comparison is the electrical input required to deliver the airflow and pressure actually required by the inflatable.

Why does a generator struggle when a blower starts?

The motor can draw substantially more current during acceleration from stationary. This temporary demand can cause a voltage dip or overload response if the generator or circuit is insufficient.

Should multiple blowers be switched on together?

Where practical, no. Start them sequentially and allow each motor to reach normal speed before starting the next. Follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions and site electrical procedures.

Can amps be used to calculate exact kWh?

Not by themselves. Volts × amps gives apparent power. Accurate real energy consumption requires real-power information, including the effects of power factor, or direct kWh measurement.

How do I measure actual consumption?

Use a suitable power meter capable of safely measuring the blower's supply. For commercial installations, measurements should be carried out using appropriate equipment by a suitably competent person.

10 — Key takeaway

Choose performance first. Then plan the power.

The correct blower is the one that provides the required airflow and pressure for the inflatable while fitting the available electrical infrastructure. Once that blower is selected, calculate the running load, understand the temporary starting demand and estimate the energy cost from actual or reliable electrical-input data.

For a single domestic inflatable this may be a simple calculation. For a hire fleet, public event or inflatable park, the same principles become essential for generator sizing, distribution planning and controlling operating costs.

Find the right Gibbons blower

Explore the Gibbons range and compare blower performance and electrical requirements for your application.

Electrical safety: This guide is for general information and planning. It is not a substitute for electrical design, risk assessment or professional electrical advice. Always use the latest manufacturer specifications and applicable local requirements when designing or operating electrical supplies, generators or temporary installations.