The generator has to be clean power. No ordinary one will do. For the PA 300, you will need to be able to put out 60 amps...Or have 3 phase output...which will lower the requirement of course. Some TA predators had 3 phase output that would work it, but then, of course, you already have a stick welder if you have one of those. lol. The PA 200 is less demanding though and can be used already with a 40 amp output. Keep in mind that watts is Volts X amps. So whatever your voltage is on input and your max amp requirement is, that is the wattage you need to buy (for peak).