Portable Generator Buying Guide

Portable generators come in handy in many situations where you need power but don’t necessarily have access to it. In the home during storms or natural disasters a portable generator can be a lifeline that makes living conditions more bearable. When camping or working offsite a generator can also come in very handy or allow for a job to be done more efficiently and effectively.

Shopping for a portable generator is not as difficult as one might imagine. What you need to do is determine how you will be using your portable generator, as this will help determine what kind of generator you should buy.

Basic Types of Portable Generators For Home and Recreational Use

• Emergency Portable Generator: This type of generator is meant to temporarily connect the household electrical system so you can have enough power to run essential appliances or devices such as the oven or the refrigerator. An emergency portable generator is also known as a home generator. Most of the emergency or home portable generators are able to move power from the generator to the house by extension cords, although some have a power transfer system. These generators average 3kW to 10kW of power.
• Recreational Portable Generator: This type of portable generator is a great option for camping, use in a recreational vehicle, or even when you’re tailgating. The generator has enough power output to power up small appliances for longer periods of time or larger appliances for shorter periods of time. These generators usually average 3kW to 5kW in power.

Beneficial Features To Look For When You Buy

There are many different portable generators on the market today with a lot of different bells and whistles. Some models are very basic and will provide you with the power you need and that is about it. Other models have all of the bells and whistles on them and you’ll not need to do much to get the power you need. Some models fall somewhere between these two ends of the spectrum. While all of the models will do their job, there are some features that will make using the generator much easier.

• Electric Start. This is a great feature because it makes starting your generator so much easier. When an electric start there is no need to struggle with a starter rope, just turn a key or push a button and the generator will start up.
• Low Oil Shutdown. This is an important feature to have. This feature will shut down the engine when the oil level drops too low.
• Idle Control. This is a fuel saving feature that is nice to have. Basically it will turn the throttle down on the engine when no power is being drawn from the alternator. This will also allow for your portable generator to last longer because it cuts down on engine wear and tear.
• Hour Meter. This is a nice feature because it allows for you to keep track of how long the engine has been running. This helps to schedule maintenance and also lets you know how long you have left with the fuel that is in the generator before you need to fill up again.
• Portability Kit. A portability kit is important if you will be moving the generator around. Most generators are not all that heavy, but they are bulky, which makes them hard to move. A portability kit is basically wheels and handles that are for use with the generator so you can easily move it from location to location as needed.
• Large Fuel Tank. If you are going to be using your portable generator for lengthy periods of time a nice feature is a larger gas tank. Large is considered five gallons or more. When you have five gallons or more you can expect your generator to run for five to seven hours, or in some cases more. This is very convenient as it will do away with needed to refuel.

Portable Generator Fuel Considerations

There are a few considerations when consider a gas generator. All of them have pros and cons, so it is important to choose the one that best fits your needs.

Gas Generators: Gas generators are chosen by many people because they are simply more accessible than a lot of other generators currently available on the market today. In addition, the gas can be stored in any number of containers and can be used from place to place. Gas generators are also reliable in the amount of power that they can produce and are considered very dependable. Of course, the biggest issue with gas generators is that they are not all that environmentally friendly as they emit greenhouse gases. Gasoline is often difficult to come by in emergency situations, as well.

Propane: Propane portable generators are preferable over gasoline generators to many consumers who take the time to learn about both. One of the best things about propane generators is that the gas burns much more cleanly and will not produce the toxic fumes and gases. The propane is also prefilled into tanks, so there are no messy refueling issues associated with these generators. The only possible deterrent associated with propane generators is finding propane, especially in times of emergency.

Diesel: Diesel generators are some of the most powerful on the market in that they have a strong electrical output that is very dependable. Diesel can be stored for longer periods of time than gasoline as well. The issue with diesel generators is that they tend to be hazardous to your health because of the sulfur levels and gases and toxins that it releases when the fuel burns.

Natural Gas Generators: Natural gas generators are gaining in popularity. Natural gas is the gas that your home uses to provide power to gas powered appliances such as ovens, dryers, heaters, and even water heaters. Natural gas generators are nice because they use the gas that is already in the installed pipelines coming to your home. The benefits of this type of generator is that the fuel is cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient. Unfortunately, most natural gas generators are not portable.

Recommended Portable Generator Models

Kipor IG1000 1000 Watt Inverter Gas Powered Generator

This is the perfect gasoline generator to take with you when you go camping, tailgating, or if you will be spending time in an RV and would like a backup power source. There are many benefits associated with this generator including:

• Light weight of just 30 pounds making transporting very simple.
• The inverter technology allows for 1,000W max load and a 900W continuous load
• Smart throttle matches engine speed to load for greater fuel efficiency.
• Overload alarm
• Low oil alarm
• Surge protector
• Recoil start

DuroMax XP4400E 4,400 Watt 6.5 HP Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator

This is a very highly rated portable gas generator that is perfect for home and emergency use. This can be just what is needed during a power outage and has many beneficial features such as:

• 4400 Watt Surge Capacity and 3500 Watt Continuous Capacity
• 4 gallon gas tank
• Eight hour run time
• Electric key start
• EPA and CARB approved
• Automatic low oil shut off feature

Champion Power Equipment 71108 4,200 Watt 4-Cycle Propane Powered Generator

This is a very dependable and highly rates propane powered generator that is very affordable. There are many great features associated with this model including:

• 4,200 watt surge capability and 3,500 watt continuous capability
• Propane powered
• Three function display includes volts, frequency, and operating hours
• Ability to connect to standard propane tank with included hose
• 10 inch wheels and fold away handle to make moving simple

All Power America APG3560 6,000 Watt Propane Powered Generator

If you have been looking for a propane powered generator with all of the features that you need to make running a generator a cinch, this is the generator for you. Features include but are not limited to:

• 6,000 watt surge and 5,000 continuous capability
• Electric start and electric pull
• Two AC 120V outlets
• One AC 120V twist-lock outlet
• One AC 120V/240V twist lock outlet
• One DC 12V outlet
• Hour meter
• Included Propane fuel hose

ETQ DG4LE 4,900 Watt Diesel Powered Portable Generator

If you are looking for a diesel powered portable generator that is both powerful and easy to move around this is a generator worth considering. Some of the features include:

• 4900 watt power capacity
• Ability to run most appliances
• Operates at 82DB
• Ability to run for 11 hours at half load
• 1 year warranty

All Power America APG3201 6,500 Watt Diesel Powered Generator

This portable diesel powered generator is one of the top rated diesel generators on the market. Some of the features that allow for this to be a consumer favorite include:

• 6,500 watt surge and 5,000 watt continuous
• 10 Horsepower 4 stroke engine
• Eight hour run time at half load
• Voltage and hour meters
• 2 120 volt AC outlets
• 1 120 volt twist lock outlet
• 1 120/240 volt twist lock outlet
• 1 12 volt DC outlet
• EPA approved
• 1 year warranty

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