Having a generator on hand can be a lifesaver during emergencies such as blackouts or natural disasters. It can help the household keep their power going to keep their food from going bad or to run space heaters when the power goes out during snowstorms. Emergencies aren’t the only circumstances in which these devices can be handy, however. Having the best generator available can also mean that you have the power you need for charging an electric car, for powering outside tools and for camping. Of course, you first have to find the best generator possible before you can complete those tasks, but that’s an easy thing to accomplish thanks to the top ten list below that’s been compiled for you.
10. Champion Portable 1200-Watt
This multi-purpose 1200-watt unit is ideal for anyone who wants to be prepared for the next snowstorm, hurricane or tornado. It’s also a good unit for hunting or fishing, for boating, using on the family RV or for tackling small jobs around the home. It will produce 1500 starting watts and then maintain 1200 running watts during its operation. It has an operating decibel level of 65dBA at a distance of 23-feet and can run up to 10-hours on a full tank of gas if it’s operated at fifty percent load. Other features incorporated into this unit include a built-in surge protector, cold start technology, and a 120V 20-Amp household outlet.
9. DuroStar DS4000S Portable 3300 Watts
With a 7-HP OHV engine that can pump out 3,300 running watts, this unit has enough power to light up some low wattage items such as lighting, as well as a large appliance such as a full-sized refrigerator or a small air conditioner. Which makes it a good unit to keep around the house for emergencies. It has a 4-gallon gas tank that gives about 8-hours of run time at 50% output and is pretty durable thanks to a heavy-duty steel frame. Other key components that are integrated into this unit include a low-oil shutoff mechanism, a quiet muffler to reduce engine noise and an EZ-pull recoil start.
8. Westinghouse iGen2200 Portable 1,800 Watts
Weighing under 50-pounds and powered by gasoline, this portable unit is perfect for a variety of different purposes from camping to powering outside tools and for use during an emergency. It has a quiet 52 dB noise level, and a 12-hour run time at 25% load on its small 1.2-gallon gas tank. This unit has built-in 120-volt and USB ports, so powering small appliances such as TVs or air conditions is quite simple. And if this unit doesn’t supply the necessary power for a particular job, it can be paired with another Westinghouse unit using a parallel cord, which can be purchased separately.
7. Yamaha EF2000iSv2 Portable 1600 Watts
Designed to be a portable power source that can be used for a variety of different purposes, the Yamaha EF2000iSv2 has a number of features that make it a very useful tool. It has a starting wattage of 2,000 watts and a running wattage of 1,600 watts, enough power to supply a variety of small appliance and has an inverter system with Pulse Width Modulation control. It is also CARB compliant, a smart throttle that varies engine speed on load and a quiet muffler. Other features found on this unit include a fuel gauge and petcock, the capability to be run in parallel with another Yamaha unit and oil watch warning system.
6. Wen 56310i 3,100-Watt System
Regardless of whether this unit is used for power outages, for powering small tools around the workshop or for using on campgrounds, this 3,100-watt unit uses a 212cc 4-stroke OHV engine that can operate at 57 decibels when the unit is running at 25% load. This model also has a lightweight design that has a collapsible handle and built-in wheels that make it easy to take from place to place. Other integrated parts found in this unit include 2 three-prong 120-volt receptacles, 1 12-volt DC receptacle, 2 5-volt USB ports and 1 120-volt AC receptacle. It is also equipped with overload protection and a low-oil shutdown warning system.
5. Wen 56200i Portable 2000-Watt
Generating 2,000 surge watts of power, this unit will be found useful by a number of different people for different applications. It provides enough power to power small appliances using a 79.7cc 4-stroke PHV engine that produces only 51-decibels of sound at 25% load, which is quieter than most window AC units. And since it limits total harmonic distortion, it provides power that’s safe enough to run tablets, monitors, smartphones, and computers. This unit is EPA III and CARB compliant and has two 3-prong 120-volt receptacles, one 5-volt USB port, and one 12-volt receptacle.
4. Champion Dual Fuel Portable 3,800 Watts With Electric Start
With the ability to run off either gasoline or propane, this unit provides the user with the versatility they need for just about any situation. It can be used out at a campsite, around the home or in the workshop and will provide clean reliable power. It can run up to 9-hours on a completely full tank of gas, has a noise level of about 68 decibels from a distance of 23-feet and provides 4,750 starting watts and 3,800 running watts. Other features this unit has included a propane hose, touch start capability, a safety fuel selector switch, a portable folding handle and never-flat tires.
3. Champion Portable 3100-Watts With Remote Start
An ideal unit for powering things around the home or on an RV, this Champion unit has 3,100 starting watts and 2,800 running watts and can provide up to 8-hours of run time at a 25% load. It’s fairly quiet with only a 58-decibel level and also has a convenient electric start with a three position ignition switch. It also provides power stable enough for running electronics such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones that are plugged into its dual USB adapter. Other features users can expect to find on this system include two 120-volt 20-Amp household outlets, a 120-volt 30-Amp RV plug, and a wireless remote start.
2. Champion RV Ready Portable 3,500 Watts System
Equipped to deliver 4,000 starting watts and 3,500 running watts, this system can run for up to 12-hours at 50% load on a full tank of gas and only make about 68 decibels of sound from a distance of 25-feet. It’s also equipped with a 120-volt 30-AmpL5-30R outlet, a 120-volt 30-Amp RV TT-30R outlet, and 120-volt 20-amp 5-20R household outlet. It is also designed with an auto-voltage regulator with a voltmeter, a low-oil shutoff sensor, and cold-start technology. And since this unit has a high-quality steel frame that makes it very durable, this unit is sure to provide many years of power.
1. Honda EU2000T1A1 2000Watt Portable Unit
While this might be a stylish looking unit, it’s also one that delivers some serious power. It can power provide power for up to 8-hours on a single gallon of gas and has an operating noise level that’s more than acceptable. And since it’s a compact unit, it’s easy to take from one location to another. This unit is designed to power small appliances such as televisions or DVD players, coffee pots and small refrigerators. It can also be used to power tools on job sites that don’t have access to conventional power sources. All in all, this is a unit that’s sure to provide the power a person needs when they need it without exception.
Generator Buying Guide
The last thing a person should ever do is to wait until their lights are out to consider buying a generator. That’s because by then, it will be too late and their household is utterly dark. The best time to buy a generator is before disaster strikes, and believe us when we tell you that disaster is always just around the corner.
Although some people don’t think they have to worry about blackouts, the truth of the matter is that more people are vulnerable to them than they realize. That’s because blackouts can be caused by so many different factors. Aging infrastructure, solar winds, thunderstorms, snowstorms, ice storms, and heatwaves can all cause power outages. It’s not a question of if the power is going to go out, it’s a question of when it’s going to go out.
Now that we’re all facing the possibility that a power outage can indeed occur in our neighborhood, town or city, it’s time to think about what type of generator a person may need for their home. And unfortunately, too many people feel buying a generator is too difficult of a process. However, we’re here to tell our readers that isn’t the case at all. Finding and buying a new generator is a whole lot simpler than most people think. And to prove it, we’ve written this guide that will allow anyone reading it to navigate through the process of buying a new generator, so let’s get started right away.
First Consider The Generator Type
It’s important to consider the type of generator needed before deciding on anything else. As a general rule, generators come in a number of different models and these include Portable Generators, Standby Generators, Camping Generators, and Agricultural Compressors. Let’s take a look at each type.
Portable Generators
These are some of the more popular generators because they’re used for so many different purposes. They’re also one of the more inexpensive models available. For the most part, portable generators are powered by gasoline, diesel, natural gas or liquid propane, and their prices start at about $100. They’re also available in sizes from 800-watts up to 18,000-watts.
Standby Generators
Standby generators are designed as the backup for a home’s electrical system and as a result, are usually available in sizes from 6,000-watts up to 150,000-watts. They’re also some of the more expensive models available—with prices starting at about $1,600. These generators aren’t powered by gasoline, however. No, most of them either use natural gas, diesel or liquid propane.
Camping Generators
Camping generators are very similar to portable generators, except most of them are a little quieter than portable models. These generators begin at about $150 and range in power from 800-watts up to 16,000-watts. They’re usually powered by gasoline, but can also be powered by liquid propane, natural gas or diesel.
Agricultural Generators
Agricultural generators, also known as farm generators, are usually powered by a tractor, and their price-tag usually begins at about $1,400. Although these generators are only used by some farms, they’re still one of the options available and are available in the 10,000-watts to 150,000-watts power range.
Determining Generator Size
Once a person has determined what type of generator they want or can afford, they next need to determine how much power the generator needs to have for it to suit their particular needs. To determine how many watts are needed, a person first has to figure out what they intend on powering when the lights go out. Do they want to power the entire house, or do they just want to power select appliances? All of those factors will determine what size generator is needed in the home. Below we’ve listed some of the average wattages for popular home appliances. It should be noted that the following are only the average watts of each appliance and a person’s particular appliances’ power needs may be different.
Common Household Appliances
- Energy-Star Compliant Refrigerator: 1,200 Starting Watts; 192 Running Watts
- Energy-Star Compliant Freezer: 1,200 Starting Watts; 200 Running Watts
- 750-Watt Microwave: 1,000-Watts
- 1,000-Watt Microwave: 1,500-Watts
- Tube-Style TV: 300-Watts
- Flat Screen TV: 120-Watts
- Coffee Maker: 600-Watts
- Dishwasher: 540 Starting Watts; 220 Running Watts
- Electric Range: 2,100-Watts
- Washing Machine: 1,200-Watts
- Clothes Dryer: 6,750 Starting Watts; 5,400 Running Watts
Heating & Air Conditioning
- 1/6-HP Furnace: 750 Starting Watts; 500 Running Watts
- 10,000 BTU Air Conditioner: 2,200 Starting Watts; 1,500 Running Watts
Some Final Features To Consider
Now that we’ve determined the type of generator and the power of the generator needed, it’s time to think about just a few more features. The following features aren’t a necessity, but they can make operating the generator and a whole lot easier. Let’s take a closer look at some of these features, shall we?
Additional Features
- Outlets protected by circuit breakers
- Wheel kits for portability
- Integrated fuel gauges
- Larger-size fuel tanks
- Low-tone mufflers
Basic Generator Safety Tips
We would like to end this guide with a little discussion on the safety precautions a person needs to keep in mind when operating a generator. Although generators are generally very safe when they’re properly used, they can quickly become dangerous appliances if proper precautions aren’t taken, the generators are misused or aren’t installed according to the manufacturer’s directions and best practices. Even though the following list isn’t an exhaustive list of all of the safety precautions that need to be taken when operating a generator, it is an overview of some of the more basic safety precautions. As is always the case, be sure to read all of the manufacturer’s directions for installation and use, and follow all of their guidelines to the letter.
- Read all manufacturer’s instructions
- Never run a generator indoors or in partly enclosed areas
- Only use the generator outdoors
- Install the generator away from doors, windows, crawlspaces, and vents.
- Always ensure proper ventilation is provided at all times
- Install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors indoors when using a generator
- Don’t smoke around generators
- Don’t overfill the generator’s fuel tank
- Never add gasoline while the generator is running
