How to Choose the Right Portable Generator For You

By David Clair



Before we get into choosing a portable generator, let's review exactly what a portable generator is, and what the standard uses for them are.

What is a portable generator? Typical portable generators are fueled by unleaded gasoline and have standard 120-volt power outlets like the outlets you have on the walls of your home.

What can portable generators be used for? Portable generators are extremely versatile and can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Among the most common uses of a portable generator are:

- Providing power for a home in an emergency

- Power in locations that do not have access to standard eletric outlets

- Recreational use, such as at campsites and in RVs.

How do I use a portable generator? When the generator is running, you simply plug in your tools or appliances into the 120-volt (standard) electric outlets. Some models of generators also have 240-volt outlets. 240-volt outlets are used for large appliances like clothes dryers.

Now, let's talk about what to look for when choosing the right portable generator for you.

How high of a power capacity do I need?
Generators use two basic power measurements: peak power (sometimes referred to as startup power), and continuous power. Both kinds of power are measured in wattage.

- Peak power is the required wattage that appliances need at startup or when they are running at their highest power consumption levels.

- Continuous power is the required wattage to operate appliances under normal circumstances.

What are standby generators? Standby generators are generators that create anywhere from 5,000 to 25,000 watts of power (sometimes even more). You need to choose a generator that supplies enough peak power and continuous power for the appliances that you need to keep powered.

What are you going to use your generator for? For recreational use, A small 1,000-watt portable generator could be all you will need. If you need to power tools at a remote jobsite, you could require up to about 8,000 watts of power.

Another thing to consider is how many outlets you will need on your generator. Make sure there are enough outlets to power all of the appliances you will be using at one time.

The size of the fuel tank is another consideration and is very important. Depending on how long you will potentially need your portable generator to run, you may need a larger fuel tank. The larger the fuel tank, the longer your generator will be able to run without refueling.

Now that you know what to look for, you can compare different portable generators and find out which one will meet your needs. A good resource for your research can be found at this portable generator reference website.

What can portable generators be used for? Portable generators are extremely versatile and can be used for a wide variety of purposes.

What Type of Portable Generators Do You Need?

By MJ Marks



When I think of portable generators, I think of something that can generate energy in an emergency or at a powerless location (up in the mountains), that can be carried. Well, with a little research, it didn't take me long to discover that there is a lot more to portable generators, and that they can be divided into three different styles. They are:

1. Recreational
2. Emergency
3. Professional

So, lets take a look at each of these categories so that you can find the best portable generator for your personal needs.

Recreational Portable Generators

Now, I did kind of have it right, portable generators allow you to take the convenience of home with you no matter where you go. But you also have to be careful. There is nothing worse than being at a remote campground and having somebody pull up, set up their tent and then start their noisy generator so they can watch a movie. It takes the peace out of being one with nature. When in the outdoors, stick to a recreational generator. They are typically small with low wattage and do not make as much noise as an emergency or professional generator.

The most common sizes that a recreational generator comes in is 1000 watts and 2000 watts. The smaller of the two is good for running only one or two appliances at a time, the larger one will usually allow you to run multiple appliances simultaneously. But always be aware of how much wattage each appliance takes, they should all have a plate on the back letting you know their wattage, that way you can unplug and plug in appliances as needed without overloading your generator.

Emergency Portable Generators

The modern world is very dependent on electricity, and though it can be a fun family evening sitting around in the dark with only candlelight or a fireplace, lack of power can cause some real problems. Security systems can fail, food can spoil, basements can flood, and if you live in the country on your own well, you typically lose your water along with the power. These can be real problems if power is out for an extended period of time. To solve these problems, many people use portable generators as an emergency back up, and your little recreational generator will not do the trick!

Now, to know how much power you need if your power goes out, you can figure it the long way by looking at every appliance needed and tallying up the total wattage, or you can use a general rule of thumb.

Medium portable generators (30000 - 6000 watts) will allow you to power multiple appliances; however, any appliance that has a motor (fridge, furnace, sump pump, freezer) takes more power and you would not want to run two of these at the same time on this small of a generator. You would have to rotate the major appliances that you need to run. So, the cost is less, but it takes more effort to keep things going.

If you want more power, you can move up to the 7000 - 9000 watt range, this will allow you to power multiple rooms or a couple of larger, motorized appliances at one. But even this size is not enough if you want to run an air conditioner.

If you want central AC, you have to get the extra large portable generators that are 10,000+ watts. These will restore power to most of your house, assuming your home is not very large. But if you are running a central air conditioner, check the amount of energy that your AC needs to make sure that you get a generator that is big enough.

Professional Generators

These portable generators are typically used on a job site, and the sizing is basically the same as for emergency generators. You have to consider how big the job is, and how much equipment and tools you need the generator to power. Professional generators are typically a bit beefier than their home emergency counter parts, they are designed to hold up under rougher conditions.

Personally, when in the outdoors, I do not need to power a coffee maker, TV or mini fridge. But having been in many black outs, I do like the idea of the emergency portable generators. Especially having lived in the country and know what it is like to have to melt snow on a wood burning stove just to flush a toilet! But how about you, do you have any need for a portable generator?

MJ writes for ClickShops Inc, which offers a great selection of portable generators
Whether you need power when in remote areas, or want an emergency back up power source for your home, or you need power on a job site, a portable generator is what you need. But how do you know what size you need? Find out some general guidelines and...