Table Of Content
These midsized generators provide 2,500 to 4,900-plus watts of power, and they weigh about 80 to 180 pounds. They pack plenty of power for a boat, an RV, or a camper, or they can power a few household essentials using heavy-duty extension cords. Note both the price and the power output when you’re shopping; inverter models that deliver modest amounts of power can be pricier than higher-output traditional portables.
Maintain an adequate fuel supply.
Portable and inverter generators can be moved around, and they come in different sizes. Some are smaller for transporting to a tailgate, while others are better kept on your property as a backup power source. And portable power stations are large batteries that store electricity for when you need it. They are the only option for someone who lives in an apartment and has no way to safely run a generator outdoors.
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Workwear & Safety
Don’t ever have gas generator run indoors or in a closed garage, as it releases deadly carbon monoxide. Once it’s off, store it in your garage or shed to protect it from the elements. For added safety, look for a generator with automatic carbon monoxide shutoff.
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Investing in a standby generator is one of the best ways to keep your most important appliances up and running and help everyone inside stay a little more comfortable. When shopping for a whole house generator, it’s important to make sure you purchase the right transfer switch. This component is a crucial link between your generator and your home’s electrical system.
Installing a whole house generator or its transfer switch is a job best done by an experienced professional to ensure compliance with local safety codes. Another potentially helpful indicator for some homeowners, low oil protection options account for 5% of the total best whole house generators ranking. Whether or not each generator offered an electric start feature gained or lost a generator points to amount to 5% of the total ranking.
Installation
This popular generator model maximizes power output but minimizes space requirements. The housing of the unit is 4 feet long and 2 feet wide, which is larger than the most compact generators available but on par with typical whole-home generators. Generac also equipped this unit with a Quiet-Test weekly self-test mode that operates at just 57 decibels. During regular operation, the generator is rated for 67 decibels, which is average operating noise but impressive for a generator of this power capacity. Keep in mind that this model doesn’t include a transfer switch, so you’ll need to purchase that separately.
Managing the load on your generator protects it from being overloaded by exceeding its capacity. When power from the grid initially fails, and the ATS turns on the generator, there may be too many items in the home calling for electricity. The load management device “sheds” the requests from low-priority devices while maintaining current to the more crucial systems and appliances. A very small number of generators also run on natural gas, although some propane-powered models can be converted to also run on natural gas. The benefits of using a generator or power pack are, of course, being able to keep your electronics charged and working during a power outage.
The generator also has exterior system-status lights to keep you informed of maintenance needs. Standby generators used in larger homes often run on natural gas or propane. These power plants are more environmentally friendly than others because of the way they generate electricity. However, it's vital to note that natural gas-powered generators must be plugged into the home's gas system and will only function as long as the gas supply is not disrupted. Some generators are dual fuel, like the DuroMax XP13000EH Dual Fuel Portable Generator.
Electric Start (5%)
These generators are best for people who don't want to lose power in their homes at all — they will kick on within a matter of seconds. Some can be monitored from your phone and even run self-tests to ensure emergency power is always available. This generator from Generac’s Protector line is designed to power large homes and commercial buildings. While it is powerful and built to withstand stormy or freezing conditions, it might be too big for an average-sized home.
For camping, recreational use, or light-duty emergency backup, we recommend the Honda EU2200i 2,200-watt inverter generator. In our tests, it sustained a much larger electrical load than the other models—surpassing the point when other, similarly sized generators would overload—due to its large Honda engine. It may look small, but an engine’s size is denoted by its displacement (the volume of the cylinders), and the Honda EU2200i has a 121-cubic-centimeter engine, in contrast to the 80 cc engines of the other models. They all weigh about 50 pounds, and they have a running watts of about 1,800 and a starting watts of around 2,200. They’re equipped with a 1-gallon gas tank and the same number of outlets, and they’re very similar in design overall.
• These units cost the most money and should be installed by a pro (so factor in labor costs). An experienced electrician can help with town or municipal permits, noise restrictions, and proper location. For a more complete list, check out our report on how to pick the right size generator for your house. If you have a larger home, or want a complete home backup, you can connect up to four Tank Pro 4000 expansion batteries, bringing the capacity up to a tremendous 20kW. In subsequent updates, outdated and unavailable products have been replaced by new releases and other models that have proven their quality over time.
The North American Electric Reliability Corp recently warned that much of the country faces an increased risk of blackouts during extreme weather events. If it feels like extreme weather is getting more common, you aren't just imagining it. Research shows that extreme weather events have become more frequent over the last two decades and are causing more destruction than ever before. Automatic StartWhen the power goes off, the generator goes on—without you lifting a finger.
The generator also has an onboard multilingual LCD display in case the power outage affects the internet. We chose low-wattage and high-wattage generators for this list to accommodate the power needs of both smaller and larger homes. Similarly, we gave preference to dual-fuel generators because having a generator that can run on more than one type of fuel in an emergency is always better. The investment you make in a generator is often backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. Most residential portable and inverter generators are protected by a 2- or 3-year warranty period that covers parts and labor.
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