Best Generator Buying Guide

A home generator helps you prep for an emergency. In a pinch, it can keep the lights, appliances, heating systems, air conditioning, sump pumps, WiFi, and other necessities running, saving you money by keeping your food from spoiling and basement from flooding. For people with electrically powered medical devices, it can be a lifesaver, too.

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And as power outages happen more often and last longer, a generator is becoming a must-have layer of protection in places across the country. A  Associated Press study found that climate change-induced wildfires, hurricanes, and ice storms have doubled the number of U.S. power outages over the past 20 years. In , the last year for which data are available, the average electrical outage in the U.S. increased to 5½ hours from a little more than 3 hours in , according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Hurricanes, ice storms, and other weather events are largely to blame, as well as smaller, more localized storms that bring down trees and power lines.

But while a generator can be a lifesaver during severe weather, it can also pose dangers if you don&#;t take precautions. People tend to buy generators around major storms. Working by flashlight, they&#;re often in a rush to get the power up and running and might skip over critical safety steps while connecting a generator to appliances or the electrical panel in their homes (see below). And dozens of people die every year from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning related to generators.

We don&#;t want you&#;or anyone else relying on a generator&#;to be one of those people. Always use a generator outside, a minimum of 20 feet from your home, with the exhaust directed away from the house. And make sure your residence is outfitted with working carbon monoxide detectors on every level before you fire up a generator.

Starting Watts

Starting watts are important to consider when selecting a generator for your needs, as some appliances or devices require a additional amount of power to start up than they do to run. For example, an air conditioner may require 2,000 watts of starting power, but only 1,500 watts of running power.

Running Watts

Running watts is important to consider when selecting a generator for your needs, as it determines you can power. For example, if you plan to use your generator to power a refrigerator, you'll need a generator that can provide enough running watts to handle the refrigerator's startup and running power requirements.

Here's a breakdown of appliances and running watts.

What Can You Power?

Watt Starting / Watt Continuous

13,500 BTU RV
Air Conditioner

W

Electric Grill

W

TV

150W

Mini Fridge

100W

LED String
Lights

15W

Watt-hour (Wh) capacity

Watt-hours are often used to calculate the amount of energy an appliance or device over a certain period, especially for portable battery-powered stations. For example, if you have a refrigerator that uses 100 watts of power and you want to know how much energy it will consume in a day, you would calculate the total watt-hours by multiplying the power consumption (100 watts) by the number of hours in a day (24 hours), which equals 2,400 watt-hours (or 2.4 kWh).

Watt-hours are an important consideration when selecting a Watt-hours are an important consideration when selecting a portable power station or calculating your power needs, as they help you determine how much energy you'll need to power your appliances or devices over a certain period.

What does peak output mean?

Peak output is similar to starting watts in generator which Peak output is similar to starting watts in generators which support devices with surge/additional starting watts like refrigerators. Running Watts are the continuous watts that a power station can provide until it consumes all battery stored energy. "Wh" is the Battery capacity or pre-stored energy available for user to consume.

For example, The JACKERY Explorer 400 Watt Peak Output 290Wh Portable Power Station provides 290Wh of power with 200W continuous and 400W peak output.

Common portable power stations sizes are:

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Peak output is an important specification to consider when Peak Peak output is an important specification to consider when selecting a portable power station, especially if you plan to use it for appliances or devices with high power demands. It's important to ensure that the power station's peak wattage is sufficient to handle the initial surge of power required to start up these appliances or devices.

Start Type

The start type refers to the method used to start the generator's engine. Predator generators have two different types of start methods. Recoil start, and electric start.

• Recoil start: A manual start method where the user pulls a cord to start the engine.

• Electric start: A start method where the user pushes a button or switch to start the engine. This type of start requires a battery to power the starter motor.

The start type is an important consideration when selecting a generator, as it affects the ease and convenience of starting the generator, as well as the additional equipment required, such as batteries.

Sound Rating

Sound rating refers to the amount of noise that a generator Sound rating refers to the amount of noise that a generator produces while it's operating. The sound rating is typically measured in decibels (dBA), which is a unit of measurement for sound level. Generators produce noise as a result of the combustion process and the mechanical components of the engine and generator.

The sound rating of a generator is an important consideration, especially if you plan to use the generator in a residential area or another noise-sensitive environment such as campgrounds or national parks.

Closed-frame SUPER QUIET inverter generators are the quietest option.

Run Time

Run time refers to the amount of time that a generator can operate on a single tank of fuel at a given load. The run time of a generator can vary depending on several factors, such as the size and type of the generator, the engine efficiency at different ambient conditions, and the load on the generator.

The run time of a generator is typically specified by the manufacturer and is based on a specific load, such as 25% or 50% of the generator's rated power output. Ultimately, the runtime is simply how long on average the generator will last one a tank of gas. The run time can vary depending on the load, with higher loads reducing the run time due to increased fuel consumption.

It's important to consider the run time of a generator when selecting one for your needs and to ensure that it can provide sufficient power for the duration of your intended use without requiring frequent refueling.

Carbon Monoxide Safety

To ensure carbon monoxide safety when using a generator, it's important to follow these guidelines:

• Always operate the generator outdoors in a well-ventilated area. Do not operate the generator in an enclosed space, such as a garage, even with the door open.

• Do not operate the generator in wet conditions or next to standing water. This can increase the risk of electrical shock and can damage the generator.

• Turn off the generator and allow it to cool before refueling. Spilled fuel can ignite and cause a fire or explosion.

By following these guidelines and taking other precautions, such as properly maintaining the generator and using it according to the manufacturer's instructions, you can help ensure carbon monoxide safety when using a generator.

All Predator generators from Harbor Freight now have a safety feature called CO Secure, which shuts off the generator automatically when harmful level of carbon monoxide is detected.

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