5 Top Performing Portable Generators for Your Home

Portable generators can allow you to continue your daily life during a power outage. Depending on how powerful the generator is, you could power your entire house or at least the essentials.

What Is a Portable Generator?

A portable generator is a device that uses fuel to provide temporary energy to your home. What type of fuel it takes depends on the generator model. Most models take either gasoline or diesel, and some are able to use either type of fuel. You may also need to mix a particular type of engine oil with the fuel in order for the generator to operate. Check the product description to know what type of oil you need.

Portable generators have an outlet on the device that you use to connect to a sub-panel of your home. You could also plug electrical tools and appliances into the sockets on the device.

What Are the Benefits of Having a Portable Generator?

The benefits of having a portable generator are many, including:

• Less expensive
• Easy to move
• Can be set up by yourself
• Smaller
• Possible to use while camping

What Should You Look for in a Portable Generator

Electric start is a good feature to look for in a portable generator because it’s easier to turn on the device. You press a button to turn it on rather than yanking a handle. If someone in your household isn’t strong, then they might not be able to start a model that relies on pull starting.

A fuel gauge is helpful because you need to let the generator cool down once it runs out of fuel before turning it back on. You can estimate how many more hours you can get out of the runtime when the device has a fuel gauge. Some models even give you an estimate in hours.

When the generator is too low on oil, damage can occur to the engine. To always have peace of mind your generator won’t break if you accidentally put too little oil inside, you should choose a model that automatically shuts off when it’s low on oil.

Some models have an alternative fuel capacity, which means they can operate with more than one fuel source. This isn’t an essential, but it’s nice to have. Models with this feature are usually called dual fuel.

To sum it up, you want:

• Adequate starting and running wants
• A fuel gauge
• Low-oil shutoff
• Electric start

The Top 5 Portable Generators

Here are our top picks for portable generators.

Champion 200966 3500-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator

Google’s Rating 4.8

Champion 200966 Description and Specifications

Champion is an affordable brand that manufactures a wide range of generators from 1,200 watts to 12,000 watts. The Champion 200966 is a 3,500-watt generator that can run for up to 14 hours before needing a fuel refill. It can take gasoline or propane. The device is easy to start with a rocker switch and comes with the necessary battery for electric start. You can monitor the run-time hours, voltage, and frequency. This generator features Volt Guard to protect it from voltage spikes. On gasoline, the generator can handle 4,375 starting watts and 3,500 running watts. On propane, the generator has 3,950 starting watts and 3,150 running watts.

Why the Champion 200966 Is Great

This Champion generator is versatile, easy to use, and powerful. You can use propane with it if you’re in a situation in which you run out of gasoline. Some generators are slower to start in cold weather. This Champion generator features cold start technology for fast starting even in cold temperatures. We also love that the model displays your fuel level, voltage, and amps for monitoring its performance.

Westinghouse WGen7500 7500-Watt Gasoline Portable Generator

Google’s Rating 4.8

Westinghouse WGen7500 Description and Specifications

The Westinghouse WGen7500 features electric start, low-oil shutoff, a fuel gauge, and GFCI outlets. It comes with a wireless remote key fob that you can use to turn it on and off without needing to press the button on the generator. At 7,500 watts, it can power several appliances and electronics in your home. The hardened steel frame features roll bars for extra protection. It’s also fitted with never-flat wheels and a foam grip handle. All Westinghouse generators are factory tested before they are sold, so you might notice a slight fuel odor when you get your generator. This doesn’t mean that it was used.

Why the Westinghouse WGen7500 Is Great

This Westinghouse generator is powerful and equipped with safety features. You will also know how much fuel you have left thanks to the fuel gauge. The VFT display even estimates how many runtime hours are remaining. This is a durable and dependable generator from a trusted brand. Customers describe it as a luxury generator at an affordable price.

DuroMax XP11500EH 11500-Watt Dual Fuel Hybrid Portable Generator

Google’s Rating 4.8

DuroMax XP11500EH Description and Specifications

The DuroMax XP11500EH is a dual-fuel generator with 100% all-copper windings, an all-metal construction and Surge Arrest. It’s also EPA and CARB certified. Surge Arrest protects the generator from overloads and power surges. There is a fully featured power panel, including two 120V household GFCI outlets, one 120V 30A twist lock outlet, one 240V 50A outlet and one 240V 30A outlet. The fuel tank is double that of small portable generators at 8.3 gallons.

Why the DuroMax XP11500EH Is Great

Quality generators often have an all-metal construction and 100% all-copper windings like this model. It also has important safety features to protect both you and the device. This generator can handle heavy loads and is built to last.

Honda EU2200i 2200-Watt Gasoline Portable Inverter Generator

Google’s Rating 4.7

Honda EU2200i Description and Specifications

The Honda EU2200i is a 2,200-watt inverter generator that operates at 48–57 dBA. It’s one of the quieter portable generators on this list. You could power a refrigerator, microwave or coffee pot with this model, although probably not at the same time depending on the energy demands of your appliances. The Honda EU2200i is equipped with low-oil shutoff, a circuit breaker and fuel shutoff to help protect it.

Why the Honda EU2200i Is Great

Honda generators are a good choice when you’re looking for an inverter generator. This reliable brand has a long runtime and key safety features. On less than a gallon of fuel, the Honda EU2200i can run up to to 8.1 hours. We also like that this generator is much lighter than other models on this list. It only weighs 47.4 lbs.

WEN DF1100T 11000-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator

Google’s Rating 4.6

WEN DF1100T Description and Specifications

The WEN DF1100T is a dual-fuel generator that provides 8,300 running watts on gasoline and 7,500 running watts on propane. It features electric start, low-oil shutdown, a 6.6-gallon tank and a wheel kit. This WEN generator also supports 120V and 240V needs. It has CARB certification and a noise level of 72 dBA.

Why the WEN DF1100T Is Great

We like that this generator offers versatility in fuel and voltage. It’s easy to use and equipped with important safety features. WEN generators also have quality construction. The brand is known for providing excellent customer service, so if you ever need assistance with your purchase, you can expect a smooth process.

How to Choose Which Portable Generator Is Best for You

There are a lot of quality portable generators available to choose from. Duromax generators are among the most durable although all of the items listed above are durable. If noise level is an important factor to you, consider choosing an inverter generator because it’s designed to be quieter than other generators. You can typically find inverter models among all of the major brands with the Honda EU2200i being one of the best.

To know how many watts you need in a portable generator, you should make a list of all appliances, electronics and lights you want to use during a power outage. Then, make a list of what’s important to have running at the same time to you. Go through your home checking the starting watts and running watts of each appliance or electronic on your list. Some items will have the same number of starting watts as running watts.

If you’re looking for a quality generator that’s environmentally friendly, you’ll want to browse inverter generators and Generac generators. Inverter generators cause lower emissions than other types of generators. Generac is a brand that sets itself apart by focusing on developing clean, energy-efficient and sustainable technology.

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