Portable Generators are the must have during summers and even can be used while in outdoors for picnics or get together near a river or camping in a jungle.
There is a most probable breakdown of the grid supply of power during disasters. These situations require power to undertake safety and rescue operations.
At that moment, portable generators serve the purpose and come handy. These generators are beneficial power solutions in applications such as outdoor functions or camping.
They assist at the accident site at the earliest. They are also instrumental in construction activities to give power to small tools. Similarly, portable generators serve useful in construction activities to provide power to small appliances. Likewise, portable generators serve an essential purpose in agriculture as well. Because they are compact, generators have low power outputs.
Generator industry comprises many types of generators based on several classifications. One classification is based on fuels used. Various fuels used in generators include petrol, diesel, gas, solar energy or a combination of fuels. The most common fuels used are diesel, petrol, gas and solar power. Solar energy and its combination with hybrid fuels are gaining grounds.
Best Portable Generators
There are many online options available. Let’s check them before understanding various types and knowing more buying tips.
Westinghouse WGen9500DF
This dual-fuel generator has almost everything people are examining for in a generator: it’s on wheels for portability, operates on propane or gas, features a large-capacity tank, and can be started fast with a simple switch. Users are pretty impressed with this generator’s efficiency, working a fridge for better than 10 hours on a single tank of gas in expansion to other slim devices. If you don’t want to depend on gas, the ability to quickly hook up a propane tank is priceless, making this a powerful, flexible generator. Best of all, it can produce up to 12,500 peak wattage, meaning you can power a massive range of appliances at once, including a refrigerator, microwave oven, air conditioner, and more. It can only support about 9,500 watts at a time, but that’s more than adequate for all those machines and more if you are surprised when you initiate them up. No matter how you slice it, this is one of the best generators. It’s an excellent value, delivering efficient and clean energy to your most important household devices when you need it.
Honda EU3000IS
A Honda generator can operate for up to 20 hours on a single gas tank; it works closer to 15 hours with typical usage and dipping to around eight hours if you push it. The inverter delivers two 120-volt outlets on a 20-amp pair of outlets and about 30 amps on a 220V-type outlet, powering both simultaneously. You’ll require to read the manual, especially to attach the battery, which is not initially hooked up for shipping. The generator also doesn’t arrive with oil, which it requires to run, and none is included in the box. Acquire past that, and you’ll be golden, with one of the best small generators on the market at any price. When it arrives in small engines—in just about any form—Honda is the name to conquer. That’s also valid for portable generators, where Honda generally reigns ultimate. You’ll pay less for other labels, but nothing approximates Honda’s reliability, service, and durability in small engines. This particular generator is a bit bigger than some other Honda models, with a 3,000-watt running power. That’s more than enough to handle a small air conditioner or full-size refrigerator. This inverter-style generator is pretty lightweight and compact. It has quiet operation, indicating you can use it when camping, tailgating, or other moments when you desire portable power but don’t enjoy drowning out everything for 50 yards in every direction.
Champion Power Equipment 200954
The main thing to understand about this generator is it only operates off of gasoline, and it only delivers enough capacity to run a standard 20A circuit via two 120V plugs. It can run for about seven to eight hours on a single tank, and it’s relatively calm. But if you desire to power your entire house, a more effective generator may be called for. If you wish for a somewhat small, compact generator, this model from Champion Power is an affordable alternative. Like other tiny inverter generators, it’s lightweight, can efficiently power a necessary appliance like a fridge or TV, and is easy to move around and start-up. If you want a generator this small and close and need more power, you can opt for a “parallel kit” that hooks up two of these generators side-by-side. It’ll use up twice the fuel, but you can then deliver more energy to your home or RV at once.
Westinghouse WGen3600DF
It likely won’t operate your whole house at just 3,600 running watts, but you can hold a few circuits running along with your most crucial heating and cooling appliances while you pause for your power to come on. The only shotcoming here is the noise, as this model can be rather loud approximated to the smaller inverter generators with nearly as much power in more compact packages. However, if you like the more significant wheeled generators but don’t need enough ability to run your whole house, this affordable Westinghouse model is a considerable alternative. It’s big and weighty, but it’s dual-fuel compatible, has an electric start, and it still provides up to 4,650 watts on startup, allowing you to run a bunch of devices like a fridge and freezer with ease.
SereneLife Portable Generator, 155Wh Power Station
This compact portable generator is a sensation among campers. It’s small, carries a strong, long-lasting charge, and includes a heavy-duty plastic body that examines like it’ll take a beating. However, you can plug a solar panel in so you don’t have to utilize the stored charge while it’s sunny out. It also charges with a standard AC plug or DC car plug, and it takes about eight hours to reach the whole battery, which means it can be used on consecutive days. When it is ultimately charged, it has a power of 155 watt-hours, which means it can power two 9-watt LED bulbs for a total of 8+ hours.
Champion Power Equipment 100813
The amount of power will tear through the gas in no time, though this model supports propane and gasoline. It will operate about eight hours at full gear on a single tank, so if you are out of power for a while, expect to make a trip to the gas station. On the other hand, if you desire to power your whole house with a portable generator, this behemoth from Champion Power will bring you there. It can produce a peak of 15,000 watts (12,000 running watts), an incredible amount of power. That’s enough to drive a whole-home central air conditioner, your fridge, and likely every lamp in your house. The major disadvantage is that it is bulky and loud, so you’ll want to ensure that it’s discovered somewhere safe that you can readily access when necessary. You definitely won’t want to lug this around in the center of a snowstorm.
Let’s have a look at the features of types of generators that run on different fuels.
Diesel Generators | Diesel is the most popular and commonly fuel used by power generators because of many advantages, including its easy availability all over India. The main benefits of diesel generators are low flammability of fuel, consistent performance for long periods without malfunction, lower prices, can operate under adverse conditions, longer life and best fuel efficiency. |
| Petrol Generators | Petrol is almost as good a fuel like diesel, but its operating cost is higher because of the higher price of gasoline. |
| Gas Generators | Gas generators mainly use natural gas or propane as fuel. These fuels are cleaner than diesel as well as petrol and therefore, considered more environment-friendly. They create lesser noise than petrol and diesel generators. |
| Solar Generators | Solar generators convert energy from the sun to produce electricity which can be applied directly to power appliances that run on DC power, or they use solar power after its conversion into AC through inverters. The most significant advantages of solar generators are noiseless operation, almost no running cost, absence of pollution and abundant supply on sunny days. The acquisition and installation cost is higher than other generators. |
| Hybrid Generators | Hybrid generators utilize a combination of solar energy and fuels like diesel, petrol, CNG, etc. to get benefitted from all the options available. These generators run on solar energy during the day time and on other fuels during the night when ample sunlight is not available. |
| Inverter Generators | Many applications such as recreational vehicles, automobiles and air conditioners require power as per the need of the time that may vary. Inverter generators facilitate requirements by converting the AC of the generator to DC and then inverting it to AC to steadfastly ensure that steady current is supplied to the gadget, device or appliance. These can produce 2000 to 5000 watts of power at 220 volts and come in various sizes. |
| Industrial Generators | Applications in industrial settings need the power that can vary in a wide range. Industrial generators serve the power needs of industrial applications with unique features. Industrial generators have characteristics that include ruggedness, ability to perform under adverse conditions, robustness, amenability to customization, ability to generate single or three-phase power and ability to operate for long hours. Industrial generators are available in the broadest range of power output from as low as 20 kilowatts to as high as 2500 kilowatts. |
| Induction Generators | Induction generators are induction motors which turn into induction generators when a prime mover drives the motor at speeds higher than its synchronous rate. The prime mover could be a windmill, a turbine or engine. Induction generators are basically of two types known as self-excited generators and externally excited generators. A windmill-driven generator represents the self-excited type induction generators. Electric locomotives, cranes, elevators, and hoists use the externally passionate variety of induction generators. |
| Standby Generators | Standby generators are standby sources of power meant to be used when grid power fails, as the name suggests. When electricity grid supply fails in commercial establishments, they cannot afford to stop their operations. In the eventuality of this kind, they use standby generators to ensure continuity of power and services. Standby generators are available with a variety of power outputs. It makes work more accessible in hospitals, hotels, restaurants, and residential homes. Standby generators can run on various types of fuels. |
Generators serve to a host of applications that include prime supply and backup supply for many kinds of devices, small and big. Types of generators based on power output. Another classification of generators is based on power output, which is as per the requirement of different kinds of applications. Based on the rating, various types of generators like inverter generators, induction generators, industrial generators, portable generators and standby generators.
Applications of Generators
- Generators can be used in remote areas, bore well, mines, disaster-affected domains, construction sites and agricultural settings as the prime power source where grid power supply is unavailable.
- Generators can be used while setting up a new industrial plant before the plant secures grid supply.
- Generators find uses in event management activities. For instance, the outdoor shooting of films, wedding processions and cultural and community-based events need power for short durations.
- Generators fill the role of prime power supply adequately.
- As sources of standby power, generators help residential settings, commercial establishments and industrial undertakings ensure continuity of operations if there is a disruption in grid supply.
Generator Maintenance and Servicing
Proper maintenance and servicing of the generator are essential to ensure that you get the best performance for your investment. While you may have taken an AMC and your purchase could have a warranty, it is always good to maintain the generator in tip-top condition by following the tips given below.
- Follow the guidelines given in the instruction manual and warranty conditions.
- Use the recommended fuel only.
- Keep the area well ventilated where the generator is placed.
- Ensure the adequate cover is provided for the generator to avoid direct contact from sunlight and rain
- Perform a periodic check on oil and ensure oil level always.
- The fuel tank must be ensured that it must not be empty before switching on the generator
- Check cables and wiring periodically and change if found damaged.
- Clean filters periodically and change as recommended.
- If the generator malfunctions even though maintenance is excellent, there could be some significant fault and the services of a company technician should be requisitioned.