Blue Max JD4000

The Blue Max 4,000-watt portable generator is positioned as a budget model for basic household backup, with about 3,000 watts of continuous power and 4,000 surge watts for starting a motor. This should be enough to run a refrigerator, lights and TV during a power outage. Though the majority of owners say they're satisfied with this Blue Max generator, there are also quite a few reports of breakdowns and quality-control problems. This raises a question about the generator's reliability for emergency use. The Chinese-made OHV engine is relatively quiet, but pollutes too much to meet California's stricter emissions limits, and owners say the optional wheel kit (*Est. $27) is a must for this 110-pound generator.

We found nearly 100 owner-written reviews and ratings of the Blue Max JD4000 portable generator at Amazon.com. Owners provide detailed comments, and Amazon.com makes it easy to read the most negative reviews so you get fair warning about quality-control issues to watch for.