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by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
by Bruce W. Smith
Based on actual usage, this review compares four portable generators ranging from 1,600 to 2,400 watts. Even the least expensive model uses inverter technology for quiet, consistent electricity. The main… emphasis lies on factors that make a portable generator useful for camping: noise level, weight, power quality and ease of use. The review also covers fuel economy and "watts per dollar." This review doesn't rank generators but covers the pros and cons of each.
by Kirk A. Kleinschmidt
QST is the official journal of the American Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio. This detailed article provides lots of information on buying a small, quiet portable power… generator. It emphasizes units with inverters that can power ham radio and other electronic equipment for outdoor use. Detailed specs are given for four models, although the models are not ranked. A follow-up article called "A Closer Look at Inverter Generators" is available online at the ARRL website, ARRL.org.
by Editors of Popular Mechanics
Editors of Popular Mechanics attend the 2009 National Hardware Show and identify 15 new products that merit one of this year's Editor's Choice awards. Among their choices is the new Generac XG series of… portable generators. Editors cite the series' Power Bar, which monitors the wattage being used and lets the owner know when there's a risk of overload. Editors also like the lighted control panel, which makes it easier to see what you're doing in the dark, and the cover plates on the four GFCI outlets to protect them from the weather. The XG series includes six models ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 watts; models 5798 and 5747 (7,000 and 8,000 watts, respectively) have electric starters. Editors didn't test any of these models.
by Rich Johnson
Camping Life's review covers high-end portable generators for camping and RV use, with detailed information about five models that use inverter technology for quiet and clean power. Johnson lists the power… output in watts for each of the five generators (they range from 1,000 to 2,400 watts), as well as its weight, noise level and how long it will run on one tank of gas. He also rates each for ease of use, including maintenance and carrying comfort. Although he gives his own view of the advantages and drawbacks of each model, Johnson says that "the generator that is best for you depends upon your electrical requirements, the space you have available, your budget, and your desire to limit weight."
by Tamara E. Holmes
by Editors of and contributors to ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Amazon.com's owner-written reviews and ratings of portable generators are especially easy to browse, because you can sort the list to show the top-rated models first. Unlike many sites, Amazon.com shows the… number of reviews on which the average rating is based, a big help in judging credibility. At the time of this report, many portable generators have accumulated rave reviews from enough owners to make the ratings credible and useful.
by Contributors to Northern Tool and Equipment
by Roy Berendsohn
This article gives a brief overview of how to prepare your home for a power failure during an emergency -- including how to choose and safely use a portable generator. The author doesn't review and rank… different generators, but does highlight three specific models, in three wattage ranges, giving examples of what appliances each would power and showing how much gas would be consumed in 24 hours. Readers have added some useful comments -- suggesting, for example, using remote sensor thermometers to minimize the electricity needed to keep a refrigerator or freezer cold.
by Contributors to Sears.com
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
HomeDepot.com publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of portable generators it sells, but at the time of this report, only a few models have accumulated more than a handful of reviews. The list of… portable generators doesn't show the average rating, so you have to click on each model to find out if any owners have reviewed it -- a cumbersome and time-consuming process. It is interesting to see that ratings vary by model, not brand. Some Guardian portable generators get much higher ratings than others do, for example.
by Dan James
This detailed single-product review on a Canadian website covers the electric-start Honda EU3000iS portable generator, based on the owner's actual use through blackouts, thunderstorms, snowstorms and… hurricanes. The author praises the "ultraclean power" and says it's "incredibly quiet" at around 50 decibels at full output. It is also easy for one person to carry. (A wheel kit is optional.) For extra power, two units can be daisy-chained together. As of summer 2009, a version with built-in wheels is available -- the EU3000i Handi.
by Contributors to eHam.net
by Contributors to ReviewCentre.com
Even though this U.K. website's set of owner-written reviews is titled "Stand-By Generators," the reviews include portable generators. It is a convenient site to browse, since the list of generators shows… not only each model's average rating, but also the number of reviews upon which it's based. Quite a few models, and most brands, are also available in the United States, but only a few generators have accumulated more than a handful of reviews. The Honda EU2000i is an exception, with not only lots of reviews but also good tips on how to use it.
by Contributors to Lowes.com
by Contributors to Walmart.com
by Editors of PortableACGenerators.com
by Editors of GaltTech.com
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