Portable Generators

In this thorough review, editors rate and rank eleven portable generators and four standby generators based on objective testing. In addition to overall ratings, each generator receives specific scores for… emergency power, power quality, ease of use, run time per tank and noise level (though decibel measurements aren't provided.) The focus is on generators for household emergency backup in power outages, but the review does cover several small models that could be used for recreational trips. We wish this report were more recently written, however.

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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: quiet, lightweight, power quality and ease of use -- but the review also covers fuel economy and "watts per dollar." This review doesn't rank generators, but covers the pros and cons for each.

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We'd rank this review higher if it documented any testing or even actual use. Popular Mechanics usually does excellent comparison testing, but this article is more of a brief buyer's guide than a full… review. However, it does recommend three specific portable generators, in three wattage ranges. 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.

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Electric Generators Direct reviews the portable generators sold here. In each size range, editors pick a "best, better, and good" portable generator -- based on build quality, features and price. (Price is… an important factor; other portable generators may be as good or better, but priced higher.) Owners rate and review these and other models, but you have to click on a generator and scroll down to see the ratings, and then click on each review to read the details.

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Sears publishes owner-written ratings and reviews of portable generators sold under the Craftsman brand. Several portable generators earn excellent ratings, based on reviews from several owners. Some owners… find the status monitor on these portable generators inaccurate, but many like the way it tracks wattage and fuel usage plus needed maintenance. A few owners complain of generator breakdowns, but most are quite enthusiastic.

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This detailed single-product review 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.

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Even though this set of owner-written reviews on a UK website is titled "standby generators," the actual 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.

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