Portable Generators: Expert and User Reviews

Our AssessmentCamping Life puts three portable inverter generators through their paces: the Generac iX2000, the Yamaha EF2000iS and the Honda EU2000i. Testers connect each generator to a couple of appliances to assess power and performance. They also measure noise levels and fuel consumption as well as assess factors like weight and ease of use. The article does not give formal rankings of the three generators but lists pros and cons for each one. It concludes that "the Yamaha offers a little more for your money when it comes to buying portable power."

Our AssessmentEach year, editors of Popular Mechanics attend the National Hardware Show and identify new products that merit one of the year's Editor's Choice awards. Among their choices for 2009 is the 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 (XG7000E and XG8000E, respectively) have electric starters. Editors didn't test any of these models.

Our AssessmentThis short buyer's guide lists the pros and cons of standby generators versus portable generators. Although three generators are recommended, only one is portable. No testing is documented, and the recommendations seem based on features. For example, the portable generator is recommended because it has foldaway handles for convenient storage.

Our AssessmentAmazon.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.

Our AssessmentNorthern Tool and Equipment manufactures the NorthStar and Powerhorse brands but also sells portable generators from other manufacturers. The owner-written ratings and reviews have a nice added feature: the site averages answers about whether each reviewer would recommend the model to a friend. Most models sold here have only a few ratings/reviews, but two NorthStar models, two Powerhorse models and one Generac model have enough reviews to provide a credible view of how they perform in actual use. All get high ratings.

Our AssessmentSears publishes owner reviews, but very few generators have more than a handful. One that does, the 5,500-watt Briggs & Stratton 30430, gets very high ratings and good reviews. Sears sells a number of brands, including Briggs & Stratton, Generac, ETQ, Honeywell and Coleman.

Our AssessmentThis detailed single-product review on a Canadian website covers the electric-start Honda EU3000iS portable generator based on an 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.

Our AssessmentThis U.K. website is convenient to browse because 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.