Portable Generator Brands and Links

General info on generators

The U.S. Carburetion Kit Center makes kits that will let you convert most portable generator brands to run on propane.

RV generators, designed to be mounted on the RV itself, are also usually quiet enough to meet National Park Service noise standards. Some can double as household generators, burning either gasoline or propane. For example, the 4,000-watt Onan JuiceBox (Est. $4,000) can be hitch-mounted on an RV or truck, but it has "landing gear" for use on the ground. Quite a few online forums discuss RV generators, with useful tips on installation and use. Try RV.net and Air Forums.com, an online discussion forum for owners of Airstreams and other RVs.

A useful article in Camping Life magazine, "Parallel Operation", explains why and how to connect two small portable generators to increase the total wattage -- sometimes called daisy chaining or running generators in parallel.

Generator buyer's guides and safety tips

To help you figure out what size generator you need, see Amazon.com's generator wattage worksheet, available by download.  

Many manufacturers have wattage calculators or charts on their websites.  For example, Generac Power has a chart showing estimated wattages used by common appliances.

Honeywell posts an easy-to-use wattage calculator.

Portable generator specifications usually describe outlets using the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) code, which can be hard to understand if you're not an electrician. The Wikipedia entry on NEMA connectors explains them very well.

A ConsumerReports.org buyer's guide to generators includes information on safety, calculating wattage needs and generator maintenance. Unlike some content on the site, it's available without a subscription.

Popular Mechanics has published several useful articles about choosing and using a generator, including, "How to Buy the Best Backup Generator for your Disaster and Budget." The site also has two relevant videos, one on generator safety and one on how to install a generator.

About.com's electrical guide discusses how to make sure you're prepared for a disaster, including how to be sure your generator is ready. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)  

AirForums.com, an online discussion forum for owners of Airstream RVs, includes a section on generators and solar power. The discussion threads here contain useful information both about specific brands and about portable generators in general. 

Another forum site worth checking out is BobIsTheOilGuy.com, which has a section for discussions of lawn mowers and small engines, including portable generators.

ThisOldHouse.com provides an excellent article that covers the basics of choosing and installing a generator for household emergency use. The article explains how transfer switches work and compares the pros and cons of portable vs. standby (stationary) generators. Prices are outdated because the article is from 1999, but the basic information is still useful.

Mother Earth News features a 2008 buyer's guide by Steve Maxwell called "Emergency Power Options."  

Several agencies publish portable generator safety guidelines that you can download and print:

Red Cross

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) posts a staff review of portable generator safety that summarizes portable generator hazards plus recommendations for changes in the industry. The 35-page article is well worth reading before assembling and positioning a portable generator.

Portable generator brands

Briggs & Stratton

Generac

Honda

Honeywell

NorthStar

Powermate

Yamaha