Anyone who has been a victim of prolonged power outage can surely appreciate the need for the best generator for the money.
Whether it’s used every day as the main power source or occasionally for backup power, a portable generator is one of the best investments in any home…
Power is very essential in every home and business establishment because some appliances like refrigerators, power tools and air conditioner must keep working.
Depending on how many appliances you have and how much power you require, best rated portable generators for home use come in many sizes from 3500 watts to 10,000 watts.
The best portable home generator is usually small in size but still very powerful so you can move around with it to do outdoor tasks that require power and even travel with it.
Top rated portable generators come in handy in outdoor events like beach weddings, camping and rallies.
Best Portable Generator For Home And Outdoor Use
1. WEN 56180, 1500 Running Watts/1800 Starting Watts, Gas Powered Portable Generator.
While some generators cannot be used in all states especially California, this WEN 56180 Portable Generator is both EPAIII and CARB compliant which allows it to be usable in all 50 states.
If you want the best camping generator that is compact and lightweight so you can lift it up on the go, this generator is perfect with its 1.45 gallons of gasoline that works for seven and a half hours.
WEN 56180 offers two power outlets; AC12V and 12V DC so it’s usable in many places.
Whether you are using this generator indoors or outdoors, it has low-oil shutdown to protect it from damage and spark arrestors so you don’t cause fire in forests or parks.
Unlike Yamaha and Honda which are expensive, this unit is one of the best generator for the money because WEN products are reputable and affordable.
WEN is also big on safety and the forced air cooling and automatic voltage regulator enhances clean power thus protecting your electronics and keeping your environment clean.
Though this generator is really small and lightweight, you can buy an optional wheel kit and handle kit to make portability easier.
Drawbacks:
This generator is not big enough to run a full house but if you need a powerful power source for tools or one appliance this will be perfect.
2. Champion Power Equipment 46539 3500 Watt RV Ready Portable Generator.
Champion Power Equipment 46539 Portable Generator is the best generator for RV because it’s equipped with a 30A RV outlet and enough power to run the RVs air conditioner and all the other appliances.
The powerful 196cc Champion engine is built to work great even in cold weather and it has Cast Iron Sleeve. You can even but it outside in your garden, See GardenTooly.com for more info.
Apart from having all RV outlets, this portable generator has 120V 20A household outlets secured by volt Guard to protect appliances from power surge and its CARB approved meaning it works in all 50 states.
Champion Power Equipment 46539 can be started by an electric remote control from up to 80ft away and it has 2-year warranty with free technical support for a lifetime.
If you want a very quiet and portable generator to run your house appliances like fridge, bulbs, TV, blower and computers, this unit will do so efficiently at only 68 decibels.
On top of this best RV generator from Champion Power being very lightweight, it also comes with a folding handle and never-flat tires to make portability easy.
The package also includes a bottle of engine oil and batteries for remote control.
Drawbacks:
The gas tank is a bit of a struggle to fill up at once; you need to do it very slowly to avoid spilling.
3. DuroStar DS4000S, 3300 Running Watts/4000 Starting Watts, Gas Powered Portable Generator.
DuroStar DS4000S Portable Generator is the best portable generator for the money and it’s ideal for camping, sports events, job sites and as power backup at home.
The DuroStar DS4000S is a gas powered generator that gives 7.0 horsepower and cranks out 3,300 watts when running continuously and 4000 watts on surge.
This generator is made with a heavy duty steel frame for durability and it has four motor mounts that are all isolated to enhance a smooth and quiet operation.
DuroStar DS4000S has great features on the power panel such as volt meter, oil warning light, power outlets and circuit breaker.
Though it looks small, DuroStar DS4000S has a 4 gallon gas tank that works for a good 8 hours and it’s very easy to start and operate.
This is one of the few well-built generator that is quite affordable although the optional wheel kit is sold separately.
This compact generator has a 4-stroke overhead valve that ensures cleaner fuel burn and fuel efficiency.
Unfortunately it’s a bit heavier especially with a full tank but it’s very quiet at only 68 decibels.
Drawbacks:
DuroStar DS4000S does not have watt or amp meter as well as a 240 volt outlet.
4. Yamaha EF2000iS, 1600 Running Watts/2000 Starting Watts, Gas Powered Portable Inverter.
Yamaha is one of the most reputable companies when it comes to generators and motorbikes so you know its great quality.
Yamaha EF2000iS Portable Generator is CARB compliant and is permitted for use in all 50 states in the US and gives 1600 watt rated AC output and 2000 watt maximum output.
Yamaha EF2000iS is a super quiet unit with USFS- approved spark arrestors in case you want to use it in a forest or park.
It also has a Smart Throttle that helps to improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise.
Despite being small in size and very lightweight, Yamaha EF2000iS uses innovative inverter system to generate clean power for up to 10 hours continuously.
For those people who work with delicate machinery and tools and fear generators, this particular one is designed to produce the cleanest energy that cannot damage appliances.
Yamaha EF2000iS has great safety features such an electrical overload breaker to prevent damage in case of an overload, overhead valve to dissipate heat and Smart Throttle load feature to adjust speed depending on output.
All these features not only save fuel but also allow the generator to last long.
Drawbacks:
Inverters are generally more expensive than normal generators because they are built for intensive labor.
5. DuroMax XP4400E 4,400 Watt 7.0 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator.
DuroMax XP4400E Portable Generator is a reliable and compact generator that has a fairly powerful 7 horsepower gas powered engine that can run for eight hours nonstop.
This engine has an overhead valve and delivers maximum output power of 4400 watts and 3500 watts continuous output.
This is a great unit for camping, RV, outdoor parties and power backup since it has two outlets; two 20 Amp 120 Volt, and one 30 Amp 120 and 240 Volt power outlets.
DuroMax XP4400E is also very quiet because its noise rating is 69 decibels and the isolated motor mounts reduce the noise.
DuroMax XP4400E is one of the top rated generators because of its outdoor features like heavy duty steel roll cage, an all steel fuel tank, easy recoil cord and an electric start key to make starting easy.
Though it’s a bit heavy especially when the tank is full, a nice transportation kit and wheels make portability very easy.
This is a very fuel efficient generator thanks to the idle control feature and low oil shutoff.
The power panel is fitted with visible features like circuit breaker, power outlets, volt meter and engine shutoff switch.
Drawbacks:
The engine does not have a filter so you have to change the oil every 10 to 12 hours if you want it to last long.\
Buying Guide For The Best Generator For The Money
Choosing a generator for your home entails more details than just picking the most beautiful unit in the store.
It requires a lot of calculations and knowing what your needs are.
A generator for home emergency use only is different from one that will be used in camping and beach parties in terms of weight and power outlets.
This portable generator buying guide should help you know exactly what to look out for if you want the best portable generator for home or outdoor use;
- Generator Capacity:
For you to know how many watts the generator you want needs to have you must know how much power you need.
There is a way to calculate all the watts used by your appliances usually by listing down all the essential appliances such as refrigerator, air conditioner, lights and computers so you can buy the best generator.
- Power Outlets:
You must determine where the generator will be used whether it’s for RV, household or outdoor events so you can know what outlets and switches you have.
Different states also use different outlets so it’s good to have that in mind too.
The best small generator and big generators should offer all the standard outlets and be CARB compliant too.
- Noise:
Most portable generator ratings go from 65 to 69 decibels so you can speak over them without shouting.
The best quiet generator can be used in the home without waking people up or disrupting their daily lives so it should be very quiet thanks to mufflers, idle control hold and isolated motor mounts.
- Budget:
If you have a good amount of cash, going with the big names like Honda and Yamaha is always best because they are high quality and reputable.
However, if you need the best generator for the money there are great companies that offer quality at a cheaper rate such as WEN and DuroMax.
CONCLUSION:
The best generator for the money should be lightweight, durable and powerful.
After knowing what is the best generator it’s important to know that generators should not be used in the main house and must be switched on every now and then even when you are not using them to keep the engine in good shape.
