Last Updated on July 25, 2022 by Jahangir
Portable generators are useful when you need to power small appliances, charge devices and use the generator for light duties. Learn what to consider when buying a portable generator. You need to first consider the generator’s power output. The power output should be sufficient to cover your basic home needs, such as running a refrigerator and lights during an outage.
A portable generator is the best choice if you need to run sensitive electronics or medical equipment that cannot be powered by standard batteries. For example, some medical equipment requires 12-volt DC and can be damaged by charging with a standard battery. If you need to run sensitive electronics, consider buying an inverter for your portable generator.
Consider the fuel source of your portable generator
Portable generators use either gasoline or diesel fuel as their power source. If you choose to run on gasoline, make sure that you can store enough fuel for your portable generator. You also need to consider how often you will use the generator and how long it will last before it needs refuelling.
Consider buying a portable generator with an inverter if you want to use sensitive electronics. Some generators have an inverter built-in, while others do not. If you want to run sensitive electronics such as medical equipment, consider buying a generator with an inverter that converts the 120-volt AC electricity coming from your wall outlet into 12-volt DC power for your sensitive devices.
Consider buying a portable generator with a gas gauge or battery-level indicator if you will be running your generator for a long time. You need to know how much fuel is left in your portable generator and when it will run out of gas or power. Portable generators with these features allow you to easily monitor the amount of fuel remaining, which can help you make sure that your generator has enough fuel for your planned use.
Consider buying a portable generator with an automatic oil change system if you plan to use your generator for a long time. The last thing that you want is to have to manually check the fuel level of your portable generator every few hours, especially if it has been running for several days . Portable generators with automatic oil change systems allow you to do this easily and quickly.
Learn why a portable generator should be grounded and how to ground it. The benefits of grounding a portable generator are that it will protect you from electrocution, fire, and other hazards caused by faulty electronics. It will also help protect your generator from theft and prevent damage to the unit itself.
Consider buying a portable generator with an air filtration system if you will be running your generator in areas where there is high particulate matter (dust) such as construction sites, or when the air is polluted.
Some people have installed their generators in places that they would normally not install a power source such as boats, trucks, or RVs. If you do this, you should always use the generator’s automatic shut-off feature to prevent accidents from occurring when it is running. To do this, the generator should have a switch that automatically shuts off the power to your appliances when it is running. Some generators also have an automatic shut-off feature for heaters or air conditioners as well.
Consider buying a portable generator with wheels if you plan to move it around frequently. If you plan to move your generator from one place to another, it will be much easier if you can simply roll it along. The last thing that you want is for your portable generator to break down when you are moving it around.
Consider buying a portable generator with a built-in fuel gauge if you plan to use your generator for long periods of time. Portable generators that have this feature will be able to tell you when it is running low on fuel and will automatically shut off the power when they are getting low.
Consider buying a portable generator with an automatic start-up feature if you plan to run your generator for long periods of time. This feature will be able to automatically start up the generator when it is turned on and will prevent you from having to manually turn it on every time that you want to use it.
What to consider when buying a portable generator
- How much power do you need
- Budget
- Expense
- Powerful and quiet
- Portable Generator
- Nighttime use
- Gas savings
Mr. Jahangir Alam is an Electrical & Electronics Engineer with a wide range of experience in several fields of Engineering. He finds engineering articles to be very interesting, and that is why he likes to write them. To know more about him, please click here.