How To Select The Right Portable Generator

The portable generator is used to power a broad spectrum of activities. You’re likely to see portable  generators all around you at outdoor festivals, camping venues and building sites as well. And you’ll also spot plenty of them outside people’s houses when the electricity supply gets cut off.

But what should you look for when selecting a portable generator?

In this guide we’re covering a handful of the most important points:

Getting Started:

The ideal is to find a device that starts up easily. As a good case in point, there’s the generac 5606. The manual instructions are clearly laid out. And the ‘set up procedure’ is simply a matter of connecting the wheels, adding oil and gasoline.

Maneuverable:

The operative word with these generators is ‘portable’. Weighing in excess of two hundred pounds, they clearly need to be mounted wheels to make this possible. Even better, look for folding handles that provide plenty of leverage and lighten the load.

Hours of Output:

In an ideal world, you’d switch on your generator and not give it a second thought. However, fuel and oil levels do run down over time. Instead, you’re advised to opt for a good sized fuel tank that delivers plenty of hours of uninterrupted use.

Again, let’s use the generac 5606 as our example. You get in excess of a dozen hours of power from this generator when it’s running at half load capacity.

Made To Last:

It’s true that many portable generators aren’t exactly cheap. So you naturally want one that will last you plenty of years. So make sure your unit is housed inside of a solid frame that keeps it protected from occasional bumps and scrapes.

The manufacturers of the generac xp8000e take it a stage further by covering all the outlets too, so they are protected from the elements. This way, you end up getting more life out of the machine.

So, this completes the first round of checks when determining your generator needs. Then you’ll be ready to get into the specifics of how much power you need.