Best Generator Deals for February 2022 | Digital trends

When you shop for a portable generator during an emergency you will only miss one chance at a good deal on a cheap generator. There are many types, sizes and best applications for generators and if you are shopping when the electricity is threatened or has already failed, you may have to take what you can get, which may not be the best choice for your needs. Assuming you have time to shop for the right type of generator deal, keep the following in mind.

• Your basic needs – Are you shopping for a portable generator for a tailgate party and camping? If so, you can probably get away with a relatively small, light and inexpensive portable power station. If you want more power for additional electrical devices and equipment, for a power tool in a worksheet, or for connecting to an RV, a small gasoline or propane-fueled generator might be enough to do the trick. If you really need a generator for a backup power supply to run the appliances and lights you need for your home, look for a large portable generator with a running power rating of 7,000 watts or more. Portable generators with a capacity of 20,000 watts and above can provide enough power for a small home, but in that size, portability is relatively limited. For long-term full home energy backups, the best current solution is a complete home generator, connected to the natural gas fuel supply from your road. Whole-home generators, however, cost an average of $ 10,000 to $ 30,000 including installation and are beyond the scope of this post.
• How much power do you really need? – The technique of selecting a portable generator with the right capacity is enough to buy but not too much. One way to estimate power is to add a power draw of everything you might want to handle at the same time and then add 20% to 50% for maximum power demand and enough power to connect when the devices start up. An additional device or two. Better a poor horse than no horse at all.
• Type of fuel – Small power stations based on lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries are limited to short-term applications. Some days home power storage batteries connected to solar or wind energy sources may be common, but today most home generators are the norm, and most portable units run on gasoline or propane. The dual fuel unit adds convenience, but in both cases, there must be fuel on hand. A gas or propane-powered generator won’t do you much good if you have to go out to buy fuel when the gas station and propane supplier are off.
• Generator or inverter generator – In general, generators are cheaper and louder than inverters, but most generators also run at full power. A generator running at full power speeds consumes more fuel than an inverter that adjusts to demand. Since they do not run as fast or as fast, inverters can run on the same amount of fuel for a long time and inverting inverts can be less annoying for neighbors and for you than for regular generators. Although inverter generators cost more than regular generators.
• Portability – The smallest power stations, generators and inverter generators usually have handles so you can carry or move them. Large portable generators often have two or four wheels and a handle to push or pull them. If you buy a large portable generator, significant wheels and tires make a difference.
• Connection – Different classes of generators or backup power supplies have different connectors and connection requirements. A portable power station may have one or two 120V plugs for small appliances and USB ports for recharging lights and devices. Generators for RVs usually have a covered 30 or 50 amp RV port that connects a special cable to a matching port found in most RVs. If you are going to use a generator to get a home backup, there are several choices in terms of complexity, convenience, power and cost. It is of course possible to connect equipment directly from a home generator using cables but the potential is limited and potentially dangerous due to cable fire. Transfer boxes, interlocks and generallinks are better alternatives to generator-to-home electrical power connections, but they must be installed under local building codes and by a licensed electrician. Those connections are beyond the scope of this article, but if you’re shopping for a significant generator for home power backup, it’s a good idea to talk to an electrician first about local connection options and installation costs.
• Cost – The more energy you need, the more money you have to spend. While that statement is true, it is not the whole story because safety and convenience factors can also affect the price (see reference to inverter and home connections above). When you are searching for the best cheap generator deals, the best way to save is to analyze your needs before you make a purchase so that you can find the right generator type and capacity for your needs.

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