13 guides
Portable generator buying guides
Half an hour of reading now beats a dark house later: a generator too small for the well pump, a cord that doesn't fit the inlet, a tank of stale gas in October. Running and starting watts, sizing, dual fuel, transfer switches, CO safety, fuel storage and upkeep, explained from the manuals and the published guidance.
Buying Guides
Buying GuidesStarting Watts vs Running Watts: Reading Generator Ratings Correctly
Starting (peak) watts and running (rated) watts describe different demands. Learn to read both numbers before sizing a portable generator.
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Buying GuidesSizing a Portable Generator for Home Backup, Load by Load
Add up the running watts of the circuits you actually need, find your largest motor-start delta, and size a portable generator with honest margin.
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Buying GuidesDual Fuel vs Gasoline-Only Generators: Which Backup Strategy Wins?
Is a dual fuel generator worth it? How it works, what propane costs you in watts, why it stores better than gasoline, and when gas-only still wins.
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Buying GuidesPortable Generator vs Battery Power Station: Two Different Tools
Power station vs generator: a battery runs silently indoors for hours, a fuel generator outdoors for days. Which fits your outage, and when to own both.
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Buying GuidesQuiet Dual Fuel Inverter Generators: What Buys the Silence
Why inverter generators run quieter, how to read dB(A) claims in listings, and what dual fuel adds, with the quietest models we rate ranked.
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Buying GuidesWhat Size Generator Do You Need to Run a House?
What size generator runs a house? Add running watts, add the largest starting surge, then choose essentials or whole-house. Generac and owner’s.
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SafetyTransfer Switches Explained: How Generators Power Circuits Safely
What a transfer switch does, why it must be installed by a licensed electrician, and why backfeeding a home through an outlet is never acceptable.
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SafetyStoring Generator Fuel Safely: Gasoline and Propane at Home
How to store gasoline and propane for a portable generator: approved containers, rotation, placement away from living spaces, per official guidance.
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SafetyGenerator Carbon Monoxide Safety: Placement Rules That Matter
Portable generators run outdoors only, far from doors, windows and vents. CO shutoff sensors, home alarms and placement rules per CPSC guidance.
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SafetyGenerator Interlock Kit vs Transfer Switch
Interlock kit vs transfer switch for a portable generator: how each one stops backfeed, which circuits you get, and why both need a licensed electrician.
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OwnershipPortable Generator Maintenance: The Schedule That Keeps It Starting
Generator maintenance made simple: oil before every use, a monthly run under load, battery care, fuel rotation and a pre-season check, per your manual.
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OwnershipHow Long Can a Generator Run Continuously?
How long can a portable generator run continuously? Runtime per tank, load, refueling and oil intervals, from Generac, Honda and DuroMax owner's manuals.
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