Decision Making with Portable Generators

Portable generators have evolved to the point where doing some research prior to buying is an absolute necessity. The first consideration should focus on whether you’ll need an inverter device or not. Inverter devices in portable generators manage the current of the power supply making them the preferred solution for more sensitive electronics like computers, medical devices and television sets. Portable generators that are not equipped with inverter technology are better suited for powering less sensitive items like lights and appliances.

The next consideration is to measure the amount of power you’ll need for lighting, appliances and electronic devices. One caveat here is that a portable generator will have some limitations in terms of the amount of power that can be delivered. For example, running heating or air conditioning may either be beyond the scope of what a portable generator can deliver or use a large enough amount of fuel that constant refilling is required.

To determine the amount of power you’ll require for your electrical needs, total the wattage needed for each item. One thing to keep in mind is that older appliances use power less efficiently than newer ones. If your portable generator is slated to power a bunch of older appliances, be sure to increase the total from what you see on each appliance.

Lastly, if power outages are common in your area, give some thought to the length of a typical outage. This will give you an idea of how long your portable generator will have to run and how much fuel you’ll need to keep on hand.