There are a number of good generators that are available today either online or at your local supplier, but you don’t just want something good, right? You need the best generator for your home so that if an emergency happens, you’ll be able to still have the power you need. That’s what you’ll be able to find right here thanks to our helpful generator reviews.
Here’s the Best Chart For the Generators Available Today
In order to select the best generators, you need to be able to compare and contrast makes and models quickly and easily. You’ll be able to do just that thanks to the help provided in the chart below.
| Picture | Name | Wattage | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picture | Name | Wattage | Price | Our Rating |
 | Briggs & Stratton 40346 Home Standby Generator | 20,000 | $$$$$+ | 4.5 |
 | Champion Portable | 4,000 | $$ | 4.6 |
 | Champion 42436 1500-Watt Portable Generator | 1,500 | $$ | 4.5 |
 | DuroMax 4400 | 4,400 | $$ | 4 |
 | Porta Source IG800W Portable Invertor Generator | 800 | $ | 4.3 |
 | Kohler 14RESA Generator | 14,000 | $$$$$+ | 5 |
 | Duracell Solar | 30 | $$ | 4.6 |
 | WEN Generator | 3,500 | $$ | 4.5 |
 | Westinghouse 7500 | 7,500 | $$$$ | 4.7 |
 | Yamaha Portable | 2,000 | $$$$ | 4.6 |
What Is a Generator? Why Is One Even Needed?
In basic terms, a generator is another method of generating power. If your home is connected to the power grid and a storm takes out part of the system, you’re likely to lose power. Sometimes this can happen for an extended amount of time! With a generator, you’ll be able to keep your refrigerator powered instead of having to pack it full of ice to keep your food. You can still watch television, connect to the internet, and even cook on your stove depending on the generator you select.
There are some significant differences in today’s generators, so it is important to consider your needs before deciding to purchase one. Here is just a brief look at the types of generators you can expect to find:
- Portable generators. These are the most popular type of generator and generally come with power levels of 600 watts to 9000 watts. These can be taken into Rvs safely, run on gasoline or propane typically, and are manually started when there is a need to generate power.
- Standby generators. These generators are constantly monitoring the power being supplied to your home. If the power goes out, the generator will kick in, restoring power in as little as 10 seconds sometimes. These generators typically cost more, but have a higher level of reliability.
- Inverter generators. This type of generator is for those who have a lot of sensitive electronics that need to stay powered. Inverter technology provides a cleaner, safer kind of electricity because it reduces the harmonics and variations in voltage that are provided.
- Solar generators. These generators are a lot like portable generators, but instead of running on gasoline or propane, they run on a battery that comes from a solar panel that plugs directly into it.
Certain homes may have gas hookups that make a standby natural gas generator a viable options. Other homes may require a portable gas generator. Apartments or flats can benefit from solar powered generators. Our generator reviews are a great place to start to determine which type is right for you!
How Can You Find a Top Rated Generator?
The first thing you must think about when trying to find a generator is to determine your overall power needs. A 600 watt generator, for example, isn’t going to be able to power your fridge. A 2000 watt generator can generally only power one appliance at a time. If you want something basic and don’t mind rotating items through your power generator, then smaller wattage producing equipment will be suitable and you’ll save a few hundred dollars.
On the other hand, if you want a true emergency backup that can supply power to and run multiple appliances at once or a large capacity air conditioner, then you’re going to want to look for higher wattage generators. Portable generators of 9000 starting watts can generally meet this need, but larger homes may wish to pursue standby generators that can produce up to 20k watts.
It’s also important to consider fuel type. Gasoline generators typically need more ongoing maintenance than propane generators because the fuel is less stable. If you want a long term emergency plan, it’s a lot easier to stockpile 20-30 pound propane tanks like you’d use for a gas grill than it is to stockpile gasoline.
Finally, you should make sure that the unit that you are looking at buying can be used in your area, in line with the guidelines issues by EPA and state based organisations like CARB.
What Are the Basics of Using a Generator?
Using a generator is generally pretty simple. Once you have your unit on your property, it is important to make sure your oil levels are at appropriate levels and that you’ve lubricated the engine. You’ll want to thoroughly inspect your generator for damage before adding oil or fuel to it. Once you add propane, gasoline, or oil to a generator, it can no longer be shipped back through the mail or shipping service if you purchase your item from Amazon.
Once fully lubricated, start your generator up and let it run for about 30 minutes. You can use it to generate power during this run as well. Then just shut down the unit and you’ll have it ready for your next emergency. Some generators require very little maintenance in-between uses while some require a weekly running. Always check your owner’s manual to see what the recommendation is for your selected generator.
When the generator is running, you’ll want to plug an extension cord into it so that you can get power to your selected items. Any extension cord will work, but commercial grade cords will reduce the wattage and amperage loss that can occur on the cheaper extension cords. For standby generators, you’ll also likely need an authorized service professional to go through the start-up process to validate the warranty.
In basic terms, however, a generator produces power when you put fuel into it and properly maintain the unit.
What Are the Prices of Generators Today?
The prices of different units are typically reflective of how many watts they can produce. Generators that produce less than 1000 watts of power can generally be purchased for less than $300. High end standby generators may cost upwards of $5,000, but in return you can receive up to 20,000 watts of power! The average price for a good generator is about $750 and our generator reviews can help you decide on the specifics of pricing and value as you need them for your unique situation.
What Do Our Reviews Have To Say?
Westinghouse 7500
Why settle for a second class generator? You need equipment that will work without much notice at all, which means you also need something that will be easy to maintain. That’s exactly what you’ll get with this Westinghouse generator! It features a 4 stroke, 420cc overhead valve engine and we really loved the fact that the electrical starter on this generator is extremely reliable so there’s no stumbling around in the dark to get the power back on.
It’s strong enough for the home, portable enough for the RV, and it offers four 120v outlets and one 120/240v twist outlet so that most items can be effectively powered. It’s a great generator that you need to experience for yourself!
Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the Westinghouse 7500
WEN Generators
If you want the best generators possible, then you might just want a WEN generator. Why? Because you’ll get a minimum of two 120v 20 amp three prong receptacles, along with one 120/240v 30 amp twist-lock receptacle. Each has a 12v DC outlet for charging batteries or any other items that accepts this form of power through a cigarette lighter type of plug.
There’s also a digital hour counter that accumulates your run time hours so you can easily know when to schedule maintenance or be prepared for refueling the generator. With a level of wattage that works for most homes, the best generator for you could be just a click away!
Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on WEN Generators
Duracell Solar
If you live in an apartment or flat, having a power outage can be an extreme inconvenience – especially if it is for an extended period of time. Many apartments do not allow a generator that operates on fossil fuels to be on the premises because of insurance liability reasons. What can you do to keep the lights on when there’s no power around? Duracell has an option for you with their solar plug and play style generator.
Powered with an included solar panel with a battery that charges, this generator goes anywhere and you don’t even need a charge controller to make it operate well. It’s a little underpowered for large scale use, but can provide a provisional source of power that is extremely renewable.
Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the Duracell Solar
PortaSource IG800W Inverter
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a clean, consistent level of power with low harmonics so you could charge your laptop or cell while the power is out? Maybe you’d like to hook up your modem and your computer during a power outage to stay productive? What you need is this specific generator.
With its inverter technology, you’ll get a lightweight generator that will produce the right amount of power for your most sensitive electronics. It’s also incredibly quiet – less than 60 decibels when running at full power! This means it could be a really good generator for you today.
Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the PortaSource IG800W Inverter.
Kohler 14RESAL
When taking a look at the operation of this particular generator, we really loved the level of consistency that it can provide. Kohler has included technology that provides an advanced level of voltage and frequency regulation so that there are extremely low levels of harmonic distortion in the power that is produced.
This means it provides a clean, consistent level of power so that even the most sensitive electronics can be powered by this generator. How sensitive? Even hospitals are using this generator to provide power for life-saving equipment!
Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the Kohler 14RESAL
DuroMax 4400
The primary advantage that we can see in owning this particular gen set is that you can get your generator set up to make sure that it gets the maximum power that you need in the way that you need it. You can choose between operating the generator at both 120 and 240 volts simultaneously and you can choose to operate at 120 only with full power to the outlet.
This is all thanks to the DuroMax RV Switch, which is a basic voltage selector, and you can monitor the output directly with the included volt meter. This is why it could be one of the best models for your home today!
Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the DuroMax 4400
Briggs and Stratton Standby
The best feature of the IntelliGen generator is that it is built in such a way that it reduces the noise output that is heard around the home and the surrounding neighborhood. To facilitate this, there is an automotive-style exhausting system that includes acoustic foam dampeners so that the decibels this unit provides are reduced.
When installed properly, this generator will have up to a 50% quieter operation than the average portable generator, which means it runs in the range of 30-40 decibels. There is even automotive paint included on the exterior of the unit so that it has the maximum durability possible!
Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the Briggs and Stratton Standby
Champion 1500-Watt Portable
Having a travel generator makes life a lot easier on the road. You get enough power to have some of the simple niceties in life, like a steaming hot cup of fresh coffee, that isn’t always available when you’re seeing the country.
This Champion portable generator isn’t the biggest or the strongest portable generator out there, but it will give you up to 10 hours of power generation capabilities with just 2 gallons of fuel. It is relatively light, works virtually anywhere, and is the perfect addition to an RV or home with basic power needs.
Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the Champion Portable 1500
Champion Portable
The one feature we really loved about this particular portable generator is its remote start. You simply set the time delay if you want, press a button, and your generator is powering up for when you need to use it! It’s portable enough that you can take this generator along with you in a portable trailer, yet strong enough to give your home some of the basic power needs it has during an emergency.
Although it would be nice to have a 120/240v outlet on this particular generator to make it even more versatile, it is easily one of the best portable generators on the market today.
Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the Champion Portable
Yamaha Portable
With this particular generator, in looking at all of the feedback on it, there seems to be a critical issue in making sure that you run fuel through it regularly. Build-up can occur within it quickly and this can prevent the generator from running, cause it to leak fuel, or cause power loss to occur.
What we really loved, however, is that this generator can be easily paired with another one to increase the output received with a simple wired connection. Backed by a 2 year warranty and with up to 5 hours of run time, it’s not a bad little generator when you need a clean source of power that is also CARB compliant.
Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the Yamaha Portable
What generator is the right fit for you? Take a few moments to review the best chart, read our comprehensive fact-based reviews, and decide for yourself which generator will best meet your needs. Don’t let an emergency catch you unprepared! With the right generator powering you and your family, you’ll weather anything.
