There are 2 basic types of portable generators, conventional and inverter generators. If you’re shopping for one, you would want to know the difference. All generators have an alternator that produces AC or DC power. Conventional generator models use a mechanical alternator to produce AC power, while the inverter generators produce DC power and convert it to AC power by using digital electronics. As a result the inverter models in general are smaller and lighter. However the smaller alternators are also a little bit more expensive.

A conventional generator has to run at 3600 RPM’s constantly to generate electricity, while inverter generators can run at variable speeds depending on the electrical demand. This allows the inverter models to run at slower speeds most of the time which saves fuel and reduces noise. The inverter models as a general rule also produce cleaner power with a total harmonic distortion of less than 5 percent. That’s important if you are powering sensitive electronics, like computers. And that kind of performance is typically only available on premium conventional models like Generac XP Series. The Conventional units on the other hand are capable of greater output and extended run time.

Best inverter generators

Here are five of the top selling inverter generators you can buy today.

Honeywell HW2000i

Nice little generator for recreational use, like camping, RVing, and tailgating. It features a quiet and powerful 4 stroke engine delivering 2,000 watts of power. It’s also very light, only weighs 58 pounds. The 125cc 4 stroke air cooled OHV engine is designed for long life.

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Honeywell HW1000i

Very similar to the HW2000i, and also great for recreational purposes.  It produces 1,000 watts of power at surge and 900 watts continuously. It has an Economy Mode to save fuel and reduce noise. The built in handle provides easy portability. Great little generator to take almost anywhere you need backup power.

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Generac 5793 iX2000

The iX2000 is a very compact inverter generator, and it’s 40% lighter then your standard generator with the same wattage. The case is fully enclosed allowing for a more quiet operation. The FlexPower feature let’s you run the generator in two modes; High mode for large loads, and ECO mode to save fuel and reduce noise.

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Kipor IG2000

The Kipor produces pure sine wave, making it a great choice for powering the latest electronic equipment. It features Smart Throttle technology that automatically adjusts engine speed to match load. This results in greater fuel efficiency. It produces up to 2,000 watts of power max load and 1,600 continuous.

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Kipor IG1000

This generator is just like the IG2000, but it only produces 1,000 watts of power at max load and 900 watts continuous load. It includes 12 volt charge cables, and two 120 volt 15 amp plug receptacles. There is also an accessory kit included.

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WEN 3000 Watt Generator

This is one of my favorites in portable generators ranging from 2,000 watts to 3,000 watts.  One of the very few generators at this level getting a 5 star rating. It is a very well built medium power generator. It has to be one of the best values for your money. At 3,000 running watts, this generator has the power to run many essential items in your home.

The WEN 56352 3,000 watt portable generator has a 196cc 6.5HP OHV 4-Cycle engine. It comes with a 4 gallon fuel tank giving you 15 hours of run time at half load. It also features an automatic low oil engine shutdown. It weights 115 pounds, but easy to move around with the pull-up handle and durable wheels. It also features 120 volt outlet, 120/240 NEMA outlet, and a 12V cigarette style DC receptacle. There is also an engine hour counter, circuit breaker, and automatic voltage regulator.

This model is a step up from a 2,000 watt portable generator, but for a little more money you will be able to power a lot more of your home appliances with reliable power.  You should definitely read over the reviews. Almost no one has anything bad to say about the WEN portable generator.

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DuroMax Elite MX1500

Here is another 1500 Watts portable generator selling for around $169.00 that can power a few items during an outage.  It has a durable 3.0 HP Air cooled engine, with an output of 1500 watts max, but rated at 1000 watts. It can run for up to 4 1/2 hours at 50% load. This generator weighs in at 63 pounds.

The DuroMax Elite MX1500 portable generator features a recoil start, and it’s great for Camping, RVs, and your basic home backup power.  The air cooled engine also comes with a low oil shutoff sensor to prevent any damage to the engine. The fuel tank can hold 1 gallon, giving you a little over 4 hours of portable power. It is rated at 69 dBA for a more quiet operation. This is a really quiet generator that you can also take to a work site or a recreational park.

The generator has been compared to some Honda models costing way more. If you’re looking for something very basic to power some lights, fan or TV, this would make a fantastic choice. The price is also a good selling point. $169.00 for a portable generator? Now that’s what I call a good deal.

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Champion 1500W Portable Generator

A friend of mine once told me that all he really needs during a power outage is his TV and maybe a light or two. Needless to say, he has no kids and lives in a small ranch home with his wife. Since his requirements are very basic I told him all he really needed was a portable generator with 2000 watts or less. This model normally sells for around $185.00.

The Champion 1500 Watt portable generator is just right for you, if your needs are like my friend’s.  If being able to watch your favorite shows, use your PC or power a fan on a hot summer day then you don’t need to spend a lot of money for a generator.  The Champion portable generator is Lightweight, Portable, and comes with a genuine CPE 80CC OHV engine. It also features  low oil shut-off to prevent engine damage.

The fuel tank has a capacity of 1.2 gallons giving you around 10 hours of running time at 50% load. The engine noise level is 65 db. It has one 120 volt outlet, and a push-to-reset circuit breaker. This is one solid generator, and from what I understand only the dipstick is plastic.  Everything else is made from metal or steel. It weighs in at around 60 pounds, so it shouldn’t be that hard to move around.

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Honeywell HW6200 Generator

I have to admit, this is one of my favorite portable generators. That’s because I know Honeywell makes great products.  Honeywell can trace it’s roots back to 1885. You’re talking about a company with over 125 years of innovation. From experience, I know you can expect reliability and dependability from Honeywell portable generators.

The Honeywell HW6200 portable generator comes with an oversized muffler for quiet operation. Your neighbors won’t frown at you when you turn it on. it outputs 6200 continuous watts of power with a max of 7750 watts. It can run for 8 hours at 50 percent load. There are four 15/20 Amp 120 volt AC oulets, and one 120/240 volt AC outlet.

If you want to keep your family safe and comfortable during a power outage, then I highly recommend the Honeywell HW6200 Portable Generator. It has enough juice to power your most essential home appliances, like your refrigerator, sump pump,  electric water heater, washing machine, lights and many more. See the chart below for a better description:

Honeywell HW6200 Chart

This generator is specially designed for safe and easy operation. It has color coded starting controls to help you identify them with ease. A four-in-one power cord is also included with this generator. Another great feature of the HW6200 is the SurePower Alternatator, which provides voltage-regulated power. The never flat tires, and high-leverage handle will make transporting your generator worry free. Did I mention that it also comes with a 6.5 gallon fuel tank? That’s enough capacity to run many of your appliances for up to 8 hours. Three more extra features I like are the convenient fuel gauge, low oil protection and overload protection. If you want worry free, reliable power when you need it, the Honeywell HW6200 is on top of my list.

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All Power America APG3090

If you want power, and I mean power, the APG3090 10,000 watt generator is the ideal choice. This incredible machine can power almost everything in a small home. It really isn’t that far off from your typical standby generator. The All Power America APG3090 is powered by an 15HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Engine. It features electric start and recoil system. Although you need to buy the battery separate for the electric start system, it beats pulling on a cord any day.

The APG3090 comes with four 120 volt 20 Amp outlets, and one 120 volt 30 Amp twist lock outlet. It also includes one 12 volt DC outlet. This generator weighs in at 252 pounds, which is typical for a generator with this much wattage.

Features:

• 10,000W Generator
• 10,000W peak, 8000W rated
• 15HP OHV engine with oil alert
• Electric start and recoiled start
• Four 120V 20A outlets, one 120V 30A twist lock, one 120V/240V 30A twist lock, one 12V DC outlet
• Protective circuit breaker
• Equipped with amp and voltage meters
• Hour meter for scheduled maintenance
• Runs up to 8 hours from a 7.7 gallon tank of fuel

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Blue Max GEN4000B 4000W Generator

Here is a generator that keeps surprising me. It typically goes for around $349.00, and it’s one of the top sellers with the best overall reviews. The average rating for the Blue Max Gen4000B is 4 stars out of 5. Customers seem to love the price for the 4,000 watts of power it provides. Although the generator doesn’t come with wheels for easy transportation, you can still buy them separate for around $25.00. This baby weighs in at 90 pounds or so. If you plan on using it in different locations and moving it around a lot, then I recommend you get the wheel kit.

This is the perfect generator to leave on a fixed location to power most of your house hold items in a power outage. As always make sure to follow the manufactures recommended distance and installation instructions.

The Blue Max GEN400B comes with a 6.5 HP OHV air cooled engine, and is a fairly quiet generator. To really get a feel of how great this portable generator is for the money, you need to read some of the reviews. One customer compares it to his neighbors $1,800 Honda 5500 watt generator.

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Sportsman GEN154

Here is a very affordable 2,000 Watt portable generator from Buffalo Tools.  The average price for the Sportsman GEN154 is about $199.99, but don’t let the price fool you. It is still a very good generator to power a few appliances in a power outage.  Let’s face it, not everyone is interested in powering every single appliance in their home when they lose power. Being able to power you lights and other essentials may just be enough for some of us.

It comes with a powerful and reliable 4-stroke 80cc engine, and can give you about 9 hours of runtime on a 1.32 gallon fuel tank.  There is also an automatic shutoff feature to help avoid any engine damage. Many use these particular generators as camping generators for camping trips, or as a backup generator for your home. If you’re looking to save a few dollars and be able to have a decent generator than consider the Sportsman GEN154 portable generator.

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Generac 5500W Portable Generator

The Generac 5500w portable generator is a true work-horse, and it’s just one of the many reliable portable generators from Generac. It has enough wattage to run a full range of home appliances for those unexpected blackouts.  It’s the perfect generator for the home, job site, or just about anywhere you require portable power. It’s compact and comes with never-flat wheels and locking fold-down handles for easy transportation.

The GP5500W generator comes with a powerful OHV engine with a secure shutdown feature. If the oil gets to low it will shutdown automatically and protect your generator from any damage.  It also comes with 4 120-volt outlets and a single 120/240-volt 30 Amp twist lock outlet. The generator also includes a circuit-breaker for extra protection against power overloads. With it’s flash lubrication and high performance alternator, you can expect efficient and smooth operation for many years.

If you are looking for a quiet and efficient generator than the GP5500W portable generator from Generac is a good choice.

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All Power America 2000W Generator

This 2,000 watt portable generator from All-Power America has to be one of the most inexpensive I  have ever seen.  Please don’t let the price fool you into thinking the APG3014 is a mediocre generator. It’s currently one of the best sellers with the most reviews.  If you don’t believe me and want to see for your self see all the APG3014 portable generator reviews.

It currently goes for only $199.99 at Amazon and you can even have it shipped for free. Now that’s what I call a great deal! Now let me tell you a little more about the specifications and what to expect from this portable generator. It comes with a 2,000 watt 3HP 4-stroke gas powered engine. It can run for about 9.5 hours at 50% load. It is also a fairly quiet generator only producing 68db of noise.  The generator weights only 60 pounds with a total shipping weight of 64 pounds.

This generator is mainly suited for light use, and if you don’t plan on connecting many appliances to it during a power outage.  It comes with cables to charge batteries that plug right into the front panel. There is easy access to the air filter for cleaning, and that fact that it only weights 60 pounds makes it really easy to move around.

Many small generators being sold are only 2 stroke, this means you have to premix gas and oil in a separate container. Not the APG3014, it comes with a 4 stroke engine so you won’t have to worry about having to premix your fuel.

All-Power America is a power tool and equipment manufacturer with origins in China. They started exporting products to the United States back in 2005.  They also produce pressure washers, air compressors, and various power equipment such as electric saws, drills, sanders, etc.

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