4 Things You Should Know Before You Buy a Propane Portable Generator
There's many reasons you may want a portable propane generator. It could be for a remote cabin, a work site, or simply as an emergency power source in case electricity gets cut at your house. Regardless of the reason however, there's some things you should know before you go ahead and buy one. These generators come in many different models, sizes, and power ratings. They also offer various features that can be different from one model to the next. You don't want to spend money needlessly, or find out that your generator doesn't fit the job. Here's a list of 4 things you should know before you buy a propane portable generator:
The first thing to know is how powerful you need your generator to be. Usually, the more watts it produces, the more expensive it will be, so you want one that has enough power for your needs, but doesn't cost more than you can afford. Typically, generators have two values, one is the running wattage and then you have the max load. Usually, you want to count up how many watts you need, and find one that has a running wattage of the same or higher. That's because you don't want to overload it, and you may need all those devices on at the same time, so you need a portable generator that will do the trick. 4000 watts is a good starting value for an emergency station, while you may need more if you intend to wire your whole house. This brings us to the second point, which is the installation. Some people get a fairly big generator, but one that doesn't come on wheels or a cart to move it around. That way, you can then install it in your basement, and wire emergency cables around your walls to critical devices. The same can be done for a remote cabin as well. Otherwise, if you don't want to invest in wiring the whole building, you can get one that's on wheels and you can bring wherever you need it.
Propane portable generators obviously rely on propane tanks to function, so this is also something you need to keep in mind. Typically, these take 5 or 10 gallon tanks. Some people keep a large tank outside that they regularly fill up and use for their portable generator. Or, you can buy small propane tanks in almost any hardware store. The important thing is to not leave those laying without maintenance. You need to keep them in a cool temperature, and make sure there's no leaks. When you buy your first tank you will likely get a safety manual that you should read. Finally, where it comes to safety, there's some things you should take care of when it comes time to using it. Make sure to get an approved fire extinguisher to keep next to the generator. Many cities have regulations for that. Never add fuel while the generator is running, don't run the generator indoors and make sure there's proper ventilation around the device.
Overall, a propane portable generator can be a life savior when power cuts out and it starts getting cold or dark. It can also be a money savior for a remote location, or if you simply don't have the opportunity to connect your remote house to the power grid. Now that you know some basic information, you'll know what to do when you buy it.
Propane Portable Generators: 4 Models Reviewed
When you need backup power, or a portable generator to bring with you in remote locations, there's many things you need to consider before you buy. First there's the type of fuel, such as propane, how much power it provides, and finally which features are included in this particular model. To help you out, here's 4 models of propane portable generators reviewed, along with some information about them so that you may take the best decision, and not waste your money needlessly. Hopefully these comparisons will allow you to choose the generator that meets your needs.
The first model is the Sportsman GEN4000LP 4000-Watt 7 HP OHV Propane Powered Portable Generator. This is marketed as an all purpose device, good for emergencies, camping, or construction sites. This one has a 7 HP OVH engine which is what provides its power. It has 3 outlets, 2 being for 120 volt and 1 for 240 volt. This may not be enough if you need to plug in more items, but you can always use extension cords. Finally, the company claims this is a very noise free generator, which may be a plus. You won't really find many that are less expensive than this one at around $380. The next one is the ETQ PG30P11 3,500 Watt 7 HP 208cc 4-Cycle OHV Propane Powered Portable Generator. This model actually looks very similar to the first, and has the same 7 HP OVH engine. With a 20 pound propane tank, the company claims 11.5 hours at half load, which is slightly more than the first one. When it comes to price, this one is slightly more expensive as well, at $395.
If you need something more powerful however, then you have to go up a step and look at some more expensive options. The Generac 6000 LP3250 3,750 Watt 212cc OHV Liquid Propane Powered Portable Generator With Tank Holder is a portable generator that provides 3,250 running watts, with a 3,750 max wattage. It uses a 212cc OHV engine and comes on wheels so it's easy to carry around, both the device and the tank of propane. It's big enough to fit a 20 or 30 pound liquid tank, and comes with circuit breakers for extra protection. For this model you can expect to pay around $600. Finally, the last one is the Champion Power Equipment 71108 4,200 Watt 4-Cycle Propane Powered Portable Generator (CARB Compliant) which is a very powerful unit, providing enough power to keep a whole cabin running, or even a house in case your electricity goes out. This unit gives you 3,500 running watts with 4,200 peak. It has several extra functions like a display of how many volts are used, the current frequency, and more. This unit costs $800.
Overall, the main difference between the various models is how powerful they are, along with how big and easy to move around the device is. Other than that, you may want to check the number of outlets, and if there's any extra function that's included. Still, all of these models can work find as an extra source of power.
BEST Propane Portable Generators
5 Popular Propane Portable Generators at Amazon.com:
Are you looking for more information about portable propane generators? Here's a list of some of the most popular propane portable generators at Amazon.com. We looked for generators that had three or more stars (customer recommendations). Please note that ranking on this list is subject to change. Click on any of the following links to find out more information about each generator.
Sportsman GEN4000LP 4000-Watt 7 HP OHV Propane Powered Portable Generator
CLICK HERE for more information.
ETQ PG30P11 3,500 Watt 7 HP 208cc 4-Cycle OHV Propane Powered Portable Generator
CLICK HERE for more information.
Sportsman GEN7000LP 7000-Watt 13 HP OHV Propane Powered Portable Generator
CLICK HERE for more information.
Generac 6000 LP3250 3,750 Watt 212cc OHV Liquid Propane Powered Portable Generator With Tank Holder
CLICK HERE for more information.
CLICK HERE for more information.
