When you’re about to go camping, then one of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll need is a portable generator! These are helpful to power up your appliances and to charge your phones, making your trip a memorable and hassle-free one. So if you don’t have a generator yet, it’s time that you make that investment now!
However, there are a ton of generators to choose from, which has us wondering: Which one is the best one? Since these are quite a pricey investment, you need to make sure that you select a portable generator suitable for YOUR trips. With that said, read on as I show you the important factors to consider when selecting a portable generator for your camping trips.
How to Choose the Best Portable Generator
Portable generators have the ability to charge your devices, power up necessary appliances, as well as jumpstart dead batteries! All these make it comfort and a worthy investment for future camping trips. To select the best one, look into these features:
- What Do You Need to Power Up?
The first thing to consider is how much power you need in a generator based on the appliance you’ll use. Will you need to power up some lights or a lot of appliances and devices? Consider the following camping appliances and their average power consumption:
- Electric kettle: 2,000W
- Heater: 2,000W
- Microwave: 800W
- Air conditioner: 600W
- Fan: 70W
- Charge devices: 50W
If you only need the basics and for charging, 1,000W is ideal. But if you need to run even more appliances simultaneously, then I recommend you invest in one that offers up to 3,000W of power.
- Look For Silent Ones
Take note that the higher wattage your generator has, the higher the noise level may be. Fortunately, there are silent generators available, which still emit some noise, but have everyone sleeping without disturbance. There are also different accessories such as wall barriers, silencers, and enclosures, to lessen the noise.
You can find out how loud a generator is based on real reviews from previous customers, as well as asking how many decibels the chosen generator products. As much as possible, it should be less than 60 decibels, which is equivalent to city traffic.
- Focus on CARB-Compliant Generators
CARB stands for the California Air Resources Board, which monitors regulatory activities of the state’s air districts. They also imposed the Federal Clean Air Act! Basically, they are the boss of clean and quiet power within the United States.
Your chosen portable generator should have the CARB seal, ensuring the eco-friendliness and noise control. This seal means that the generator has passed the state’s air quality and noise pollution regulations.
If it has no seal, I recommend that you search elsewhere and go for popular brands. Reputable names such as Honda generator for sale would have the seal and assurance of the equipment’s efficient performance.
4. Power Type and Battery Storage
Did you know that a portable generator can run in different types?
There is wind or solar power, rechargeable batteries, or gasoline. This is important to consider depending on what you have in the campgrounds. I highly suggest using rechargeable batteries, as you might not have enough wind or gas to operate your generator.
Besides this, you should also ensure that the power source can charge itself, having a built-in battery as well. Most wind and solar-powered generators would have built-in batteries to use during the night or less windy conditions.
5. Size, Weight, and Durability
You’re choosing a portable generator for a reason! It should be small and lightweight, which is useful for backpacking. However, they don’t have as much power output as larger generators.
If you’re a family on a camping trip in a car or RV, then you can make do with larger generators. But if you’re a single person backpacking, you’ll find more comfort and convenience with the small-sized equipment.
Also, your generator should be made with excellent and durable parts to last for many trips to come. After all, you’ll be outdoors, where you’re exposed to various weather conditions and areas.
6. What Features Can It Offer?
Now, look into any extras that the portable generator can offer that suits you such as:
- More charging ports in the form of USB or ports or standard outlets
- Automatic voltage regulator and circuit breakers to prevent damaging your appliances and devices
- Extension leads to power it up in farther areas
Wrapping It Up
Hopefully, these tips on how to buy a portable generator helped you out! So start looking into reputable companies and stores to find the best you need.
If you have any questions or want to share your tips and experiences on selecting a portable generator, then comment below. All your thoughts are much appreciated.
