Buying Tips

What is a CARB-Compliant Generator?(updated for 2023)

Latest update: CARB rules don’t restrict when you can use consumer-type generators during PSPS events. Online gaming, watching television, cooking and warming your house are only some of the activities which can cease suddenly if there is a power outage. Basically, electricity means everything. Since almost everything depends on electricity, we cannot do anything if there is a sudden outage of electrical supply.

Power outages commonly occur during terrible weather conditions like hurricanes or typhoons. Since the United States is usually pumped with unpredictable weather, homes and families are geared with their own generator. During these difficult times, a generator comes in handy because it allows you to resume your regular activities without any power outage interruption.

It can provide the electrical power you need while you are patiently waiting for the electricity to be restored. Within a span of several hours, you can continue the things you are doing which requires the use of electricity. However, purchasing just an ordinary generator without being compliant to the CARB rules and regulations could be harmful to your health and the environment.

How to Determine A Generator’s Fuel Consumption(updated for 2023)

★★★★★ It is important to consider generator fuel consumption, especially noting how many hours does a generator run on a gallon of gas. You definitely don’t want to have to refill your generator every two hours. You can determine a generator’s fuel consumption from the product information, for example, Champion Power Equipment 46533 indicate that it can runs for 12 hours on full tank (4 gallons) of gas at 50% load. In other words, 1 gallon of gas can run for 3 hours at 50% load. Remember the keyword here is 50% load, if you use it for higher load, the consumption will be higher and if you use it for lower load, the consumption will be lower. By estimation, at 25% load, 1 gallon of gas can run for 4.5 hours but at 100% load, 1 gallon of gas can last for 1.5 hour.
[Read more…] about How to Determine A Generator’s Fuel Consumption(updated for 2023)

What You Need to Buy With a New Generator(updated for 2022)

Generator accessories come in a wide range and they are all essential components that may keep a generator properly functioning. Without most of these accessories, the utility of your generator may be crippled especially if one or more of its components/accessories are damaged or broken which makes finding replacements a rather daunting task. With universal generator accessories around, replacing or changing a damaged accessory has never been easier.

Some generator accessories are optional features but that doesn’t mean they are not as important as everything else. For a generator with an electric starter, it may require a battery to ignite the power of the starter. Portable generators are usually encased in a steel frame with or without wheels for easy transport. In the event that the wheels wear, they may need to be replaced with new ones or if it comes minus the wheels, you may need to purchase them.

All-Weather Portable Generators for Home Use(updated for 2022)

Familiarizing yourself with the different types and features of all-weather portable generators for home use may be useful when looking to buy an emergency standby generator. Unscheduled or sudden power outages may bring everything to a standstill, particularly now in this modern electronic age where almost everything is dependent on electricity.

Survival appliances like your heating and cooling system, lighting and security system will stop running during power outages which may then compromise your safety and comfort in your own homes. All-weather portable generators provide an efficient backup power system during those times, regardless of the weather condition.

Which Generators Are Safe to Run Indoors?(updated for 2022)

★★★★★ Looking for the generators that are safe to run Indoors? We have expert reviews and feature comparisons of the indoor generators. Are you wondering if an indoor generator is really safe to run inside the home? Most portable generators out there are designed to be installed outside requiring a good ventilation and shelter to function effectively even on harsh climates. Though many homemakers may prefer their generators run indoors, the noise, vibration and toxic gas they release don’t make them a good installation inside the home.

How to Figure Out What Size of Generator You Need

Power outages can happen at any time without prior notice and it happens in many places around the world. This does not happen very often, but for some reason, this phenomenon still poses a great threat to any household as it can cause damage to many household appliances. Now, what can you do in order to safeguard your household appliances from sudden power outages?

Well, learning what an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) is will help you discover the solution to the question above. This device could provide a few minutes of energy, enough to safely turn off all your household appliances. But what if you need an extended, uninterrupted flow of energy?

If this would be the case, then you’ll probably need something more than a UPS. Something more powerful, bigger in size and that has enough power to supply homes or work places with electricity until regular power services resume. If you’re guessing a generator, then you’ve guessed it right.