With weights between 30 and 40 pounds, though, they’re designed for convenient, one-hand carrying.ĭon’t let the small size of these units lull you into thinking you can bring them inside safely, however. These units lack convenience features like fuel gauges or standard wheels. They produce around 1,000 watts, enough power for tailgating or camping. You can plug two small appliances directly into the compact inverter generators in our ratings. But these units typically weigh between 50 and 60 pounds, and are designed to be carried with one hand. Many small recreational inverter models come with user-friendly features such as fuel-level indicators some come with wheels. But you can link multiple inverter generators together with a special cable to combine their output. These units can’t be connected to a circuit breaker panel or used to power any device that doesn’t have a standard two- or three-prong plug. That’s enough to be a steady source of basic backup power for a fridge, some lights, and a phone charger-but not much else. Models of this category of our ratings generate 1,500 to 2,500 watts. These models put out all the power you need for plug-in appliances like a toaster or microwave, and they’re light enough to unload and carry away to a safe distance from your RV before use.ģ. This size is well suited for users of recreational vehicles. Instead, you plug appliances or electronics directly into the generator, which can be dangerous if you don’t follow certain safety guidelines. They produce 2,500 to 5,000 watts but don’t allow the recommended option of connecting to an electrical panel with a transfer switch. These weigh 80 pounds or more and might come with wheels. That allows the generator to power entire circuits in your home rather than having to plug in individual electronics with extension cords. This category of inverter generator can be connected directly to your electrical panel with a safety device called a transfer switch, which CR strongly recommends. They generate 5,000 watts of power or more (at 220 volts). That’s too big to haul along to a tailgate party but big enough to power your house. Most large inverter generators in our ratings weigh from around 150 to around 300 pounds (wheels included). To help you make better sense of your options, we break our inverter generator ratings into four groups: (In 2020, CR expanded its safety tests to distinguish between generators that simply have these safety features and those we’ve found to be demonstrably safer in various scenarios.) Only portable and inverter generators with the automatic CO shutoff can earn our recommendation, regardless of how well the models perform otherwise. You can best ensure your household’s safety by choosing a recommended model from CR’s inverter generator ratings. But that’s also true of most of the traditional portable generators in our ratings. Most of the inverter generators in our ratings have the automatic CO shutoff. Inverter generators are not inherently safer than other portable generators. The best generators come with both features. And some also have engines that emit less CO in the first place. To further reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, some new portable generators feature a built-in sensor that triggers an automatic shutoff if CO builds up to dangerous levels in an enclosed space. Like other portables, inverter generators should only be used outside in an unenclosed area, at least 20 feet from your home, with the exhaust port pointing away from your dwelling. In contrast, none of the traditional portable generators does better than middling, and quite a number score below that.Ĭarbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a serious risk with all portable generators that aren’t used properly. Many inverter models in Consumer Reports’ generator ratings earn very good or even excellent scores for noise. “Inverter generators are generally quiet enough not to drown out nearby conversation,” Kollontai says. Inverter generators also produce lower emissions.Īnd the noise difference between inverter and traditional portable generators can be significant. That efficiency means you won’t have to fill up the gas tank as often that could be useful if fuel is hard to come by after an emergency. "An inverter generator only ramps up as high as it needs to," says Misha Kollontai, the Consumer Reports engineer who oversees our generator testing. Inverter generators electronically throttle the engine up and down to meet demand, instead of running full tilt all the time as traditional generators do. But their benefits-which have to do with how they work-may make up for that negative.
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