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HOW TO CHOOSE.

If you've landed on this page, you were probably searching for a cheapest generator. Well, unfortunately, there is no such thing. As we all realize, not all generators are born equal. It goes without saying that the lower power rating the lower the price. An absolutely cheapest model would likely have such a low wattage that it would be pretty much useless for most tasks. Therefore it is pointless to talk about the cheapest device without specifying its type and the minimum required features.

So, let me quickly go over it. As a quick recap, the main two types of the generators are stationary and portable. Portables are generally less expensive. They are classified primarily by their power level and the fuel. All things being equal, the cheapest generators are gasoline-fueled ones. There are plenty of inexpensive Chinese-built gas models on the market, such as DuroMax, Champion, and other. You can buy for example a 1000 watt genset for just slightly more than $100. Such a genset may be useful to run a power tool or a small appliance. You may use it on a boat or camping. However, if you are looking for something that can help you survive a blackout, you definitely need a larger device.

For example, if you want to power 2-3 medium size home appliances, such as a window a/c and a refrigerator, you probably need at least a 4000-5000W watt model. In this power range you can buy a decent device such as this 4500W WEN model for under $400, or even better dual-fuel Champion for around $600. By the way, always read carefully all the characteristics. Particularly, an advertised portable generator wattage is usually peak (starting) power. Continuous power may be 10-20% lower. Note that after a hurricane or a major storm, cheap generators are often out of stock on Amazon, which let their third part sellers jack up the prices.

HOW TO DETERMINE THE REQUIRED WATTAGE.

If you are not sure how many watts your appliance consumes, look at its nameplate label or the manual. It usually states maximum current in amps. To get watts just multiply this value by the service voltage (such as 120V in North America). For more detailed see my sizing guide.

Finally, a few words about reliability. Normally, a cheap import is a cause for quality concern. However, if you read customer reviews at various retailer sites, surprisingly, an average rating of imported models is not necessarily lower than that of domestic brands. Unfortunately, the reliability of all gasoline-powered gensets is not very high, regardless of who builds them. Based on user's reviews, certain percentage of them arrive with some problems or even DOA. Therefore, if there is a storm in a forecast, don't wait until the last day. To be on the safe side, get a backup device in advance to be able to fix or replace it if necessary.