Outdoor Power and Mobile Generators

What is a portable generator?

These generators, sometimes called backup generators, are used to provide temporary power when and where it is needed. Portable is a relative term; some are more portable than others. While the smallest models can be picked up and carried, most have wheels and a handle to make transport easier.

Do you need a portable generator?

The most common use and need for portable generators is for backup power. With the number of natural disasters trending up every year, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, preparing for an outage is a more prudent investment than ever.

What is a standby generator?

Standby generators are permanently installed and connected to a home. These may power selected, critical circuits during a power outage, or may provide power for the whole home. Standby generators have systems that monitor power supplied by a utility and start automatically in the event of an outage.

How much power does a Generac gp6500 have?

The biggest generator I tested, Generac’s GP6500 COsense, boasts a generous starting capacity of 8,125 watts. This means the generator can handle startup loads from big appliances or tools that could be two- to three-times their running watts. Larger-capacity generators like this are particularly useful as backup power during power outages.