DISCOUNT ELECTRIC GENERATORS



PORTABLE AND STANDBY MODELS IN THE POWER RANGE 1,000-20,000 WATTS

There are two main types of generators (gensets) for home use: standby and portable.
Standby generators are hardwired to the house electrical system via a transfer switch and permanently connected to an external fuel source (such as LPG or natural gas). They can provide continuous power in case of emergency for as long as the fuel is available (see standby models review and ratings).
A portable generator is normally used for temporary powering selected AC loads via extension cords or via a cable plugged to a manual transfer switch. This type is generally cheaper than stationary, but most models get the fuel from an on-board tank and therefore need frequent refueling. Some multi-fuel portables, such as NorthStar 8000 TFG listed below can also be connected to an external fuel source for extended runtime (see portable models review and ratings).
Prices for residential gensets range from about $100 per kW to as much as $1000/kW. Here are my picks of the popular models at discount prices in various genset categories.

Eastern Tools 1200 watt peak (1,000 W run).
OHV engine, 1 gallon tank, 5.5 hours run at 100% load; 120 volt (THD<6%), weight 45 lb; manual recoil start.
TG8250: 8.25kW peak, 7.25 kW run, 6.4 gal tank, 10.5-hr runtime at half load (longer then Generac Wheelhouse 5500 1646). Electric start. Also see a similar lower cost BlueMax 8,000 Watt with 3-year warranty.
Contractor Line 4000 W peak/ 2800 W rated portable. 120 V outlets, 9.5 hours run time per tankful at half load; 6.5 HP OHV engine. Weight: 60 lb. Also see a similar Eastern Tools ETQ TG32P12 (TG4000) with wheels
Cheap 30A manual transfer switch kit for a portable generator up to 7500 watts; 6 circuits (expandable to up to 10). Dual wattmeters to balance the loads. For higher power see 50A 12.5kW GenTran Powerstay

Generac's Guardian
automatic system 05873: 17kW propane/ 16kW gas; 29kW (124A) starting. Includes 100A auto transfer switch/16 circuit panel. Works from standard household natural gas pressure.
EmPower™ 7 #40248 bi-fuel standby system: 7kW run/ 10.5kW start on propane; 6kW run/ 9kW start on NG. Propane quick connect kit gets you up and running immediately from 2 BBQ tanks with option to connect later to gas line.
Tri-fuel 8000TFG: gasoline, propane (LPG), natural gas. 8.0kW surge/ 6kW run on gasoline. 6.5 gal tank, 9 hrs @1/2 load. Electric start. Switch fuel with no tools. Also see a higher power Winco 8000 Watt HPS9000E


Guardian Ultrasource® gasoline 5735: 17.5kW run/ 26.25kW surge. 16-gal tank, electric start, battery is inclded. Runs a 5-ton central air conditioner.
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NOTES:


The "best prices" shown above are automatically provided by Amazon.com and relate to what you can buy from their site. These numbers do not include taxes and shipping, although Amazon usually offers free shipping on the gensets they carry. Being a discount retailer, it offers prices that in most cases are below the respective manufacturer's list or MSRP. I do not imply of course that other retailers are necessarily selling at MSRP, but these prices often may be indeed the lowest ones you can find anywhere online at authorized dealers. However, you should always do your own research.

An average size single-family house typically needs 4 to 7 kW to power essential items. Among cheap midsize portable generators, Eastern Tools and Blue Max series feature one of the lowest cost on the market. For California emission regulations consider CARB compliant PowerMax series with included wheel kit. For a jobsite or camping trips Blue Max's Contractor Line is probably the cheapest in its class.

The homes with up to 4-5 ton central air conditioner would normally need a 15-17kW system (see our sizing guide). In this power range, Generac GUARDIAN® models have probably the lowest dollars per kW among top brands. You can usually order installation and service of your GUARDIAN® or Generac system from their local dealer regardless of where you bought it. Note that while standby models are normally listed by their continuous power, portable models are usually advertised by their peak (starting) power.

For review and ratings of other top-ranking models, see our detailed comparison charts of portable and home generators.

The characteristics and features (including ability to run a specific size of an air conditioner) are based on manufacturer's specifications or seller's description available at the time we compiled this review. All data here are provided AS IS. While efforts have been made to provide the most current and accurate data - we are not responsible for any errors. For official specifications and warranty info, you may contact the respective product manufacturers. We suggest you to do your own independent research before you buy any model to be sure it will fit your application. This review is provided for information purposes and reflects only the opinion of the author. The sole responsibility when selecting a generator rests with the buyer- see important Disclaimer linked below.

This page contains affiliate links- see Compensation Disclosure.
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