Mr Power Generator
Saving you time and money with expert advice on the best value generators for 2020
Propane generators
Looking for an environmentally friendly option?
Propane generators are more clean burning than gasoline or diesel models and can reduce your carbon footprint in the great outdoors. They make an ideal option for both standby and portable generators. Read our guide to find the best propane generator for your needs…
Gas Generators
By far the most popular choice for those looking for a portable power supply, gas generators offer the convenience of having an easily accessible fuel source that’s as close as the nearest gas station. The popularity of gas generators means many options to choose from so we break the best buys down for you with our comprehensive guide…
Diesel Generators
Known for their superb fuel efficiency and lower maintenance requirements, diesel generators are perfect for work sites and wherever the generator needs to have a longer running time, such as standby generators. Consider a diesel generator wherever reliability, safety, running cost and robustness are a priority. We have a treasure trove of tips for you before you buy…
Advice from the experts
Why do you need an alternative power generator?
Our modern world relies on electricity for the everyday comforts of life and a power generator is an essential tool to ensure that you can continue to run your electrical devices in the event of a power outage. Generators are also a must-have source of electricity when living, working or holidaying off the grid, allowing you to maintain some simple everyday conveniences or enjoy those little luxuries that make all the difference to our comfort.
Despite their name, power generators do not actually create energy. They simply convert one form of energy into electrical energy that can be used to power appliances such as whitegoods, heating or cooling systems and electronic gadgets. There are many sources of energy that can be used in generators and depending on your intended application, some energy sources will be better suited to your needs than others.
With so many different types of generators on the market today our aim is to help you choose the best power generator for your unique needs. We have provided a number of informative buying guides, reviews and product comparisons to simplify the process and give peace of mind that you are buying the best value machine that can handle your requirements and perform reliably over the long term.
In a hurry? Check out our top Picks
The Five Best
Power generators Right now
Best Portable Generator -Honda EU2200i 2200-Watt 120-Volt Portable Inverter Generator
Need a portable gas generator for camping or home use? This whisper quiet generator operates at a volume that is less than that of a normal conversation while delivering hours of clean, stable power. This small, lightweight unit is packed with the reliability and features we have come to expect from Honda and is so efficient it can run up to 9.6 hours on a single tank. Read the complete review
BEST STANDBY GENERATOR – Generac 70432 22kW/19.5kW Home Standby Generator Guardian Series
This Generac gem is one of the most popular home standby units on the market today for good reason. The air-cooled engine kicks in within a few seconds of losing power and will continue running until electricity is restored. A handy transfer switch lets you choose between powering a few circuits or the whole house and you can monitor the unit remotely via mobile. Read the complete review
Best Industrial Diesel Generator – Kubota Generator GL11000 11000 Watt Series Lowboy II (CARB)
This compact and quiet Kubota is unbeatable on the job site. With plenty of guts to keep the power coming for a whole work day at 100% load on just a single tank of diesel, it’s ruggedly built to withstand harsh and dusty conditions. This little beauty will also save you precious time on maintenance with up to 200 hours running time before requiring an oil change. Read the complete review
Best Small Gas Generator -A-iPower SUA2000iV Ultra-Quiet 2000-Watt Portable Inverter Generator (CARB)
This surprising find has loads of features for the money including very quiet operation yet up to 4 hours run time at 100% load. Or combine 2 generators using smart plug and play technology for double the power. Weighing in at just 46lbs this lightweight wonder makes it easy to head off on an adventure knowing you have a reliable supply of clean electricity…Read the complete review
Most Affordable Home Back-Up Generator – DuroMax XP10000E Gas Powered Portable Generator
If you’re after an affordable generator that can power your house in an outage, this might be the one for you. Powerful enough to handle heavy loads like air-conditioning, lights and fridge it also has a huge fuel tank with an equally huge run time of over 10.4 hours…Read the complete review
Beginners Quick Start Guide
What type of
generator do you need?
There are basically two kinds of generators on the market today:
Portable Generators: As the name suggests, portable generators have wheels so that you can store them and then move them around to wherever you need an electricity supply. They can be used to power a few key appliances in an outage and are a popular option for camping and outdoor use.
Standby Generators: These permanent back-up generators go to work when there is an interruption to your regular power supply and are designed to keep emergency electricity flowing to your home for several days at a time. Generally they are automatically activated whenever there is a blackout and can produce enough electricity to keep the whole house running.
Once you’ve decided what kind of power generator is right for you, you’ll also have a choice between buying a conventional or inverter generator.
Conventional Generators: These create a current by using a large amount of copper coils in the rotor. This makes them quite heavy and bulky. In order to provide a full electricity output the machine must be running at full speed and this can be noisy. The upside is that conventional generators tend to be the most affordable option.
Inverter Generators: These tend to be much smaller and lighter as they create electricity using rotating magnets rather than copper wiring. As soon as the magnets begin to spin inside the rotor, the full current flow is produced so the machine does not have to be at full power for this to happen. Inverters also have an onboard computer that can adjust the engine speed to match the load. Both of these features help to make inverters quieter and more efficient than conventional generators, however they also tend to have a higher price tag. One big advantage of inverter generators is that they allow you to run your sensitive electronic equipment without damaging it.