How To Choose The Perfect Power Generator For Your Next Trip

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When it comes to your next road trip, you always want to play it safe. And you want to make sure you have the right power generator to help you navigate the travel-friendly generator market. But, more so, you want to connect with nature and take the family for a much-needed vacation.

The Right Power Generator For Your Travels

Whether you feel panicky at the thought of cutting off from the electrical grid for even half an hour, an RV power generator will likely solve your problem. Carrying around your source of electrical power is just as empowering as it sounds.

More so, you’ll want to keep your lemonade delightfully cold in the minifridge to support your workstation with a working laptop. Having the right power generator to stay in touch with your family because you have a fully charged phone, a portable generator is truly liberating.

When it comes to choosing the best option available, however, power generators can seem confusing. We ask questions like, is gasoline better than propane? How’s an inverter generator different from a conventional one? Is there any chance you can reduce the level of noise?

However, if you read a duromax xp5500eh review not knowing if it’s worth the money (spoiler: it is), here’s a little guide to help you navigate the travel-friendly generator market.

RV vs. Plain Portable

For recreational vehicle owners, a decent generator is a must. That’s a big group of buyers looking for high-power, easy-to-connect and safe models that run on the type of fuel that they find the most convenient (see below for more details on fuel). Of course, there’s also the inevitable tradeoff between weight and the amount of power potentially generated.

While you can find dedicated RV-friendly generator models meant to power your vehicle’s air conditioning system and a bunch of appliances connected to it, some people prefer more portable options. Additionally, this is usually the case with avid campers and hikers. So the short answer is you should only start by investing in an RV power generator if you don’t travel much without your RV. Otherwise, a more flexible portable option will likely cover your needs.

Furthermore, if you are looking for an RV-compatible power generator, consider a few things. Firstly, you want it to be as lightweight as possible while also producing enough power. Secondly, ensure it has the right number of Amps and the right connector type for your vehicle. Modifications are usually possible but a pain to carry out.

The reason you are looking for a travel-style generator will largely determine the amount of power you want to generate. So when it comes to how much power you’ll need, let’s take a look at what numbers you should look for and why. After all, you’ll want to sleep comfortably in your RV and make sure you enjoy your travels too.

How Much Power Do I Need?

Typically, air conditioning should be the top priority if your primary purpose is to power your RV. Moreover, this can normally need anything from 1,400 to 2,500 Watts, plus a bit more to start than any other appliance. For your power generator, you’ll surely want some spare power, too. The exact figures will depend on what gadgets you need to feed.

• Charging your laptop is unlikely to cost you more than 100 Watts.
• A phone is even less power-consuming to charge.
• A coffee maker generally takes around 600 Watts.
• A microwave is a full 1,000 Watts.
• A fridge can be from about 150 to 1,000 Watts depending on its properties, and it needs a lot more power to start than to keep going.

The list goes on. Power is much less critical for those who only need to power their portable devices and have no interest in AC. Just remember that electric grills are among the hungriest appliances, so take this into account if you like to have your lunch al fresco. It’s best to check every device’s specification before you make the final decision.

The Different Fuel Types

Some generators fuel using gasoline, propane, and diesel. Some will accept two kinds of fuel to have a Plan A if you encounter difficulties with your preferred fuel type. Manufacturers even offer tri-fuel options.

Generally, diesel offers the greenest option because it burns clean. Diesel generators are also quite efficient in terms of power per gallon and don’t require much maintenance. With gasoline, the pros are obvious — it should be really easy to find. Finally, propane stores better than other fuel types but lacks the efficiency of diesel when it comes to burning it.

You might also come across power generators that gain power from solar batteries. And this is a way less common and usually more expensive option, but it’s clean and probably the safest power generator to use indoors.

Keeping Things Quiet

Some people think of noise levels as bells and whistles, but it’s more critical than you might think. It’s not uncommon for camping grounds to limit the maximum amount of noise your power generator can produce to make sure other campers feel comfortable around you. Luckily, manufacturers tend to indicate how noisy this or that model will be, so making the right choice is merely a matter of comparing two numbers.

More so, a possible factor is noise level, and weight is inverter vs. conventional generator type. The former term refers to more advanced devices usually on the lighter, quieter end of the spectrum and more expensive. However, for travelers who value their comfort and others, the general recommendation is to invest a bit more.

Your Power Generator Summary

To sum up, start by deciding between an RV power generator and a plain portable one. Additionally, this and the type of devices you need to power will determine the amount of Watts you need or want.

Then, within the right category, choose the fuelling option that appeals to you most based on the amount of power. And don’t forget to factor in noise level as there might be regulations limiting the highest number of decibels you can generate.

Finally, weight is normally the opposite of power, but there’s nothing wrong with trading some Watts for a bit of free space in your RV or on the camping ground. Like so many devices these days, the power generator you choose is all about balance.

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