Are you ready for the next hurricane season?

After seeing multiple hurricanes last year, we know now, more than ever that we need to be prepared for the worst. During and after a hurricane we can often be without power for a considerable time and while there are obvious inconveniences associated with that, there can also be many not so obvious health concerns as a result.

A loss of power will of course mean that we can't enjoy some of the luxuries that we've grown accustomed to such as television, air conditioning or email, but it also means that our perishable foods will last for a considerably shorter time. If we don't have enough non-perishable food to sustain us then we could be forced to either go hungry or eat food that may not be 100% safe. However with proper planning, we can utilize a portable generator to keep our refrigerator running and ensure that ...

Read the complete article here

2000 Watt Portable Generator

We are a country of variety, we like to have the confindence to choose what size suits us best for our needs. Whether it be food, clothes, drinks, homes, cars we prefer to choose the things we want. Your electrical needs really should not be any different. With regards to looking for a portable generator they are available in many sizes as well. Be careful, and be smart when choosing your generator. Take an inventory of things you feel you may need for the case of outages or in the event of the well deserved get a way to nature along with a camping trip. On most items they explain the amount of watts an item uses to reach full power, add those up keeping in mind that you might not need them all plugged in at the same time, then purchase a generator with enough power to supply you with ...

Read the complete article here

How to Avoid 3 Frequent Portable Generator Complaints

You can learn a lot by reading portable generator reviews, I know I did. While the majority of the complaints voiced by reviewers are legitimate, others are just plain nit picking. Of the legitimate complaints, the following three issues seem to surface most often.

Complaint #1: Breakdowns

If you search online for best selling portable generators it should come as no surprise when you discover they're also the least expensive models in the $300 price range. Unfortunately, the term best selling generator is commonly mistaken to mean best overall generator. The quality and reliability of generators in this price range vary not so much by manufacturer, but from generator to generator. For mysterious reasons, some ...

Read the complete article here

---

Fixing Your Portable Generator

So, you've brought your generator out of storage, filled the tank, pulled the cord, and nothing. Hopefully, you are finding this out BEFORE the power outage or camping trip. This article will help you fix some common problems you may encounter. Before attempting any repair, remove the spark plug to prevent accidental starting while you are working on the unit.

If the generator will not start or won't stay started, check the muffler exhaust for an foreign debris. Once that is clean, check the gas and oil to make sure you have appropriate levels of both. Finally, make sure the spark plug has a good connection.

If the alternator fails to excite, it may be running at too low of a speed. Adjust the rpm. This can also result from a faulty capacitor or windings, which must be replaced and tightened.

If the voltage is running high with no load on the generator, you may need to adjust the rpms to a lower speed or replace the capacitor. Conversely, if the voltage is running low under no load, you may need to adjust the rpms to a higher speed or replace the capacitor with one with a higher rating. In addition, for low voltage, you should check your winding resistance and replace your rotary diodes, if needed.

If your voltage is ok with no load, but drops when you add a small load, you may need to increase your rpms or remove some of the load. You could also need to replace your rotary diodes.

If the voltage drops when you add a high load, you probably need to adjust the rpms or remove some of the load.

Finally, if the voltage fluctuates, it may be the result of loose or dirty connections. You may also need to regulate the rpms to solve this problem.