News

Generator Glossary and FAQ

Plain-English definitions of common generator terms, plus answers to the questions shoppers ask most.

A three-stage checklist for storm season: what to do weeks ahead, 48 hours before a storm, during an outage and after power returns.

A maintenance schedule for gas generators, fuel and storage tips, and battery care for portable power stations.

What UL, ETL, CARB, EPA and other marks mean, how to verify them, and the red flags for inflated generator and power station specs.

The four safe ways to power a home from a generator, why you should never backfeed through a wall outlet, and what is safe to plug in.

How to use a generator safely: carbon monoxide rules, where to place it, which cords to use, and how to fuel and store it.

A solar generator is a power station plus solar panels. Learn how recharging works and how to estimate your daily solar output.

Decibels, runtime and weight are the three specs that shape daily use. Here is what each number really tells you.

Match the type and size of generator to your situation: home backup, apartments, camping, RVs, job sites and off-grid cabins.

Gasoline, propane, natural gas, dual-fuel, diesel, battery and solar compared on storage life, output and availability in an outage.

Inverter generators are quiet, efficient and clean. Conventional generators give more watts for less money. Here is how to pick.

An appliance wattage chart and a step-by-step walkthrough for sizing a generator or power station to your needs.