Buying an Inverter Generator

An inverter generator is a device that allows you to generate electricity from a motor that you can use to power various electronic devices. A lot of these are portable models, which allows you to use it for outdoor activities or anytime you’re away from a standard power source. Although they can be quite expensive, they provide you with a lot of power choices and can be a reliable source of power in case of emergencies

A lot of people use these generators when they are on camping trips. If you have one of these with you, you will be able to use your household electronics even in the middle of the woods. This defeats the purpose for a lot of people, but you can use it to power a heater, charge your cell phone, and other activities that are normally reserved for an on the grid location.

One of the biggest things to watch out for when purchasing is the level of noise. Generators are inherently noisy. Although these are no noisier than a regular generator, some models are quite loud and could disturb an entire campground when you fire it up.

The inverter part of the inverter generator’s name often confuses first time purchasers especially because they are a relatively new technology. Without getting too complicated, the inverter is added onto a regular generator to help keep the power level steady. The potential downside is that you no longer have a true sine wave, but an artificially generated one. This is only a problem for highly sensitive electronics.

A regular generator also provides these electrical opportunities. The difference is that the power is not regulated, so the voltage can vary considerably. Adding the inverter allows the extra opportunity for the power to be converted to DC, regulated, and converted back to a modified AC sine wave.

When considering buying an inverter generator vs a regular generator, the main advantages to an inverter model are how steady the power source will be and long term wear. Although it beats the non-inverting generator in these areas, it has an increased cost to go with it.

A cheap inverter generator will probably run you near two or three hundred dollars. An expensive model can easily be several thousand dollars. The difference in price doesn’t just reflect quality, but the amount of power that the generator is capable of producing. In contrast, a standard portable generator can be purchased for as little as one hundred dollars. A more powerful motor can still cost just over a thousand dollars. The inverter functionality adds to the price tag for a similarly capable device, but can provide an extra piece of mind and a longer lifespan.