(PRWEB) July 5, 2006 -- Recreational generators bring the conveniences of modern living into some of the remotest areas on Earth. If used incorrectly, they can also spoil the peaceful tranquility shared by all.
On the other hand, you may not want to hear the angry roar of fellow tailgaters when you unplug the television in order to start the blender. If you need to power multiple appliances at once, you'll need a larger generator
So how do you pick the perfect recreational generator without upsetting your neighbors?
ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com – an online generator superstore – recommends focusing on two major attributes before purchasing a camping generator.
STEP 1:
Determine Your Wattage
Recreational generators basically come in two sizes: tiny and small.
Tiny recreational generators produce 1,000 watts of power -- just enough electricity to power one or two appliances simultaneously.
Small recreational generators generate 2,000 watts of juice and are designed to power multiple appliances simultaneously.
According to Jon Hoch, founder of ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com, the keyword is "simultaneously".
"If you simply want to brew a cup of coffee in the morning, a tiny generator will suffice. You can always unplug the coffee maker then plug in the toaster to toast your bagel.
"On the other hand, you may not want to hear the angry roar of fellow tailgaters when you unplug the television in order to start the blender. If you need to power multiple appliances at once, you'll need a larger generator," said Hoch.
STEP 2:
Select Your Style
According to Hoch, a generator is basically an engine and an alternator.
The quality and style of these two components will determine a generator's size, quietness and, ultimately, price.
"Most people assume that the engine -- which generates the power -- is the most influential component," says Hoch. "The style of the alternator -- which converts the power into electricity -- is actually the difference maker."
There are two styles of alternators: standard and inverter.
Standard generators consist of heavy
copper coils, which generate a raw form of electricity.
"The engine must maintain a constant speed of 3,600 rotations per minute to produce AC power," said Hoch. "In other words, it must run at full speed, regardless of the load needed, consuming more fuel and generating more noise."
The electricity produced isn't as clean as utility power. Therefore, ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com does not recommend standard generators to power sensitive electronics like computers.
Inverter generators, however, utilize a different type of alternator to generate very clean AC power.
The inverter technology reduces the generator's weight. But more importantly, the engine can run at varying speeds, significantly reduce the noise levels.
"The state-of-the-art technology adds a few hundred dollars to the generator, but quality doesn't come cheap," said Hoch.
ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com is an online generator superstore owned and operated by
Power Equipment Direct, Inc.
The company also maintains
PressureWashersDirect.com and
AirCompressorsDirect.com.
