Electricity all year round: the top five inverter generators

The main feature of the Korean unit is its low fuel consumption — only 400 mL per hour. Thus, the generator is able to work up to 10 hours with a full tank (4 liters) at 50% load (about 400 watts). This is very useful if the lights are turned off from evening to morning, but you want to watch TV or surf the Internet. The device is quite compact, so it will fit freely into the boot of the car. The engine power of 850 watts is enough for a small tool, such as a grinder, an electric jigsaw or a drill, as well as for a couple of car coolers to go on a picnic. In addition, you can power the microwave and blender. But for welding, it is worth looking at more powerful three-phase models. Also, the engine is 2-stroke, so you always need to monitor the exact proportion of oil and gasoline (mixed in advance) to avoid failure of the piston system.

The electric generator is equipped with an automatic shutdown function. At high load (above nominal) it turns off the engine, thereby preventing its breakdown. The fuel level indicator signals the remaining gasoline in the tank, so you can always top it up on time. Unlike its more expensive counterparts, the Hyundai HHY960A does not have a noise-canceling casing, so the consumer will have to put up with a loud sound (like a compressor). Also, the model has only one outlet for connecting equipment, so for two or more items you will need a tee or an extension cord.

A nice addition to the complete set of the device is a cable with terminals for charging the car battery. The case is equipped with rather uncomfortable wheels — during operation, due to vibration, the device "dances" on the surface. Because of this, the generator must be placed on a non-slip surface. However, this disadvantage is compensated by the relatively low price of the model.

One of the lightest models in its price segment. Its weight is only 10.5 kg, so it can be easily carried over long distances (for example, to take a hike). It is 40 cm wide, which allows you to freely transport the generator in the boot of the car. The size of the fuel tank is quite small — only 1.55 liters (only AI95 gasoline), so every 3 hours you will have to top up the fuel for the device to function. So for the "night" maintenance of the heating system with electricity, this generator is not suitable.

The Kipor IG770 is equipped with quick access to the spark plug, which allows it to be quickly checked for operability or replaced in case of failure. But in order to pour oil, you will have to unscrew the cover of the electric generator, which requires always having a screwdriver or screwdriver at hand. The plus is the oil level indication. There is an overload indicator on the back panel. And when the load is exceeded by 10% above the nominal, the generator automatically shuts down.

The body of the model is "dressed" in a noise-canceling casing, so that the generator does not work louder than a conventional fan. It is also worth noting the presence of rubber feet, which provide a reliable grip on the surface during operation. The device allows you to connect only one device directly — for several units you will need a tee or an extension cord. Although it is worth noting that the power of 770 watts is enough only for "undemanding" devices. Also, there is no 12V output for charging the battery, which is a disadvantage for car owners. A pleasant moment is the low price of the product.

The Elemax SHX-1000 model is equipped with a proprietary engine from Honda GXH-50 with a volume of 49 cm3, which produces power up to 1 kW. It is quite enough to connect lighting in several bulbs, as well as for a slow cooker and even a small electric kettle. The generator is small in weight (13.6 kg), so it is easy to carry on fishing or camping. If necessary, you can always charge the car battery from it, since the design provides a DC output of 12 V.

The unit is “dressed” in a plastic protective casing, which also perfectly suppresses the noise from the engine. Thanks to it, the user feels only 58 dB, and not all 90, as in models without a casing. The device is also equipped with stable rubber legs, thanks to which the generator stands motionless on the floor. As in the Kipor IG770 , there is only one outlet here, so a network filter is required to connect several devices. If the total load on the network exceeds 1 kW, the device will automatically turn off.

The volume of the tank is 3.8 liters, which provides 6 hours of continuous operation. Some users note that when the device is loaded by less than 25% (up to 250 watts), continuous operation increases to 8.5 hours. Among other things, the generator is equipped with an oil level indicator that lights up when the amount of fuel in the piston system is critically low. An electric generator costs a lot, but the high Japanese quality of the engine and performance will pay off the investment with a vengeance.

The main feature of the generator is the presence of an automatic voltage regulator. This module allows you to stabilize the voltage and avoid surges that may occur due to incorrect operation of the engine. This function is very useful when working with equipment that is "sensitive" to power surges, such as computer and medical equipment. The generator's own overload protection is provided by the automatic engine shutdown function.

The maximum power of the engine is 1.8 kW, which is quite enough for the operation of a punch and a parallel connected screwdriver, or for a heater up to 1.5 kW. It can be adjusted using the switch on the housing: set to 100% or 50% of the total power. This is a useful function, given that the generator is quite "voracious" at full power — the consumption of 1 liter of gasoline in 1 hour. It is worth noting that in the AL-KO 2000 i model, the 12-volt output outputs 8.3 A, which allows you to charge the car battery much faster than similar models from other companies, where the output for charging the battery outputs less than 6 A. Also, the smooth start of the device is carried out by a single lever — there is no need to open / close the flap for fuel suction.

The generator is protected according to the IP23 standard, which protects the cooling system from ingress of small pebbles and branches. On the control panel there is an indicator indicating the level of oil contained in the generator. The soundproof casing blocks a significant part of the noise emitted by the device, reducing it to the level of a standard cooler. It will be quite problematic to carry it in your hands, since the generator weighs as much as 21 kg. Also, the disadvantage is only one outlet.

The Japanese manufacturer has equipped this unit with a powerful (for inverter type) Honda GHX 100 engine with a volume of 98 cm3, producing up to 2 kW. It allows you to connect any construction equipment, except welding machines (for welding it is better to take something from this). An important feature of the generator is the presence of two sockets that allow you to connect several household appliances at the same time. For example, from one you can power the network in the house (after turning off the machines or unscrewing the plugs), and from the other you can start some construction tool. It is worth considering, however, that when fully loaded, fuel consumption increases to 1.2 liters per hour, which is much more than in less powerful models.

Although the manufacturer claims that the volume of operation is in the range of 60 dB, in fact it makes noise like a full-fledged vacuum cleaner. The casing protects the cooling system from debris and other unwanted objects (IP23). On the case there is a slot for charging the car battery plus a power cord with two "crocodiles". Unlike competitor models, the Honda EU20i is equipped with not one, but two fuses for direct and alternating current. Although the generator is quite small in size, but because of the heavy "filling" it has a decent weight of 21 kg.

On top of the housing there is quick access to the spark plug, which allows you to quickly replace it without disassembling the entire unit. Like the model AL-KO 2000-i Price from 18 399 up to 32 407 ₴, Honda is equipped with an automatic engine shutdown function when overloading (on the approach to the maximum load, the indicator light lights up), and also has an oil level indicator. For long-term engine performance, the manufacturer advises using only branded oil. It is worth noting that for the good Japanese quality and power of the unit, the user will have to pay a considerable amount.