In case of force majeure: five good small power generators

The Forte FG 3500 generator with a rated power of 2.5 kW and two 230 V sockets can "pull" a pair of sufficiently powerful household appliances at once (for example, a refrigerator and a gas boiler or an electric kettle plus lighting throughout the house). These characteristics are enough to comfortably wait until the repairmen fix the problems with the power grid. The voltage autoregulator will make sure that the connected equipment receives the current of exactly the quality that it needs for normal operation. In addition to the usual outlets, the generator has 12 V terminals from which you can recharge the accumulator.

The engine (which, by the way, is a Chinese copy of one of the Honda engines) does not have enough stars from the sky, but it cannot be called weak either. He has 6.5 "horses". The motor starts the old-fashioned way, with the help of a cable, but you can also buy a version with an electric starter (it is slightly more expensive). The consumption of 95 gasoline is moderate (1.3 L/h). The fuel reserve that fits in the tank is enough for 11.5 hours.

The motor works well and does not rattle too loudly, but it has a capricious character. Sometimes, out of the blue, turnovers can jump. This behavior is easy to eliminate by adjusting, but for this you need to have at least a basic understanding of the design of engines and carburetors. If you don't like getting your hands dirty, then Forte generators are not for you.

Forte FG 3500 is one of the cheapest models among gasoline generators. Despite the "low-cost", it may well become the "lifesaver" that will save your home in the event of a sudden power outage. But he does not pretend to be a generator working on a construction site for many hours in a row. Firstly, his motor resource is not as large as that of more expensive analogues. And secondly, the manufacturer does not recommend using this gas generator in the rain or at high humidity.

A proprietary engine is installed on the 2.8-kilowatt Hyundai HHY3050F generator Hyundai IC series (industrial & commercial), which is characterized by reliability and economy. Fuel consumption is about 0.93 L/h (at 50% load), which is an excellent result by the standards of equipment of this power class. Thanks to an economical motor and a roomy fuel tank, the generator can work on a single refill for a very long time — up to 16 hours. The engine starts easily in any weather, even in winter.

This generator is not a "top" model, and the manufacturer not the "coolest", but the device, nevertheless, impresses with its quality and build quality. The construction uses good materials. For example, the supporting frame is welded from high-quality steel and has a powder coating that protects the metal from rust. The "filling" of the generator is also at the level. It has an automatic voltage regulator, terminals for connecting 12-volt consumers and a display showing the readings of a voltmeter, a frequency metre and an hour metre.

As an emergency energy source for a country house or a country house, Hyundai HHY3050F is the best fit. Although, if you buy a generator for elderly relatives who do not have the strength to pull the starter cable, it is better to pay a little extra and take a complete set with an electric start.

But it doesn't make much sense to buy this generator for construction. Despite the fact that its sockets have protective covers to prevent dirt and moisture from entering, the protection class of the device as a whole does not meet IP23 — the minimum set of requirements for equipment working outdoors. And the manufacturer in the operating instructions directly prohibits the use of this generator in the rain or in conditions of high humidity.

The Daewoo GDA 3500 Master gasoline generator, having a rated power of 2.8 kW, easily tolerates even episodes when the total load reaches 3.2 kW (this happens when a cord from a powerful device is plugged into the socket). At the same time, due to the presence of an autoregulator of voltage, the parameters of the output electric current remain stable. Therefore, this generator can be used to power modern household appliances that do not like frequency and voltage surges.

There are no complaints about the quality of the equipment. The device is made of good metal coated with matte powder paint to protect against corrosion. There are two sockets for 230 V and the possibility of connecting devices for 12 V. The engine is reliable and almost trouble-free (although, judging by user reviews, there are difficulties with starting in the cold). The motor is not that very economical, but also not too "voracious". It consumes about 1.2 L/h at 50% load, or 1.8 L/h if the generator is fully loaded. Thanks to a sufficiently capacious 18-liter tank, up to 15 hours of autonomous operation without refueling is provided.

The device is relatively light (by the standards of 3-kilowatt generators) — only 40.4 kg (5-10 kg lighter than analogues). An adult man can load him into a car alone or pull him out of the boot. Such a generator can be carried with you on weekends to the country, and the rest of the time it can be kept in a garage or workshop.

Daewoo generators (and this model in particular) deserve the attention of those who want to buy a good autonomous power source for a very reasonable price.

No one likes to carry a heavy generator on their hump. Therefore, it makes sense to take a closer look at the Matari MX4000E, which has transport wheels and folding handles, holding on to which it is very convenient to roll equipment from place to place. This design greatly facilitates the lives of those who often have to pull the generator out of the shed or carry it with them from one construction site to another.

But the advantages of Matari are not limited to wheels alone. This technique has a reliable and durable four-stroke engine with moderate gasoline consumption (within 1.4 L/h at a load of 60%). With a tank of 15 liters of fuel, the device can work without refueling for more than 10 hours. Thanks to the presence of an electric starter, the engine starts instantly with a key (but if the battery is dead, then you can use the good old cable).

The design of the generator as a whole is thoughtful and reliable, but there is one weak point — the mounting of the muffler. It is supported by only one bracket. Those who plan to use a gasoline generator at home as a backup energy source are unlikely to have problems with this node. But with intensive work on a construction site for many hours in a row from day to day, the muffler may fall off (fortunately, the mount is easily repaired).

The Matari MX4000E generator has two power sockets (230 V) and one low-voltage (12 V). Thanks to the autoregulator, the device produces a high-quality current without frequency and voltage surges. This can be verified at any time using a digital display that displays the current values of current, voltage, as well as the number of hours worked.

In the same model line, Matari has other gasoline generators with higher power: 5 kW, 6 kW, 7 kW and 8 kW.

Where other generators (of the same power class) are puffing and straining, the 2.8-kilowatt Husqvarna G3200P works "without strain". Users note that this model perfectly tolerates load surges. This is an important parameter, because some types of equipment, such as refrigerators and pumps, consume 1 – 1.5 kW more than their rated power at the time of switching on, creating a large load on the generator. The device is characterized by excellent "survivability" (this model is very reliable and durable) and large service intervals (oil change and air filter cleaning are performed once every 50 hours, and the candle requires replacement less than once a year).

The generator is very easy to operate. Despite the absence of an electric starter, it starts easily, literally from half a turn, thanks to transistor ignition. If there is oil in the crankcase, and at least a liter of fuel in the tank, then a woman, an elderly person or even a child who is left at home without parents and finds that the light is gone can easily start the generator. The equipment is equipped with a digital display that displays the voltage, current frequency and accumulated operating time (operating hours), which you need to know in order to change the oil and clean the filter in a timely manner. It lacks only a low-voltage output from which it would be possible to charge a car battery.

Husqvarna equipment is not very cheap at all, therefore, generators of this brand cost significantly more than odnoklassniki. What are you paying for? First of all, for reliability and confidence. The Husqvarna G3200P generator can stand in a shed for a year without work, falling down with dust, but when its time comes, it will start with half a kick and work as long as it will be needed to repair the power supply network.