2 in 1: the best petrol-gas generators

The KS 210 four-stroke engine with a displacement of 208 cm³, which is installed on a 2.6-kilowatt Konner&Sohnen KS 3000G generator, is distinguished by its “omnivorous” nature. It can run on either gasoline or gas. Gas means a liquefied mixture of propane and butane, which is sold as automobile (PBA) or household (SPBT) fuel. All accessories necessary for working on gas (except for the fuel cylinder, of course) are included in the kit: reduction gear, hose and zero pressure regulator. Therefore, almost immediately after unpacking the equipment, you can start the generator. In this case, it is not even necessary to fill its 15-liter tank with gasoline. The fact is that Konner&Sohnen dual-fuel generators start perfectly on gas with a completely “dry” gas tank. Operating on gasoline at 50% of the rated power, the engine consumes about 1 liter of fuel per hour (thus, the fuel reserve in the tank is enough for 15 hours of non-stop operation). On gas, the engine runs “softer”, a little quieter and more economical (but power drops by 10% due to the lower heat of combustion of the propane-butane mixture compared to gasoline), and the exhaust is less smelly, so the generator set can be placed closer to the building ( relevant if your site is not too large in size).

The generator has two outlets to which you can connect household appliances or power tools. During operation, the voltage in the sockets is maintained at a given level (230 V with a deviation of no more than ±5% of the nominal value) using an automatic regulator (AVR). The current values of the current parameters can be observed on the display(in addition to the voltmeter readings, it can also display the operating time of the generator in engine hours - data necessary for the user for timely maintenance of the generator). In addition to the sockets, there are 12 V output terminals on the front panel. They can be used to recharge car batteries or power devices that operate on DC current.

Konner&Sohnen KS 3000G is one of the most affordable options in the segment of gasoline-gas generators. And if you need a more powerful power plant, then from the same manufacturer you can select generator sets with a rated power of 4 kW, 5 kW, 6 kW or 7.5 kW.

The Daewoo GDA 3500DFE Master multi-fuel generator is equipped with a four-stroke engine with a working volume of 208 cm³ and can be powered by two types of fuel: gasoline and gas. The manufacturer states that this internal combustion engine model has a service life of at least 1,500 hours. The package immediately includes everything necessary to connect the generator to a gas cylinder: a reducer, a hose, clamps and even bolts and washers - any “dancing with a tambourine” is completely excluded, everything is easy to connect and quickly configured. Using both types of fuel, the engine runs smoothly and confidently (uneven operation for 5–10 seconds is observed only when switching from gasoline to gas or vice versa). The device is equipped with an electric starter and is equipped with a battery, so the engine starts with the key - an excellent solution for those who want to buy such a generator so as not to have to worry about starting. As a backup (spare) system, it is possible to start the motor manually using a pull cord.

A synchronous alternator with an all-copper winding is responsible for generating electricity. The rated power of the installation is 2.8 kW - the total power of the devices connected to the generator should not exceed this value (in short-term mode the device can “handle” a load of up to 3.2 kW, but this should not be abused). But you need to remember that when running on gas, power decreases by about 10%. The current parameters are controlled by an automatic voltage regulator (AVR), which supports 230 V with a deviation of no more than ±5%. Therefore, this power plant can be confidently used to power household appliances. It is not suitable only for some “capricious” and phase-dependent devices, such as electronics that control the operation of heating boilers - here you will have to invite an electrician to organize proper grounding and select a good stabilizer. To connect consumers, the generator has 2 230 V sockets. It should also be noted that it is equipped with a built-in charger (the “on-board” battery is charged continuously while the installation is running) and has 12 V output terminals, allowing you to charge car batteries.

By the standards of multi-fuel generators of this power class, the Daewoo GDA 3500DFE Master is considered an inexpensive device. It has been produced for a long time, has a good reputation, and spare parts can be easily purchased in all countries where Daewoo power equipment is represented. We found only one drawback - the engine tends to overheat in hot weather. Due to the dense arrangement of components and assemblies and the “powerful” screen that covers the muffler to protect the user from burns, at temperatures above +30 ° C the motor does not have enough air for cooling. This fact should be taken into account by those who are looking for a dual-fuel generator for summer work on a construction site or in the field.

Many people consider a gas-gasoline generator to be a large and cumbersome installation. But the Konner&Sohnen KS 3100iG S proves that a petrol and gas powered power generation machine can be small and portable. It has very compact dimensions (480x290x430 mm) and weighs only 22 kg - quite a bit by the standards of mini-power plants of this power class. Such a generator is quite capable of being taken out of the house or garage onto the street on its own when you need to start the equipment and provide your home with electricity. Moreover, despite its compactness, the device will handle not only lighting and computers. Its rated power is 2.8 kW (maximum - 3.1 kW). That is, if necessary, even more “gluttonous” consumers can be connected to the generator, such as a refrigerator with a freezer or a pumping station that supplies water to a private house. And thanks to the inverter alternator, which, due to double conversion of electricity, generates “clean” current with stable characteristics and a “correct” sinusoid, Konner&Sohnen KS 3100iG S is suitable for powering such “capricious” consumers as sensitive modern electronics, security alarms or automatic gas control systems. and solid fuel boilers.

Under the generator housing there is an internal combustion engine with a working volume of 145 cm³ and a power of 4.6 hp, the aforementioned inverter alternator and a fuel tank for 4 liters of gasoline. On one side of the housing there is a handle for starting the engine using a cable, and on the opposite side there are covers that provide access to the oil neck and filter. The front panel contains controls (power button, fuse, indicator lights and a multifunctional display for displaying voltmeter and hour meter readings) and several connectors for various purposes. The user has at his disposal one 230 V socket, a 12 V DC connector for charging the battery (wires with alligator clips are included) and two USB ports for powering and recharging electronics. There, on the front panel, there are connectors for parallel connection (having two identical generators and the KS PU1 device, you can “force” them to serve the total load) and a fitting for connecting to a gas cylinder. The generator is supplied with a gas hose with a pressure reducer, a watering can for engine oil, a spark plug wrench and a screwdriver - everything you might need to service the device and start it on different types of fuel. Both on gasoline and on gas, the Konner&Sohnen KS 3100iG S operates confidently, smoothly and quietly. The noise at a distance of 7 m from a working power plant does not exceed 69 dB - slightly louder than a TV operating at a medium volume level. Therefore, this model is perfect for those who want to buy a relatively quiet inverter generator that can be installed near the house.

Stickers with the words Dual Fuel, which catch your eye at the first glance at the GENERGY Natura 3000 generator, mean that this unit can operate on two types of fuel: regular motor gasoline or liquefied natural gas (LNG). Gas equipment (pressure reducer with tap) is integrated directly into the design of the device and is located “under the hood”, and only the fitting to which the hose from the propane cylinder is connected, and a rotary knob that allows you to switch from one type of fuel to another directly during operation, are brought out. generator The four-stroke engine (displacement 208 cm³) starts confidently and runs well on both types of fuel. Easy starting is also facilitated by the presence of an electric starter with a battery and an electronic ignition module. Therefore, there is no need to strain and repeatedly pull the cable to start the engine - just press the starter button, and it will do everything for you on the first try. When operating on gasoline with a load of 75% of the rated power, the engine consumes 1.2 liters of fuel per hour of operation, and when operating on propane in the same mode, the consumption is 0.8 kg of liquefied gas per hour.

Electricity for powering consumers is generated by a synchronous alternator with an all-copper winding, equipped with an automatic voltage regulator(AVR), with the help of which the generator maintains a constant and stable 230 V (with minimal deviations within the permissible limits). Operating on gasoline, GENERGY Natura 3000 can serve a load with a total power of up to 2.7 kW (on gas, the rated power is reduced to 2.3 kW due to the lower calorific value of gas fuel). To connect consumers, there are two sockets on the front panel (both provide 230 V and have 16 A fuses). The device is well thought out from a safety point of view: it has overload protection and a switch that completely “turns off” the mini-power plant when the oil level in the crankcase is low, so as not to “screw up” the engine. Since the equipment is quite massive (54 kg of “dry” weight excluding fuel and oil), the manufacturer equipped it with a folding handle and solid rubber wheels with a diameter of 8 inches. Therefore, the GENERGY Natura 3000 generator will be easy and convenient to roll out from the garage onto the site if the power goes out, or move it over uneven surfaces or unpaved ground when working on a construction site.

Especially for working with EcoFlow charging stations, which many have recently acquired, the same manufacturer has developed a small line of generators. These include EcoFlow Smart Generator (Dual Fuel). As the name suggests, this model is “smart” and dual-fuel. The “omnivorous” nature of the generator lies in the fact that its 80 cc engine can run on either gasoline or liquefied gas. The gas reducer and tap are located under the casing of the device, and only the fitting for connecting the hose going to the propane cylinder “peeks out” from the outside. The engine has good fuel efficiency. When operating at full power, it consumes 1.14 liters of gasoline per hour of operation (thus, a fully filled 4-liter tank is enough for approximately 3.5 hours of battery life). In rated power mode, the generator can serve a load of up to 1.8 kW (on gas a little less - up to 1.6 kW). This is enough to power several household appliances, such as lighting fixtures, a couple of computers and a small refrigerator or pump. The only problem is that the user has only one 230 V socket at his disposal - he will have to use an extension cord with a tee. We cannot ignore the fact that electricity is generated by an inverter alternator - a device that produces “clean” current with ideal characteristics (230 V, 50 Hz), which remain stable even when the load changes. Therefore, the EcoFlow generator is perfect for powering “sensitive” equipment, such as automation that controls the operation of heating boilers, or “capricious” household electronics.

There are several ways to start the engine: manually(cable), electric starter, through the EcoFlow App mobile application or automatically. The automatic start mode can only work if the EcoFlow DELTA Pro or DELTA Max charging station is connected to the generator (special cable included). Using an application on a smartphone, you can configure at what battery charge level in the station the power plant will turn on and off. The same program allows you to control the remaining gasoline in the tank and current fuel consumption, turn on the “economy” mode, change settings, etc.

The EcoFlow Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) is a very expensive device. But it should be noted that its quality is appropriate. In addition, it operates very quietly (the noise level at a distance of 7 m does not exceed 56 - 67 dB, depending on the operating mode) and is equipped with a “full package” of safety systems, including protection against overload, overheating, short circuit and low oil level in the crankcase, as well as a carbon monoxide sensor. Therefore, the operation of this generator in everyday life should be simple and problem-free.