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Save up to 53% on these best-selling portable generators. Silent Generator 150kw
Amazon Prime Day is one of the year’s biggest sale events, and it kicked off yesterday, July 11, and runs through today, July 12. During Prime Day, the online retailer is offering significant discounts on everything from mattresses to Apple devices to TVs. Though keep in mind that, since today is the final day, the sales end tonight.
But you’re here for generators. Amazon is discounting this best-selling Champion 2,500-Watt Dual-Fuel model, down to $575 from $839. That’s a fantastic price for a device that will allow you to keep the lights on and critical devices running in an emergency. Whether you’re going off-grid this summer or preparing for a potential power outage, these Prime Day generators on sale can come in clutch as an emergency backup at home, on construction sites, and while camping.
Champion’s tri-fuel portable generator can run on gas, natural gas, or propane, making it one of the most versatile options. It offers 10,000 starting watts and 8,000 running watts on gas, an electric start, and two 9.5-inch wheels, making it easier to roll the 207-pound generator around your property.
What stands out about this model is it features a carbon monoxide safety system, known as CO Shield. If the generator detects unsafe levels of carbon monoxide, it will shut off the engine. As we explain in our guide to the best portable generators, you should always use them outside, at least 20 feet from your house, in part to prevent this kind of gas buildup.
The Champion generator comes with a 25-foot natural gas hose kit to connect it easily to your home’s natural gas source. It also comes with a 6-foot propane hose, allowing you to choose the most convenient source.
This portable generator, also from Champion, features 4,250 starting watts and up to 22 hours of run time on a single gas tank, according to the brand. And it’s available for 56 percent off. The 120-volt, 30-amp outlet is powerful enough to run your RV’s air conditioner so that you can keep cool wherever you park it.
The generator also features two 120-volt AC outlets, a 12-volt DC outlet, and two USB-A 2.1 ports to charge small electronic devices. An economy mode monitors your power consumption, and the small display can show you information like total run time, volts, and frequency. This model also supports Champion’s Parallel Kit, allowing you to connect another portable generator for even more output power.
In terms of noise, it puts out 64 decibels at 23 feet—still in the range of a normal conversation. But it weighs 75 pounds, so it’s not quite as portable as our top pick. You can make it easier to transport with this wheel kit, which comes with a folding handle and “never flat” tires. (Read: They’re solid, and so don’t need air or inflate.)
The DuroMax 12,000-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator can run on gas or propane, allowing you to use your fuel of choice. The 457cc engine is strong enough to power heavy-duty appliances like a refrigerator or home air conditioner. Although it’s larger at 224 pounds, it’s also an excellent option for job sites and RV camping.
The generator features a sturdy all-metal cage and a wheel kit, making it easier to roll around your property. You can also operate the generator simultaneously on 120 volts and 240 volts or 120 volts only for full power.
This DuroMax features a variety of outlets: two 120-volt, 20-amp; a 120/240-volt, 50-amp; a 120/240-volt, 30-amp; and a 120-volt, 30-amp. Meanwhile, the 8.3-gallon fuel tank should provide a runtime of roughly 19 hours on gasoline at 25 percent output, according to DuroMax, making it possible to last through a lengthy power outage.
The Explorer 1000 is an excellent mid-size portable power station with many charging options—and it earned a spot in our list of the best portable power stations. It offers a max capacity of 1,002 watt-hours and has three standard AC outlets, allowing you to power multiple devices, including your phone and laptop. It also offers two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a 12-volt car outlet.
What stands out about the Explorer 1000 is it’s relatively light for its size at 22 pounds, making it easily portable. Unlike the gas-powered generators here, you can use Jackery’s power station indoors because it doesn’t emit harmful gasses. The power station is certified with impact-resistance class 9, according to Jackery, so it should withstand drops off a table.
In addition to charging small electronic devices, the Explorer 1000 is powerful enough to run a full-size refrigerator or freezer. And when it runs out of power, you can recharge it via an optional solar panel, an AC outlet, or your vehicle’s 12-volt outlet.
We’ve highlighted this generator from Champion before, but it deserves another shout. At 43 percent off, the dual-fuel (gas and propane) generator earns points for its versatility, whether powering medical devices or charging power tools at a job site. At 39 pounds, it’s light enough for one person to carry via the sturdy handle, and it offers up to 34 hours of run time on propane, according to Champion.
The 2,500-watt generator offers two 120-volt, 20-amp AC outlets, a 12-volt socket, and a dual-port USB adapter to charge smaller electronic devices like your smartphone. It also supports Champion’s optional ParaLink Parallel Kit, allowing you to connect a second of the same model to double your power output.
Champion says the generator outputs 53 decibels from 23 feet—about the noise level of a normal conversation—so it shouldn’t be bothersome at a campsite. For the size and price, the Champion Power Equipment 2,500-Watt Dual-Fuel is the best option for off-grid power in an emergency or at a job site or campground.
Most portable generators are either pull-start or electric-start. The Westinghouse 4,500-Watt Portable Generator features an electric start, but what makes it different is it comes with a key fob with which you can start the device remotely, allowing you to control the generator from a distance. Westinghouse says you can start or stop the generator up to 260 feet away.
Westinghouse’s gas-powered portable generator features 4,500 starting watts and 3,700 running watts, a rotating digital display to show fuel level and other information, and up to 18 hours of run time at 25 percent load. The generator is quiet, too, outputting 52 decibels. Like the Champion models on this list, the Westinghouse supports parallel compatibility via an adapter, allowing you to connect a second of the same model for double the output power.
Other features include a low-oil shutdown system and an active throttle system that can adjust the engine speed to produce only the power needed. The dynamic throttle system makes the Westinghouse more fuel efficient—and quieter—since the engine isn’t constantly running at full speed.
Check out the Explorer 240 Portable Power Station for something even smaller and more portable than its Explorer 1000 sibling. Weighing 6.2 pounds, it’s light and small, with a sturdy handle that makes carrying it easy. And it’s still powerful, too; the 240-watt-hour battery can charge everything from a smartphone to a laptop and an oscillating fan.
The power station features two USB-A ports, a 12-volt car outlet, and a 110-volt, 200-watt AC outlet with 400 watts of peak power. It works via pass-through charging as well, so that you can charge the power station and your devices at the same time.
The Explorer 240 also supports the SolarSaga 60 and SolarSaga 100 solar panels, allowing you to recharge the power station when no outlet is nearby. This setup is perfect for the campground because you can charge your devices overnight and still have excess power.
Brandon Russell is a freelance writer covering gear and technology. He started his journey as a news writer at a small newspaper and later began reviewing smartphones, movies, and video games. In his free time, he enjoys the slower, more intentional experience of using a 35mm film camera and making short videos about movies he grew up watching.
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