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Learn how to choose a generator for camping, RVing, and outdoor living.
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0:00
Are you looking for a generator to power your outdoor living activities? Camping, cottage
0:17
living, RV trips, tailgate grilling parties, public gatherings involving video or sound
0:22
systems beyond the reach of the grid? These activities and more are all made better with
0:28
electric power. The thing is, buying a generator to support an outdoor lifestyle is quite a
0:33
bit different than buying one primarily as a backup for household power or for off-grid
0:38
construction. Generators for outdoor living can be used for any application that needs
0:43
electric power, of course, but outdoor living demands five particular qualities that you
0:48
don't find in all generator models, and those would be quiet operation, purity of power
0:55
a range of different power outputs, ease of portability, and reliability. All of these
1:01
are key, so ignore these points as you set out to buy, and you could end up with a generator
1:06
that's far less than ideal for your outdoor living situation. But on the other hand, choose
1:12
well and you'll enjoy better outdoor living as well as backup power for indoors when you
1:17
need it. So I'm going to start with a really important issue, and that's noise
1:23
Factor number one, noise output. Sound intensity of all kinds is measured in decibels, and
1:30
that's abbreviated DBA. And the loudness of generators varies a lot. A quiet running model
1:36
is a big advantage as you're sitting around a campfire or enjoying life in an RV park
1:42
but how can you tell how loud a particular model is when you're buying it? It's not like
1:46
you can start the thing in the store or anything. Most generators create noise in the 55 to
1:52
75 decibel range. And this might not sound like a widespread, but it is a huge difference
1:58
in practice. So as you shop, look for decibel ratings on shipping cartons or online, and
2:04
if you can't find a decibel number, don't buy that generator. What's the point of having
2:09
a generator if it bothers everyone because it's too loud? Here are the guidelines I use
2:14
for assessing generator sound output. Category one generators have a sound output between
2:20
53 and about 55 decibels at full throttle. This is as quiet as generators get, and it's
2:28
suitable for camping and RV parks, no problem. Category two generators put out 56 to 60 decibels
2:35
approximately, and they're still quiet and suitable for most camping and RV parks. They're
2:40
certainly louder than group one, but quiet enough for most outdoor living situations
2:46
Category three generators emit 61 to 70 decibels, and that's loud enough to disturb outdoor
2:52
activities if the generator's nearby, and it really is too loud for most camping situations
2:59
Category four generators put out 71 decibels and more, and that's pretty loud. Suitable
3:05
for construction sites and certain kinds of renovations and emergency backup power, this
3:11
kind of generator is not advisable for outdoor living, especially in a trailer park
3:16
As important as noise is, there's more to choosing a generator for outdoor living than
3:21
just quiet operation. You also need to look at the quality of electricity that each model
3:26
puts out too, and that's what I mean when I talk about purity of power
3:32
Parameter number two, power purity. Although it's a popular idea these days that generators
3:37
are capable of powering sensitive electronics without issue, this is not entirely true in
3:42
my experience. If I connect a modern but ordinary generator to electronics, such as
3:48
an uninterruptible computer power supply or a portable amplifier or a sound system, the
3:53
items hum and act strangely, and that's a sign of less than pure power. And this is
3:58
one reason they invented something called inverter generators. If you plan to power
4:02
sensitive electronics as part of your outdoor living plans, and many people do, the only
4:08
way you can be absolutely sure things will work properly is if you use an inverter generator
4:13
So let me show you exactly what I mean. The oscilloscope you see here is connected to
4:17
grid power, and you can see a nice smooth sine wave pattern. This is what's called
4:23
pure power, with the smooth rising and falling of voltage. This is what alternating current
4:29
commonly known as AC power, is all about. But now take a look at the screen again. This
4:34
is the output of an ordinary non-inverter generator. Can you see the difference in wave
4:39
patterns? The deviation you see from the pure sine wave pattern is what can, and does, cause
4:45
trouble with sensitive electronics, especially equipment involving audio. Now look here at
4:51
the waveform created by an inverter generator. It's just as pure as grid power, and even
4:57
better sometimes, and smoother, depending on your electrical utility. For many applications
5:03
an ordinary non-inverter generator works just fine. But I have yet to see any non-inverter
5:08
generator that can power sensitive electronics properly all the time, especially those items
5:15
involving sound systems. And as important as this is, there's something else you need
5:19
to understand about inverters too. Besides delivering clean power, inverters offer two
5:25
more advantages that spring from one single design detail. Unlike conventional generators
5:32
inverter generators have the ability to vary engine speed depending on electrical demand
5:36
So let's say you only need 1,000 watts of power from a 3,500 watt inverter. The engine
5:43
will automatically throttle down roughly two-thirds from full blast. Same goes when you need
5:49
say, 2,000 watts of power, except that in this case, the engine will run about one-third
5:53
slower than full speed. Slower engine speed means less fuel burned, less wear and tear
6:00
and less noise created. Remember those nice, quiet 53 decibel Category 1 generators I told
6:05
you about earlier? That's a full speed noise rating. Actual noise rating will be even lower
6:11
when less than full power is being demanded from an inverter. Clean and quiet power are
6:16
essential for any generator you'll be sitting near outdoors, but weight and portability
6:22
are important factors too, as you'll see coming right up. Factor number three, portability. Generators for outdoor living are designed to be moved
6:32
around more than generators intended for household power backup only, so light weight is a real
6:38
virtue. This is why accurately sizing a generator for your outdoor living is so important. You
6:44
don't want to lug around any more weight than needed. All else being equal, the smaller
6:48
the wattage output, the lighter the generator is. In addition to this, some generators are
6:54
specially designed to be lighter than average for their power output, so pay attention to
6:59
weight figures as you shop. So how many watts do you need? Begin by adding up all the wattage figures of all the items
7:07
you intend to use at the same time. But this isn't as simple as it seems. The power draw
7:13
of different items is not always as straightforward as simply adding up watts, and it all comes
7:18
down to something called an inductive load. Any electrical load that involves an electric
7:24
motor, for instance, will draw 200-500% more power for a few seconds during startup compared
7:30
with running at a steady state. And any generator you choose must be able to provide this peak
7:36
power output, even for a short time. If it can't, the integral breaker on the generator
7:42
will trip and you won't get any power at all until that breaker is reset
7:47
That air conditioner on your RV, for instance, has a motor, and so do most fridges and freezers
7:53
Water pumps are all motorized too, of course. Items like these all create inductive loads
7:59
drawing a spike of power every time they start. So how do you accurately add up total wattage? Most electrical items have a nameplate that
8:08
shows how much power they consume, but this does not include startup surges. You'll get
8:14
more accurate numbers more easily with an online generator selection tool. One of the
8:20
best I've seen is at championpowerequipment.com slash generator hyphen selector. This tool
8:28
automatically displays the running wattage requirements of various items, as well as
8:32
the startup draw when this is applicable. The best generators for outdoor living also have another feature that's particularly useful
8:40
You can connect two generators together in parallel with a special connection kit, combining
8:46
the total power of both. This is an advantage on three counts. First, it's a lot easier
8:52
to lift, carry, and stow two 3,000 watt generators in and out of your truck or RV than it is
8:58
a 6,000 watt model. Second, if you've already got one generator, but realize you need more
9:04
power, adding a second unit is as easy as connecting with a cable, provided the generators
9:09
are of the type that can be coupled together. The third advantage of dual generators is
9:15
reliability. If one unit goes down, at least you still have the power of the other one
9:20
while you get the broken one fixed. All this brings us to the next parameter for choosing
9:25
an outdoor living generator, and that's power variety. Parameter four, power variety
9:34
If you're using a generator only for household power backup during emergencies, all you need
9:39
is 120 volts AC and possibly 240 volts AC as well. Now, you'll certainly be able to
9:45
use 120 volt AC power for outdoor living, but the ideal outdoor living generator will
9:51
also give you other types of electrical power. Want to charge your phone, for instance? Generators
9:58
are best suited for outdoor living when they include a place to plug in a USB charging
10:02
cable. Also providing 12 volt DC power for plug-in accessories and for charging automotive
10:10
style batteries. Now, the farther from the grid power you are, the more you'll rely on
10:16
your portable generator, and that's why a track record of reliability is also key when
10:21
choosing a model for outdoor living, and that's what I want to talk about now. Parameter five
10:28
reliability. All generators need to be reliable, of course, but when you're on a road trip
10:32
or camping deep down on a backwoods logging trail somewhere, reliability becomes vital
10:38
I've owned, used, and tested many brands of generators over the last 30 years, and as
10:43
I've said in other videos, Champion offers the best value for the money that I've seen
10:47
so far. Their prices and reviews tell the whole story. Champion also has a unique remote
10:54
repair policy. Factory trained technicians are standing by 24-7 to troubleshoot problems
10:59
with you by phone. Have your generator fixed at a service center if you want, or do it
11:06
yourself with parts shipped directly to you, and along with one-on-one guidance from a
11:11
tech support person as you make the fix. Do your homework, consider noise, power purity
11:18
weight, power variety, and reliability records, and you'll end up with a great generator that
11:24
will improve all your outdoor living activities, plus give you basic backup power at home when
11:30
you need it
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#Outdoors
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