Portable generators have many uses and selecting the best one for you depends mostly on how you plan to use it.

Homes in more isolated areas should have one as a precaution in case of an emergency. Depending on where you live, a variety of natural disasters could cause you to need a generator that's easily portable. Tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters can result in power loss and require a generator in order to have any power at all.

A portable generator is a good choice for many types of recreation, including people who camp or stay in an RV when traveling. Without a portable generator, the choice of campsites can be more limited if you need power while camping. Additionally, for sports tailgating a generator can come in handy for powering tvs or radios.

Cost (is likely to be|will surely be} one of the largest factors in your selection process. The generator that you pick will have to be the right price for your wallet. However, hopefully your needs will dictate your budget. Depending on what you want to power with your generator, you may need to spend more to get the right generator. For example, a generator that you use to power sensitive electronics will need to have inverter technology. Inverter technology keeps the current steady, no drops or surges that would damage your computer or other sensitive electronic equipment. If you'll be powering electronics from your generator then be sure it has inverter technology in it. Likewise, if you plan to run an entire household off your generator when and if an outage strikes then, to do a good job, you may want to choose a larger generator. If you are choosing a portable generator for travel and camping, then you want to choose one that is the most portable possible.

Look at the price when choosing a portable generator. Compare it with other models with the same features. Also be sure to consider options if your generator needs a repair. If something goes wrong with the generator you purchase, where is the nearest repair facility? What kind of warranty does the manufacturer have?

When choosing a portable generator, be sure to consider the above concerns and also answer the following questions: What will you use the generator for? Will you be powering sensitive electronics, household appliances, or jobsite tools? How much power do you need the generator to produce? Do you need the generator to just be movable around a main location, or do you need to be able to load it into a vehicle? Is the company reliable? How much will the portable generator cost? What warranty does the portable generator have? Answering these questions and striking a good balance between the concerns above will get you on your way to choosing the best generator for you.