When it comes to the personal use of portable generators, one of the most common varieties are the generators with 50-amp outlets. These generators come with a wide array of features to provide different sets of functions, providing you with ample choice to power what you need just the way you need to.
Within this article, we will go over a quick buyer’s guide to help you understand what the features of your generator mean and what to look out for. Then we will provide you with reviews for 3 of the most well-reviewed portable generators on Amazon.com
Contents
A quick look at our TOP 3 Picks
Last update on 2024-04-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What to look out for
There are many factors when purchasing a new portable generator and it can and often is confusing. So, lets talk about some of the factors you’ll need to consider.
If you trust our advice you may just want to take a look at the three above which we found on Amazon. All three are really good models with 50 AMP outlets.
Watts vs Amps
What may become extremely obvious when looking around for a new generator is that these generators with usual have their power outputs generated in watts. You may see this and be wondering how you would go about converting this into amps. As it turns out, it is a very simple calculation.
To work out the amps you can use this formula:
Wattage = Amps * Volts
You can rearrange the formula to provide you with amps:
Amps = Wattage / Volts
So, for example, a 50-amp generator with a starting wattage of 12,000W would have a voltage of 240V.
See our wattage calculator for more information here!
Starting Wattage vs Running Wattage
Another thing you may have noticed when looking at generators to buy is that they often list 2 different wattages for any given generator. This could be a generator with a listing of a 12,000-watt starting wattage and a 9,000-watt running wattage. We will explain why this is the case.
When starting up, a number of appliances require a surge of additional power. This is because they have motors to start up with call for this additional power surge.
Once started however, their power consumption will reduce to a more regular level. So, the total wattage for the initial surge is called the Starting Wattage and the total power used afterward is the running wattage.
Both of these numbers will be important to understanding how many appliances you can power with your generator. Particularly you should add up the totals for all the appliances you intend to power to make sure that have all you need.
Why Buy a 50-amp Generator?
Generally, it is good advice to always overestimate your power needs for your generator. This overestimation will come in very handy if you are to use your generator to power your home as backup power.
A less powerful generator could leave you lacking in power at a time when you need it most, say during an unexpected power outage. You may be able to power some of your appliances for limited amounts of time with a smaller generator, but in a total power outage, you will need a bit more security in terms of what you can power which would make a 50-amp generator a better choice.
Usually, a household will have a circuit breaker that is either 100-amp or 200amp. So, this would mean that no matter the power of your generator, you simply cannot power everything on the breaker.
It goes without saying that in times of crisis you probably do not want to be powering everything but even so, normal household appliances can quickly eat up your generators power.
Things like refrigerators, air conditioning and heating will all take up a decent chunk of available power.
Neither the less, even with only powering the bare essentials, you should go for as large a portable generator as you can. You really do not want to be left without all the power you need in a trying time.
This is why 50-amp generators are a good choice, as they are bigger generators with a nice amount of power. Whilst you should always be on the lookout for a good deal, you should also bear in mind that with generators price is usually directly proportional with quality and performance.
Say you need a portable generator for use in an RV, a 50-amp would be an excellent choice. A generator of this size should readily power all you need to keep on inside your RV. You can really use any 50-amp generator you like for an RV although RV specialized units tend to be 30-amp.
Our Top 3 Generators
3. DUROMAX XP12000EH Portable Generator
- Powerful DuroMax Engine: the XP12000EH is powered by a DuroMax 18HP, 457cc OHV engine.
- Dual fuel technology: the ability to run on propane or gasoline allows the freedom and flexibility of fuel choice.
- Plenty of power: with 12, 000 starting watts and 9, 500 running watts, This unit can handle heavy loads from lights and a refrigerator to a home air conditioner and high amperage power tools.
- Maximum power: with DuroMax MX2 technology, get the maximum power from each of the 120 volt receptacle. Choose between operating the generator at both 120 V and 240 V Simultaneously, or at 120 only with full power.
- Powering everyone anywhere: like all DuroMax generators, the XP12000EH is EPA and CARB approved For use in all 50 States.
This Duromax portable generator is an excellent product and gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Due to it’s dual fuel capabilities you will be provided a lot more freedom to choose which kind of fuel is best for you, a flexibility which can prove priceless when you are out of one type of fuel but still have another.
Sitting alongside some of the most powerful generators on the market, the XP1200EH will provide you with 12,000 starting watts and 9500 running watts when using gasoline.
Whilst gasoline will allow for more wattage, it is worth noting that propane will run cheaper and will provide you with 11,400 starting watts and 9025 running watts – which is quite a high wattage for propane on a dual fuel.
The runtimes of the different fuels on 50% are as follows, propane has a runtime of 7 hours and gasoline has a runtime of 8 hours and the tank is 8.3 gallons in volume.
For the price point, this generator has exceptional power output with its 457cc engine and is EPA and CARB approved in over 50 states. You should be able to have this generator running for a good while due to its all metal construction that can help sustain it from general wear and tear as well as the harsh outdoor weather.
The generator does run quite loud and people have run into trouble occasionally when trying to source spare parts, but generally this generator is a fully featured and reliable product at a very competitive price point that should definitely be considered for purchase.
This particular generator would be excellent for a construction setting due to the fact it has all metal construction and its loud nature (would not want to annoy the neighbours). It also has a great power output for all of your required tools, but you could always run it in a home setting to great effect.
2. WEN DF1100T Portable Generator
- Switch between gasoline (11,000 surge watts, 8,300 running watt) and propane (9,500 surge, 7,500 running) with the simple turn of the selection dial
- Voltage easily goes from 120V to 240V, perfect for transfer switches and emergency backup
- Electric start powers the 457cc 4-stroke OHV engine with the turn of a key
- 6.6-gallon tank provides up to 8.5 hours of half load run time
- Includes four 120V GFCI outlets (5-20R), a 120V 30A twist lock outlet (L5-30R), a 120V/240V 50A outlet (NEMA 14-50R), a 12V DC cigarette-lighter-style plug, a bottle of oil, a 47-inch LPG connection hose, and a two-year warra
The WEN DF1100T is a no-nonsense, reliable generator with a set of convenient features. A 6.6-gallon fuel tank provides you with a decent volume and can run up to 8.5 hours at 50% load thanks to its 457cc engine.
Running on gasoline will give you an 11,000 starting wattage and a 8300 running wattage, whereas the cheaper propane will provide you with 9500 starting wattage and 7500 running wattage and you can easily switch between fuel types with the turn of a dial.
The electric start allows for an easy start-up experience and should anything go wrong, this generator has built in circuit breakers to prevent excessive damage or other issues.
Also provided with the generator is a multi-meter that can help you keep track of when to give your generator some routine maintenance.
With a solid build and a simple but efficient construction, this portable generator can provide you with all you need if you’re looking for a generator that doesn’t bloat its design with unnecessary feature that you may never use. Also provided is a 2-year warranty so if anything should go wrong you are covered.
This generator would be great as a backup generator at home. It is easy to set up and so requires little instructions and once running will provide you with an ample amount of power to keep going until full power is restored.
1.Champion 100161 Portable Generator
- Advanced Open Frame Inverter Design: 50% quieter and 20% lighter than a traditional Champion 3500-watt generator, plus this inverter only produces Clean Power, and Economy Mode saves fuel
- Wireless Remote Start: The wireless remote key fob allows you to start and stop your inverter from up to 80 feet away, plus the electric push-button start includes a battery
- Quiet Technology and Extended Run Time: 64 dBA is great for RVs, tailgating, your next project or home backup, with 4000 starting watts and 3500 running watts for up to 17 hours run time on gasoline
- Parallel Ready: The optional Parallel Kit allows you to increase your power output even more by connecting up to two 2800-watt or higher inverters or digital hybrids
- Champion Support: Includes 3-year limited warranty with FREE lifetime technical support from dedicated experts
The Champion Power Equipment 100573 Portable Generator is a very high quality and well-made generator from a company with a longstanding reputation for good products.
Unlike the other 2 generators, it is not duel fuel but does have a decent run time of 8 hours on 50% load. With a starting wattage of 9375 and a running wattage of 7500, the Champion generator provides a sizeable amount of power with its 420cc engine.
A unique feature of this generator is its Intelligence, which provides you with a wealth of information about how your generator is doing. This feature can show you: Hertz, Voltage, and Runtime Hours which can help you to tune your power output to exactly what you need and keep track of maintenance intervals.
Another useful feature is the generators cold start technology that can be extremely useful when getting your generator running in colder weather, especially considering it is an electric start.
Along with these other features, there is a built-in surge protector to round out this products feature set and so altogether this is a product that can really stand out.
With a 3-year limited warranty and free lifetime technical support, this product can be utilized in a wide variety of ways. From a construction site to at home or even for your RV, this portable generator is well rounded and capable of withstanding the test of time with its solid construction.
Summary
To conclude, any one of these generators would make an excellent choice for an array of different utilities. What it all comes down to is your own personal objective for the use of a portable generator and hopefully the information in this article has helped you on your way with making the decision of which product is best for you.
