Top Emergency Generators
To ensure that life goes on as best we can, you will be checking and servicing your emergency generator. Perhaps, now would be a good time to replace your trusty machine. If you’ve decided to buy a hurricane generator for emergencies, this review could be one of the most important resources to put your mind at ease.
We will be reviewing the top selection of good value quality products. Regardless of your needs or priorities, I’m sure that you’ll find the best hurricane generator here. Whether you need an economical power source for basic electrical power or a more powerful emergency generator we’ve researched a bunch of quality products in a variety of price categories.
Because gas can be in short supply during a hurricane, we’ve also made sure to include several dual fuel generators, allowing you to use propane as an alternative to gas if needed.
Best Emergency Generators for Hurricane
1. WEN DF1100T 11,000-Watt 120V/240V Dual Fuel Portable Generator
WEN power equipment has come to represent exceptional value for money. Affordable machines that are quite durable and reliable. The WEN DF1100T exemplifies all these traits. This is a relatively inexpensive dual fuel generator. With the wattage you need to keep most of your appliances powered up during an outage, it is the perfect backup power generator for the whole house.
With the ability to use either propane or gas to fuel the WEN 11,000 watt generator, you can be sure that you will have electricity, even if you run out of gas. The 457cc engine is a formidable and dependable powerhouse. With the convenience of an electric starter, you can easily and effortlessly switch to generator power when the time comes.
This generator has the grunt to supply just about an entire house with the electricity you need during power outages. Using gas, the WEN DF1100T delivers 11,000W peak power with a running capacity of 8,300W. That’s enough power for several refrigerators, air conditioners, even a water heater or furnace. When using propane, dual fuel generators are not as effective, you never get as much power. None the less, the WEN 11KW dual fuel generator still provides enough power for most homes, even when running on propane – 9,500 surge watts and 7,500 running watts.
Perfect for all types of emergencies, the WEN DF1100T has the outlets to make for quick and easy connections. With 4 X 120V 20A outlets (5-20R), you can use multiple extension cords. The 20A outlets also have GFCI protection. A 120V 30A (L5-30R) allows for high-power 120V equipment and you have the advantage of a 120V/240V 50A (NEMA 14-50R) outlet. This makes for hassle-free connection to your home electrical panel using a transfer switch. You can also charge 12V batteries, using the 12VDC (cigarette lighter type) port.
Changing from gas to propane is about as simple as it gets. The generator is supplied with a gas hose and regulator. It’s pretty straightforward to hook up the propane tank, and switch fuel types with a large dial on the user panel. Keeping an eye on essential functions and service intervals is taken care of with the usual warning lights for low oil, overload, and system okay, with volts, frequency, and runtime displayed on a digital screen. It also has a fuel gauge on the gas tank.
To ensure good runtime, the WEN dual fuel generator has an enormous gas tank (6.6 gallons). This will keep the generator running for around 8.5 hours with a continuous 50% load (4,150W). The rugged metal frame and control panel are as durable as they come, with a large wheel kit and fold down handles for convenient portability.
It’s refreshing to find a dual fuel backup power generator, capable of supplying a 50A load, that won’t break the bank. The WEN 1100T starts effortlessly with the turn of a key and has the outlets you need for any eventuality. The brand has a great reputation, and you get a 2-year warranty on this generator.
2. Generac 7117 GP2200i 50St Inverter Generator
Generac is undoubtedly one of the most recognized US generator brands. They have an enormous and versatile range of standby and portable generators. While the American-made heavy-duty Generac machines tend be more expensive, more affordable models, like the GP2200i, offer the reassurance of a top brand at a price that more people feel comfortable paying.
The relatively inexpensive Generac (7117) GP2200i has all the advantages of modern generator technology. Power is supplied by means of a low THD inverter, making it perfect for sensitive electronic equipment. It is also a quiet generator, around 59dBA with no load.
This portable generator weighs 46.6 pounds and is super easy to carry. Of course, a generator of this size will only provide basic power for home use during a hurricane, with the benefit of also being a convenient portable power source for camping and tailgating. With a peak output of 2,200W and 1,700W running capacity, it can supply enough amperage for a refrigerator or air conditioner with a few watts to spare for smaller appliances.
The Generac GP2200i has an economy mode, reducing fuel consumption when the load demand is below 25%. This means that you can expect a runtime of about 10.75 hours when electricity consumption remains below 425W. This is incredible, considering the rather meager 1.2 gallon gas tank.
A compact generator is generally quite limited when it comes to AC outlets. In this regard, the Generac 7117 is fairly average, with 2 X 15A 120V AC receptacles. I’m delighted to note that it also has a 12VDC battery charging outlet and a USB port. Another great feature are the plastic covers for all the outlets, improving durability and safety.
If you need more power, you can connect two Generac 2,200W inverter generators in parallel, using the optional parallel connection kit. This will double the power output and the kit includes a convenient 30A outlet, making it simple to connect to your RV or a home transfer switch.
The Generac GP2200i makes for a very practical emergency generator for hurricanes, which can be used for many other purposes, thanks to its great portability. Although you won’t be able to supply the entire house with a generator of this size, it is an attractively economical solution that will keep the lights on and provide enough electricity for most essential household appliances. A benefit of buying a brand with the Generac reputation is the peace of mind that comes with a reliable service network and a 2-year residential warranty from a trusted US brand.
3. Honda EU2200i 120V Companion Portable Inverter Generator with Co-Minder – 49-State
In my opinion, the Honda EU2200i is the pinnacle of compact inverter generator technology. It is the standard by which all others are measured. There are several models in the Honda 2,200W inverter generator lineup, the Companion has the advantage of parallel ports, allowing two generators to run in tandem, providing twice the wattage output.
After many years of being at the top of the compact generator pile, the EU2200i received an upgrade in 2021. This includes CO minder, which monitors carbon monoxide levels, shutting the generator off when CO becomes dangerously high. The Honda EU2200i Companion now also includes Bluetooth connectivity. Using the My Honda App, you can access a bunch of useful remote control and monitoring functions.
One thing that has not changed is the impeccable GXR120 engine. This 121cc powerhouse is what makes this generator one of the most reliable, durable, and fuel efficient portable generators ever built. With a runtime of up 8.1 hours from an incredibly frugal 0.95 gallon tank, it’s super economical. This is also the quietest generator on the market, with noise levels ranging from 48 to 57dBA, depending on load.
A dependable inverter ensures clean power, with a respectable running capacity of 1,800W and 2,200 peak watts. Not exactly a whole house emergency generator, but it will keep the basics reliably powered up during a hurricane, without burning through gallons of gas. Portability is unbeatable, with a weight of only 48-pounds.
The control panel is fairly spartan, providing only essential outlets and warning lights. Basically, you get 2 X 120V 20A outlets, with a 30A receptacle supplied with the optional parallel kit. Tough plastic covers protect these outlets, and you have the expected low oil and overload warning lights, and a system OK green light. An insert houses the CO-Minder sensor, warning light, alarm, and reset button.
Honda EU2200i/iTAG generators are about the most expensive 2,200W inverter generators. I think most folks who know their generators will agree, these machines are by far the best of their kind. For unbeatable reliability, and the fantastic Honda 3-year warranty, I believe it’s worth paying for. Knowing that your generator is going to start every time, and do so for many years, is probably the greatest reassurance in an emergency.
4. Westinghouse Outdoor Power Equipment WGen3600 Portable Generator
The Westinghouse WGen3600 is a no frills, common sense generator for a wide range of applications. While one of the oldest names in the power generation business, Westinghouse hasn’t been manufacturing portable generators for as long as the established brands, like Honda and Generac. They have, however, earned an outstanding reputation for reliability and exceptionally tough machines. This is certainly great value for money.
As a rugged, open frame generator, the Westinghouse WGen3600 is not as refined as the quiet inverter generators that have become so popular in recent times. On the plus side, it’s a good deal cheaper and as is tough as nails.
Power output is really good – 4,650 peak watts and a continuous running capacity of 3,600W. You may not be able to use all your high-watt appliances simultaneously, but with a little planning you can continue a relatively normal existence when hurricanes cause an outage.
This generator is equipped with the outlets needed for ultimately convenient power usage: 2 X 5-20R 20A 120V household outlets, L5-30R 30A 120V outlet, and an RV ready TT-30R outlet. All the AC receptacles are protected by tough plastic covers.
The 212cc Westinghouse engine, with a tough cast iron cylinder sleeve, has proven to be a remarkable rugged workhorse. With a large 4 gallon gas tank, you’ll get really convenient run-times – up to 13.5-hours at about 25% rated load. A fuel gauge on the tank allows you to track your fuel consumption.
At a weight of 107 pounds, the Westinghouse WGEN3600 is a fairly hefty beast. This is understandable, looking at the heavy-duty metal frame and all the durable machinery it contains. Strong handles and a wheel kit make for easy portability.
Westinghouse provide an outstanding 3-year warranty on the WGen3600. Truly exceptional when look at the price. This must be one of the best value hurricane generators. Nothing too sophisticated, it’s quite simply a truly reliable and dependable emergency generator with enough power to supply your household electrical requirements without much compromise.
5. DuroStar DS4000S Portable Generator
The 208cc engine is not at all thirsty. Fitted with a 3.96 gallon gas tank, the DuroStar will keep running for more than 12 hours at 50% load. Not bad, since this generator delivers a pretty generous 3,300 watts continuously and 4,000 peak watts. A fuel gauge on the gas tank ensures that you won’t run out of gas unexpectedly.
A fairly basic control panel has what you need and not much more. The quaint, old-school analog voltmeter is pretty cool. There are 2 X 120V 20A outlets and a 30A 120V receptacle, making this a convenient RV generator and it’s quick, easy, and safe to connect up to your home electrical panel via a transfer switch.
The DuroStar 4,000W generator weighs 95 LBS and does no include a wheel kit. Not the best when it comes to portability. The strong, wrap-around metal frame offers plenty of comfortable positions for carrying the generator.
Capable of supplying enough power for most of household electrical needs, the DuroStar DS4000S is a fantastically affordable hurricane generator. Despite being a relatively cheap option, this generator has a pretty impressive 3-year warranty.
6. Champion Power Equipment 201052 4750/3800-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator
Despite being relatively inexpensive, this is quite a sophisticated machine. The 224cc engine starts easily, with the added bonus of an electric starter. It runs well and is quite economical, providing up to 14 hours runtime from a 4.7 gallon gas tank. A 20LBS propane tank should provide around 10.5 hours runtime at 50% load.
Power output is more than satisfactory for most home emergency power requirements. Running on gas, the Champion 201052 delivers a respectable 4,750 surge watts and 3,800W running power. Wattage is reduced by around 10% when using propane.
The Champion 4,750W dual fuel generator is a bit of a heavyweight at 119 pounds. This is not too much of a hassle, thanks to a large wheel kit and an exceptionally comfortable, padded fold down loop handle.
This generator has a sophisticated digital display with 4 modes – total and session runtime, volts, and frequency. It has a great selection of outlets, all with protective plastic covers. Connecting to a transfer switch or RV requires no adapters, as this generator is equipped with a TT-30 (RV) outlet, and an NEMA L5-30 (120V 30A) twist lock outlet. It also has 2 X standard 20A 1120V household receptacles.
Dual fuel generators are always the best for hurricanes because of the versatility offered by propane and gas as fuel. Champion Power Equipment are probably the leaders in this field, making the Champion 20152 a perfect choice for a reliable 4750W/3800W emergency generator. The 3-year warranty definitely provides some extra peace of mind.
7. WEN DF475T Dual Fuel 120V/240V Portable Generator
Another fantastic, great value offering from WEN has to be the DF475T dual fuel generator. Apart from the obvious advantage of using gas or propane, this generator also delivers 120V or 240V power. Not many smaller portable generators allow you to supply 240V appliances.
This is an economical and versatile machine producing 4,750 surge watts and 3,800 running watts when using gas. Runtimes, using propane to fuel the WEN, drops to 4,350W peak power and 3,500 continuous power.
The 224cc 4-stroke engine is superb and incredibly fuel efficient. You can expect 11-hours runtime (at 50%) load from the 4 gallon gas tank and about 7-hours when hooked up to propane tank at the same load. A convenient fuel switch on the user panel makes for an uncomplicated procedure when selecting gas or propane.
An electric starter is a wonderful feature on a generator this cheap, it certainly makes life easier. The WEN DF475T is just as convenient when it comes to a outlets. With 2 X 120V 20A receptacles, a 120V/240V 30A outlet, and a 12VDC battery charging port, all bases are covered.
A good quality wheel kit and fold down handle make it easy enough to move the WEN generator, which weighs 105.8 pounds. This weight is perfectly reasonable when you consider the tough metal frame and gas tank.
A winner on all fronts, the WEN DF475T is inexpensive, economical to use, and generates 120V/240V electricity. It’s clear why this is one of the most popular hurricane generators and is covered by a 2-year warranty.
8. DuroMax XP5500EH Electric, 50 State Approved Dual Fuel Portable Generator-5500 Watt
The 424cc DuroMax generator has been around for quite a while, with a reputation for rugged reliability and the convenience of being able to use gas or propane. This generator produces a mighty respectable 5,500 watts peak power and 4,500W rated power (gas). On propane, the DuroMax XP5500EH will provide 5,225W peak and 4,275W running power. Enough power to run several high-amp appliances simultaneously.
There’s a good sense of rugged build quality, from the large wheel kit to the heavy-duty metal frame, and soft grip fold down handles. The all-metal control panel is just as tough and provides a great selection of outlets: 2 X 120V 20A household outlets, 30A 120V/240V outlet, and a 12V connection for charging batteries. It also has hassle-free, convenient electric starting. An analog voltmeter allows you to check that output power is what it should be.
The metal gas tank has a 3.9 gallon capacity, which is more than adequate for convenient run times. You can expect 9-hours from a full tank of gas, at 50% load. Using a 20 LBs propane tank, the DuroMax 5,500W generator will run for about 8-hours at 50% load.
Weight is above average at 142 pounds. While this makes it a heavy generator to lift, it is indicative of a high standard for heavy-duty metal components – not a bad thing. For many years, countless people have come to depend on the dual fuel DuroMax XP5500EH as a reliable emergency generator for hurricanes and a trusty off grid power supply for camping. The brand epitomizes value, being quite cheap, reliable, and tough.
9. Westinghouse Outdoor Power Equipment WGen7500DF Dual Fuel Portable Generator
The Westinghouse WGEN7500DF would probably be my first choice when buying an emergency portable generator. It has a lot of power, is super reliable, and doesn’t cost as much as the top heavy-duty machines. Naturally, the fact that this is a dual fuel generator makes it an obvious contender for the best hurricane generator.
With a whopping 9,500 watts of peak power and 7,500W rated power, there will be little compromising when supplying your entire home with electricity, using the Westinghouse WGEN7500DF. Of course, this won’t be quite as impressive when using propane, with running power reduced to 6,750W and peak power at 8,550W. Fitted with an enormous 6.6 gallon gas tank means you can use all that power for really long intervals before refueling – up to 11-hours.
I’ve become a huge fan of the Westinghouse 420cc engine that powers this generator. It’s built to last, with a cast iron sleeve and runs like a dream. Not only does the Westinghouse WGen7500DF have an electric starter, it also includes a wireless remote control fob. No need to go out into nasty weather to start or stop the generator.
The control panel is crammed with high tech features, like a digital display for voltage, time, and frequency. It also has a port allowing you to connect the generator to the Westinghouse ST portable transfer switch. You can also use a conventional 30A transfer switch via the 30A (L14-30R) 120V/240V outlet. Using extension cords is no hassle either, thanks to 4 X 120V 20A outlets and a 5V USB port is included. All the outlets have strong plastic covers.
A heavy-duty powerhouse like the Westinghouse WGEN7500DF has a slight disadvantage when it comes to portability. At 192 pounds, it is one of the heaviest in its class. Thankfully, large wheels and comfortable handles make all this a little easier to manage.
This Westinghouse WGEN7500DF is a magnificent dual fuel emergency generator. There is certainly no shortage of power, and it has a bunch of convenient technological marvels, like the remote starting function. This generator is about as tough as they come, with a 3-year warranty.
10. Champion Power Equipment 100520 8750-Watt DH Series Open Frame Inverter
Not many inverter generators have a peak output much higher than 3,000W. The Champion 100520 provides 8,750W staring power and 7,000 running watts. The perfect whole house hurricane generator with the advantage of clean inverter electricity that won’t harm sensitive electronics.
The 420cc engine is quite refined and not at all thirsty, providing up to 10.5 hours runtime from the 4.2 gallon gas tank. The design is very unique and practical, making for a reduced footprint. Although quite heavy (155 LBS), the Champion DH inverter generator is easy to move, thanks to a great wheel kit and excellent handles.
The metal frame is tough, and it has plenty of metal protective panels. The large user interface is all-metal and provides all the outlets you could want. The 120V/240V L-1430R 30A is perfect for a transfer switch or RV. There are 4 X 120V household outlets, with GFCI protection, and a 12V automotive port. Plastic covers keep all the outlets safe and protected from harm.
The Champion 100520 inverter generator has an electric starter and an advanced Inteli-gauge, giving you quick access to vital information, like volts, frequency, session runtime, and total runtime. Like most inverter generators, this model has an economy switch to reduce engine RPM relative to power demand.
It’s great to have a generator with the wattage to supply most of your appliances and have the advantage of clean current with less than 3% THD. While this is not the cheapest Champion generator, it is not as expensive as one would expect for a high-watt inverter generator. In keeping with the good value that we expect from Champion Power Equipment, this generator has a 3-year warranty.
Leave a Reply