Best Generators According to r/Generator

"The Bluetti AC180 will draw at most 1440W when recharging. The Honda eu2200i will charge it just fine, the Bluetti will get up to 80% charge in 45 minutes. This is actually my strategy for dealing with power outages going forward. I have an Anker Solix C1000 that I'll use to keep lights on, Starlink on, phones charged, and some other basic stuff. When the battery starts to run low, I'll charge it with my generator (Predator 2000 inverter generator). I just had to deal with 11 days without power and having to run the generator to get internet and charge our phones was a pain in the ass."

">You get what you pay for with generators. I have 4 generators. Two hondas and two firmans from Costco. For a given wattage the Hondas are 4x the price of the firmans. I've been extremely disappointed in my Honda EU2200i that I purchased new from an authorized Honda dealer. I live off grid near the arctic circle and use the generators often. The ergonomics of the Hondas are better, but the honda eu2200i is NOT reliable. It never has been from the day I bought it. It has had multiple issues. The firmans on the other hand just work. I love Honda automobiles. My daily driver is a Honda. I want to like the Honda generators but in my experience they are not worth 4x the price. Plus the firman generators I bought from costco have a 3 year warranty. Getting my EU2200i warrantied by Honda was an absolute nightmare. Knowing what I know now I would not have purchased the Hondas."

"I got a Honda 2200. Small. Sips gasoline. A gallon gets me 4-8 hours depending on load. Meant just for a small fridge, chest freezer, and a window unit."

"A shame that the original post has gone, but I'll share my experiences anyway. I used to own an Ecoflow Delta 2 for my log cabin which I loved - it worked really well with about 1.8kW power delivery (could boil a travel kettle using it), but I found that it wasn't quite enough capacity to last a full weekend. We had a 50W coolbox attached to it, and it would be flat after a day. One thing you've got to realize is that the capacity that the manufacturer says you're getting is not what you actually get - this is because the inverter, display and fans all take energy, and in fact the useable amount of capacity on the Delta 2 was only about 800Wh. Talking of fans - the fans on the Delta 2 were REALLY loud, and that was one reason I decided to sell it. About 6 months ago I upgraded to an Anker power station (it's the Solix F2000 for anyone who's interested). It's got the all important Li-Po battery tech and a much more chunky 2048Why of capacity - (of which about 1700Wh is useable). I've coupled this with some solar powers and can now last almost indefinitely on free solar if I'm reasonably careful with what I use through the day. Overall I'd definitely recommend these things but they're not cheap - make sure you get a decent warranty - most of the big players are offering 5 years now as standard. I've not had any technical problems with either manufacturer though to be fair - hopefully it'll last me a long time!"

"Yes, the ecoflow Delta 2 requires you to log in periodically. If you don't, you cannot change any settings."

"For a solid review, check out the City Prepping solar generator review in YouTube. u/CityPrepping did a thorough review and had a spreadsheet you can download that compares specs across brands. It's worth 30 minutes. (Not affiliated in any way, I just follow his channel.) We just bought an EcoFlow Delta 2 Max with two 220w panels. Felt like it was a reasonable deal. I have gotten my money's worth from the EcoFlow Delta Max I bought a few years ago, but I am looking forward to having the newer battery tech."

"The Bluetti AC180 will draw at most 1440W when recharging. The Honda eu2200i will charge it just fine, the Bluetti will get up to 80% charge in 45 minutes. This is actually my strategy for dealing with power outages going forward. I have an Anker Solix C1000 that I'll use to keep lights on, Starlink on, phones charged, and some other basic stuff. When the battery starts to run low, I'll charge it with my generator (Predator 2000 inverter generator). I just had to deal with 11 days without power and having to run the generator to get internet and charge our phones was a pain in the ass."

"I'm a Bluetti fan, but EcoFlow and Anker are also good brands. Even small space heaters run at 500 watts so something like the Bluetti AC180 will only run a space heater for about two hours. You are better off looking at the Mr. Heater Buddy propane unit. Emergency radios are cheap and easy on Amazon. You might want to get two different models if this is a critical item. You want something that can pickup NOAA weather. Canned food is great for emergencies. You can even heat it up in the can and eat right out of the can if you need to. My favorites are chili, beef stew and chunky soup."

"(Bona Fides: power restored 2 hr 40 min ago, after being out 23 hours during Francine.) Battery charges don't last *nearly* as long as you think they do. I've got two Bluetti AC180 units and two older EB70 units. * The **two EB70**s, combined, ran a **20" box fan** (mix of low and medium speed) for **17 hours**. * **One** of the **AC180**s ran an LED floor lamp, fiber wifi router laptop and monitor for **8 hours**. After that, I fired up my Champion model 201183 generator (using propane, since I live in a duplex) to charge them up, while running everything on the other AC180. It ran everything for 6 hours, and was down to 9% when the power came back on. You *require* a generator + fuel for long term energy. Gasoline and propane are **That Much Energy Denser** than current (and near- to mid-future) battery tech."

"Literally just came out of a 5 day blackout due to an ice storm. We have the ecoflow river 2 pro and it was worth its weight in gold. We have a gas generator that we run twice a day for the fridge and freezer. We'd also do kettles if hot water for dishes and we would recharge our ecoflow then too.  So why was it so great? We could power a kettle midday for coffee and tea without having to fire up the generator. It charged our phones, flashlights and my father in law's electric razor (just because he needed to shave). It powered the blower on our woodstove as the temperatures up here were still around freezing. And lastly we used it to power a crockpot to heat up food.  It was absolutely amazing and fantastic for the in between times of running the generator. "

"I tried EcoFlow (River 2 Pro) - twice. And each time if failed, miserably. Each one bricked and I asked for my money back (and got it after a lot of back and forth)."

"I have found my Ecoflow unit to be a good value for short outages, limited load situations. (I have a River 2 Pro) It runs my fridge for 8+ hours, and easily charges all our portable electronics many many times. I pull it out long before I even consider starting the generator. They seem to make good stuff."

"I run my whole house on two anker f3800 with a double power hub. I run a 13000w predator generator 3-4 hours a day, a 6000w would be enough if that is all its used for. I plan to add solar in the spring. https://www.ankersolix.com/products/f3800"

">A dual Anker SOLIX F3800 with expansion batteries costs around $10,000 and provides about 15 kWh of power. 😮 Damn! Glad I went DIY. 48V 100ah batteries are as low as $700 each right now. I could make a bank that is 68.5kWh for the same investment. Maybe at some point, but with a good amount of panels or using a generator to top them off as needed like you mentioned, I think the 8-ish I have now will suffice."

"I sincerely suggest you look at something like the Ecoflow Delta Series (sorry no specific models) OR the Anker Solix F3800 (this is the one I would buy now had I had some forethought before I bought my F2000) for that use case."

"Ya I watched this video of him running the delta pro with solar and he showed how long it would run his fridge on solar only solar good video"

"I've been looking at doing exactly what you describe: 2 Anker F3800+'s with the dual hub connector can provide up to 12KW same as your generator. 2 Ecoflow Delta Pro 3's can be similarly combined for 8KW. Costco had a sale for the 2 units for $4200 that just ended. Ecoflow looks cheaper, but their support from China is worse... firmware updates can turn the system into a brick. Ecoflow also advertises you describe with their smart generator started/stopped by the battery... they claim something like a 40% increase in efficiency by letting the generator run at peak performance. Your idea also lets you use a much smaller generator as you only need to supply the average load vs. the peak loads. It's also a lot quieter when only running the generator to top off the batts... probably won't run at all over night."

"I got the Delta Pro. Been dreaming of owning one of these for a few years. Finally found a price I could not ignore. Can't wait for delivery next week. I feel like a kid at Christmas before I became dead inside 😀"

"I just got a Bluetti AC70. It's probbly a little more juice than you need (although that projector might eat some power) but it is a really nice unit."

"Im in Florida and its hot as hell when the power is out during hurricanes. I have a bluetti ac70 and a river 2 pro. Both are around 700wh and around $400 each. They could power around 100watts for 8 hours or so each. So a couple fans. With a solar panel you can charge them each in a day. With enough solar you can charge in a few hours. Look for Bluetti, Ecoflow and Anker. Id recommend refurbished off amazon to save money."

"I would definitely go for BLUETTI AC70 Here's my real-world take on the BLUETTI AC70 after using it daily for the past few months. I'll cut through the marketing fluff and give you the honest pros and cons from actual use. The Good Stuff First: This power station has completely changed how I handle outages and outdoor trips. The crazy-fast charging is legit - I can top it up from 0-80% during my lunch break. It effortlessly powers my entire work setup (laptop, monitor, router) for a full workday, and the app is surprisingly useful for monitoring power usage. At just 22.5 lbs, it's light enough that I don't dread moving it around. A Few Caveats: The plastic handle feels a bit flimsy for something this expensive, and I really wish it had a wireless charging pad on top like some competitors. The fan can get noticeable when pushing it hard, though it's still way quieter than a generator. Who's This Really For? If you regularly face power outages, enjoy camping without sacrificing modern comforts, or work remotely from off-grid locations, this is hands-down one of the best compact solutions available right now. The combination of fast charging, solid capacity, and portability makes it stand out. Final Verdict: While not the cheapest option, the AC70 delivers where it counts. It's become my most-used piece of gear, and I'd absolutely buy it again. The peace of mind during outages alone is worth the price. Want to check current pricing? [https://amzn.to/4jNzVzW] (Full transparency: I earn a small commission if you use this link - helps fund more real-world testing like this!) Question for you: What's been your biggest frustration with portable power stations? Maybe I can help!"

"I have a 300 Explorer and can confirm they are solid. Used on multiple camping trips as well as a couple power outages. Can recharge from 20%-100% with decent sunlight in around 4 hours. Nice and portable, worth it imo. My unit is around 3 years old and running good as new."

"Good, since, since the Jackery is needed. Note, though, that the Jackery 300 is relatively low capacity. It'll only run a TV and router for (depending on the size of the TV) 2-3 hours."

"I have the Jackery Explorer 300 and it’s probably the sweet spot for your use case from what I’ve seen on Amazon too. It’s around 293 Wh which is enough to run a small fan for several hours and charge your phone multiple times. It’s super portable and recharges via wall, car or solar But if you think you might want to expand later (or run more) then stepping up to something like the Anker SOLIX C1000 gives you way more headroom which you can find on Amazon as well. If you want something smaller, look for some large capacity power banks - https://alaskanarrows.com/11-power-banks-to-invest-in-step-by-step/"

"I went the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra route because I wanted something semi-portable that I could transport to a family member's house in an emergency. With two batteries (12kWh) and no solar (am in a condo), I can go for 1-2 days on battery alone. The nice part is the automatic triage from the smart panel. (You can do similar with a SPAN panel on a proper setup, I just went the cheap route with the Ecoflow smart home panel 2) On battery power, automatically cuts power to non-essentials like the washer/dryer, the bathroom heated tile, etc. Once it hits 40% capacity, cuts all circuits but the refrigerator and the kitchen wall sockets. If it fully depletes, I can put it in the truck and recharge from any level 2 EV chargers / family households. (nearby family are on different substations) My setup is very much oriented for Tuesday, not a long term disaster. I do have ten 100w solar panels (from a sale) in the closet if I need to set them up on the driveway or at a family member's house, but I'm really hoping not to ever need those."

"I would suggest also looking at an Ecoflow Delta Pro 3 as a point of reference. Having experienced several weeks of power outage thanks to Helene and Milton, I bit the bullet and went with an Ecoflow Delta Pro Ultra. Regardless of the system you choose, you should think about what are the critical circuits in your house and see how their total average and peak consumption fit within the capacities of the F3800. As you’re thinking about whole home, you need to consider how the power station would interface with your existing circuits. Some people want the failover to be seamless and thus go with a smart panel; others prefer the simplicity and low cost of using a generator inlet plug or even plugging in the appliances directly to the power station."

"I got the 18 kWh EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra set up that Costco has on special. We have two portable 450 watt panels on the way, too. We have a small house and a good roof for solar panels. It’s too big a project to take on right now, though, and I want portable panels anyway. Short term goal - add an additional two 450 watt panels later this year."

"I have a Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus, which has the extension battery and solar panels. I have not used the solar panels yet.  I have had zero problems, and been very happy with the unit. On a 6 day elk hunting trip in freezing conditions, the battery + expansion pack ran my CPAP (with heater, the full 58W per hour), charged up phones, saw batteries, gps batteries, and a boot dryer. It ran out of juice the last morning I was there. In home, it’s been used as a backup for my CPAP when power flashes and it’s been perfectly handy for that.  I could not tell you if it’s the best value; I got mine through a power company rebate program in oregon, and paid far more than I ever personally would have shelled out ($2800). But in very glad I have it. This summer II’s like to have a power port hooked to my house breaker so the Jackery can plug in and run portions of the house during an outage"

"Anker - I actually just bought the Anker Solix F2000 with 2x 400W panels while they were on sale. So far so good - haven't really put it through any real heavy testing to comment beyond that. However - in hindsight I wish I had purchased the F3800 for home usage first and will likely pick one up after I pick up a new multifuel generator. For you the F2000 is probably perfect given it's more portable and smaller which I suspect is more ideal for overlanding."

"Absolutely. I went with the Anker Solix F2000 and I feel pretty good about it. I’ll try to remember why I went with Anker over other brands. From my research (and I am not an expert), EcoFlow, Bluetti, and Anker are the three big names. With EcoFlow being the biggest. Bluetti cost to feature ratio didn’t work out for me. EcoFlow doesn’t seem to have the track record or customer support that Anker has. I found way too many reports of quality and customer support issues when looking into EcoFlow. The subreddit for EcoFlow is rife with them. Anker, although relatively new to the space, is a highly reputable brand with budget and pre-established and quality customer service. So far, it’s been great. Although to be fair I think you’d be happy and well off with any of those three brands. Anker does large sales (as does eco flow, bit sure about Bluetti) so don’t pay anywhere near full price. I think I paid half of MSRP for mine."

"Check out reviews on Reddit for the 400w Anker panel they aren't great. Some get low performance on them. I ended up buying a "ZOUPW" 450w panel but there are a ton of other good ones. I get great performance on this panel and I like the carry case. I have the Anker solix f2000 too. I love the power station."

"It might make sense to buy a small inverter generator (like the Honda EU1000i) specifically for this purpose and have about 15 gallons of gasoline in the garage - even if there is no natural gas in the pipe, this will be enough to support his dialysis machine for a month. And within a month, help will most likely arrive, or electricity will appear, or it will be possible to buy another 15 gallons of gas for the next month."

"We had a 17 hour power outage last week, and the only generator I had at our relatively new to us house was a little Honda EU1000i that I bought almost 20 years ago, rated at 900 watts continuous output, 1000 watt peak. Though even with this relatively small amount of power I was able to keep our 7 cu ft chest freezer and kitchen refrigerator cold, as well as run an office fan on low, keep phones and notebook computer charged, power a wifi cell hotspot, and power one floor lamp. In other words all the basic necessities, all while consuming less than 2.5 gallons of gasoline (I had just filled my 2.5 gallon lawn mower gas can the day before). I admit I was pushing it and it did shut off on over current a couple of times when the compressor starts synced up between the refrigerator and chest freezer, but it did the important thing, it kept the food cold, provided some light, kept the phones and the computer charged, as well as provided us with an internet connection so we could keep up with the news."

"Honda eu1000i. Best little generator out there. Extremely quiet, SIPS the fuel, bulletproof reliability."

"Electrician and generator apprentice here. Generator is lower quality, not garbage, but not great. Get Kohler, they're so much better for the money."

"As an electrician, I recommend Kohler over General for a permanent standby generator."

"Whole-house Kohler here, and so glad to have it. Turns on automatically whether I'm home or not, big enough to run anything I want/need for a week or more. In an area prone to outages, both short and long (a week to 10 days). Solar is not really an option for me unless I cut down a massive amount of trees."

"I bought a Goal Zero 1500x on Black friday last year from Amazon for $700 or $800. I had to use it when we lost power 2 months later. It'll keep your fridge running for a day or two before needing charging."

"I have a Goal Zero 1500X. I bought it on sale Black Friday. Used it after New Years to save fridge after 4 day without power. I had to recharge it but it's what you should look into."

"I have a Bluetti AC500, a mixture of batteries, b300, b300s and 300k and about 3000w of solar panels used as supplemental and backup power. I have no complaints, has been working flawlessly for over 2 years now. https://preview.redd.it/3178w3zy8qle1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3adcecde85734a90ffd207cac49dea65861a15ff Let me know if any questions"

"I might just need one F3800 with two expansion batteries, which provides 12kwh power to run my essential appliances. I just checked their website and found out they're around $6K. That looks reasonable. Bluetti ac500 and ecoflow delta pro might not in my lists cuz they cannot support 6000W, while delta pro ultra is too expensive. I need one can go up to 6000W and support high-voltage appliances like AC, fridge and my LG dryer."

"I recently bought my daughter a Bluetti AC180. I have an AC500. Love the brand. EcoFlow is also a good pick. What do you need to power? And for how long? Do you have space and orientation to deploy a solar panel?"

"Was just going to post this. Plug it in the wall then plug in the computer or TV or whatever. It will always be ready. Have a number of them. The Ecoflow River 3 line is quite impressive for charging those devices."

"I have the EcoFlow River 3. It is great for running an LED light or two during a power outage. However, charging a couple phones and tablets knocked the battery down significantly. River was dead after second charging of all devices. I feel you will be greatly disappointed in its performance running those appliances on it."

"What you want is a station that supports UPS Functionality. Many brands do this but the most recent, and best at this time is the [EcoFlow River 3 Series](https://www.ecoflow.com/us/river-3-series-portable-power-station?). The [River 3 Max Plus](https://us.ecoflow.com/products/river-3-plus-portable-power-station?page_path_refererer=%2Fus%2Friver-3-series-portable-power-station&) would be the right fit for you I think. Just be sure to power everything you can by DC and not AC if you can get away with it. That will stretch the battery life further."