1. Buy a generator that is underpowered or not up to the task.
When shopping for a generator, it’s important to understand your power needs. Whether it’s for camping, home backup, or use on the jobsite, it’s important to understand which generator is right for the job and which will meet your needs most efficiently. It is also important to know the type of items that the generator will power. Power tools used on construction sites have different needs, power and amperage requirements than those used at campsites. Generators that are geared toward construction also have built-in GFCI outlets, which means they don’t work well in home standby applications. That said, understanding the types of generators on the market and what they are capable of should be something someone would consider when looking to purchase a new generator.
2. Buy an off-brand generator.
With hundreds of different brands on the market, some good and some bad; it’s easy to be fooled by cheaper products that imitate brand name products. While copy cat type generators may be cheaper at the initial purchase, these cheap brands rarely have the longevity of more expensive brand name products. What you ultimately find is that even though the initial purchase was cheaper, you will spend more time, money and energy running a cheaper generator than the guy who just bought the brand name product. Sometimes the old saying, “you get what you pay for” really does hold true. It is also important to consider the length of the warranty, service, and parts availability. If a generator company is only willing to stand behind your product for 6 months, or if you have to wait weeks or even months to get parts, that should tell you something about the quality of the product you’re trying to sell.
3. Buying from the wrong store or retailer.
Consider this scenario: You’re in the market for a super-quiet camping generator. Check an online dealer locator and discover that there’s a great store near you that carries the model you’re looking for. However, you will also find a small electrical equipment store with the same model; the small electrical equipment store has a slightly higher price. Your first instinct would be to go buy it from a retailer that has the cheapest price. What you really need to think about is the fact that there is a very small chance that you will find an employee at the big retailer who has the knowledge to answer your questions intelligently. Nor are they going to have the parts and service available to you, should you need it. So chances are, if anything goes wrong with the machine, they’ll send it to the little electrical equipment store for any necessary repairs anyway. Now consider if you had shopped at that little store from the start. You may have paid a little more up front, but you’ll likely get the knowledge and service from the small shop you need to buy the right generator for the job. Why? -Because they are specifically an electrical equipment store. This is what they do, what they specialize in, what they study on a daily basis. Their employees are trained and equipped with the knowledge you need to help you in any way; including service and parts.
4. Understanding jet and lift problems.
Most small generators and motors are built at sea level. This means that the generator is factory set to operate in the denser air found at sea level. When a generator with standard jets is raised to its average camping elevations of 5000-7000 feet; where the air is not so dense, they run into problems. With stock jets at higher elevations, the generator will run rich, increasing the risk of fouling the spark plugs. It also won’t run as efficiently as it would if launched correctly, you won’t get the advertised fuel efficiency or horsepower because if this problem. Of course, the problem can be corrected by re-injecting the generator. It is relatively inexpensive and does not take much time. If you are mechanically inclined, you can do it yourself. The other issue to understand is the general loss of power at higher elevations. Regardless of the jets, all small engines lose a certain amount of power as you go up. A good rule of thumb is that generators lose 3.5% of their advertised power per 1,000 feet of elevation. It’s always a good idea, no matter where you shop, to ask about jets. If the company you’re buying from doesn’t have a service department, then it’s a good idea to take it to a shop and have it thrown away, as it’s at the altitude where you’re going to use it the most.
5. Misunderstanding the different models.
Just about every big name generator company out there has a bunch of different generator models, all designed to be used in specific ways. When looking to buy a new generator, no matter what brand you’ve chosen, it’s important to understand which models are designed for what. You wouldn’t want to buy a super quiet inverter series generator if you plan to take it to a construction site, you could easily get fined by any security company that regulates your area because most inverters don’t have GFCI outlets on them. On the other hand, you wouldn’t take a generator from a construction site to a quiet campground, you’d have your campground neighbors bang on your door to turn it off. Take care in selecting the right model for your application. Need something like an inverter with clean power to power sensitive electronics? Is the noise level an issue? Or are you in a workplace, where everything must be protected by circuits per safety regulations, but the noise doesn’t really matter? These are all things to consider before making a purchase.
6. Misunderstanding of portability.
The fact that some generators are equipped with wheels and handles does not necessarily mean that they are portable. Most generators in the 3,800-watt range and above are equipped with handles and wheels. Not for convenience, but because it is necessary. These machines are heavy and usually require the help of another person to move or load them onto trucks. This all relates to choosing the right machine for the job. When you’re camping, you don’t want to be constantly harassing your friends to help you lift and carry a 250-pound beast until you place it where you want it. A nice little 50 pound portable generator would work well in that application, pick it up, put it where you want it and get on with your camping trip.
7. Overcomplicating the process.
Of course, if you have read this entire article, buying a generator would seem incredibly complicated; it really isn’t. While there are many things to consider when shopping for one, if you simply remember a few of the things in this article, you can’t go wrong. And if you’re buying from the right company, you should have a trained sales staff on hand to answer any questions you may have. Also remember, you don’t need to become a master electrical engineer to buy one. Keep the process simple, don’t over think it and buy the generator that best suits your needs. Stick with a trusted brand, with a good warranty, buy from a reputable company, that has its own parts department, and you should get the service you expect at the end of the purchase.