Adventure Kings portable generators are a sensational and easy to use way to get reliable, portable power anywhere you need it – whether you need a 2kva generator for the campsite, a bigger 3kva generator for the jobsite, a portable generator for home power backup or anywhere in between. Kings generators are made incredibly high quality, and are easy to start, and best of all they run on regular unleaded petrol. That makes them so much quieter in operation, unlike a diesel generator which by virtue of its small diesel motor, is noisy, rattly and smoky. We often get asked what size generator will best suit different customers, and the truth is it’s one of those ‘how long is a piece of string’ kind of questions. There could be any number of answers, but the first step is in understanding your generator power requirements. In other words, what do you want to run off your generator? Next you should be aware of the major difference between the two ratings that every portable generator has – its peak power rating, and its continuous power rating. Finally, let’s talk about a concept that applies to lots of different camping gear, particularly solar panels for camping and AGM deep-cycle batteries – the idea that bigger is almost always better! Let’s go in depth into each of those three points to help you decide which size Adventure Kings generator is right for you.

1. UNDERSTANDING YOUR POWER REQUIREMENTS

When deciding on which generator to purchase, the first step is to understand the power requirements you have – otherwise you’ll end up buying a generator that’s too small for your needs. All 240v appliances have a sticker or a tag on them that shows their power usage in watts on the back. Be aware though that this is generally the continuous power rating – how much they’ll use while running – and could draw more on startup. For instance let’s say you want a generator as power backup if you’re in an area prone to blackouts. In an emergency you’ll obviously want the generator to keep your fridge running at a minimum, plus a few lamps for lighting and possibly the TV so you can get weather updates. The fridge will need to run the whole time, but you could alternate the TV and the lamps if needed, so add the power in wattage of the fridge and the TV, or the fridge and the lamps together. Likewise if you’re looking for a generator to run your dropsaw and charge tool batteries while you’re on the jobsite. Once you know this you have the info you need to buy the right portable generator for your needs.

2. PEAK POWER RATING v CONTINUOUS POWER RATING

Before we move on, let’s take a moment to talk generator power ratings. As we alluded to a moment ago, a portable generator has two different power ratings in its specifications – its peak power rating, and its continuous power rating. Electrical products often draw more power on start-up as the electrical motor needs a heap of power to spin up to speed, and then settle down to a lower continuous power usage while they’re running. Of course that isn’t a hard and fast rule and will not be true for all electrical products but it’s a worthwhile concept to keep in mind when purchasing a generator. As an example, the Kings 2kVA Generator has a continuous power rating of 2000w, and a peak power rating of 2200w. That means it can handle running appliances up to 2000w continuously, but can still allow for them to draw up to 2200w on startup. The Adventure Kings 3kva Generator has a continuous power rating of 3000w, and a peak power rating of 3300w by way of comparison. Understanding the difference between these two generator ratings is vital to ensure you don’t buy an under-powered generator that isn’t big enough for your needs.

3. BIGGER IS (ALMOST ALWAYS) BETTER WHEN IT COMES TO A GENERATOR!

Okay, now onto the third and final concept! Like with camping solar panels and deep cycle batteries, bigger is almost always better when it comes to generators. If you’ve got a caravan air conditioning unit that’s 2000w for instance, yes the Kings 2kva Generator is rated to run it, but you’re much better off using the Kings 3kva generator instead. Think of it like towing a caravan down a road. A small four-cylinder hatch back with a 2.0L motor might be able to get it up to highway speed but you’ll be revving the rings out of it doing so; a big lazy 6.0L V8 4WD will do it with so much less effort. That’s very much the same idea as when it comes to selecting a portable camping generator – the closer you run it to its limit, the harder it’s going to run, the more fuel it’s going to use and the shorter its overall service life will be. Instead, opting for a larger generator will often mean that it can run at lower RPMs, which will allow the generator to run quietly and to often use less fuel in the process.

Choosing the right portable generator for your needs is vital. There’s nothing worse than getting out to that epic campsite, or setting up on the jobsite, only to realise that you’re sending the generator into an overload situation, and it’s powering itself off to protect itself from being burnt out. Adventure Kings generators are incredible value for money and that means you can afford to buy the sized generator you truly need. That way you’re guaranteed that your generator will work for you when you most need it!