Prime Day Generator Deals 2023: The Best Portable Power Stations Still on Sale After Amazon’s Big Deal Days

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Prime Day has come and gone for the second time this year—though this second installment was technically called Prime Big Deal Days. The good news is that, if you want to get a head start on holiday shopping on everything from mattresses to TVs to tools, this is still the time to do it. Though Prime Big Deal Days ended yesterday, October 11, Amazon has lingering discounts on some of our favorite generators. Take this dual-fuel portable one from Champion, which is 39 percent off.

The Best Prime Day Generator Deals

• Best Dual-Fuel: Champion Power Equipment 4,750-Watt Dual-Fuel

• Best for Tailgating: Champion Power Equipment 2,000-Watt Dual-Fuel Inverter

• Best Home Backup: DuroMax 12,000-Watt Dual-Fuel Portable

• Best for an RV: Champion Power Equipment 4,500-Watt Portable Inverter

• Best Portable Power Station: EcoFlow Delta Pro

With so many options to choose from, which one should you get? Bradley Ford, our test editor and resident gear expert, provided insight into what to look for when buying a portable generator. Importantly, he also had some advice about when to buy one. Hint: Don’t wait until there’s an emergency. Fall and winter often bring severe weather, including rain, hurricanes, and snowstorms. These can lead to power outages, and having a portable generator can provide you with a reliable power source for space heaters, appliances, and more while the grid is down.

Ford warns that if you don’t own a portable generator and suddenly need one due to an emergency, so will everyone else, potentially leaving you with limited options. Consider picking one up now instead of later. While the most common use for a portable generator is for backup power, they’re excellent for non-emergency scenarios too, including camping, working on construction sites, and barbecuing.

Before you buy a portable generator, Ford says to consider what you need to power. Is it appliances and medical devices? Do you want a gas or propane model? Or perhaps you’d prefer a portable power station, which requires little maintenance and can be used indoors.

Scroll down for more of his tips. But first, our reviews of the best generators on sale post-Prime Big Deal Days.

Read Full Reviews

Champion’s dual-fuel portable generator can run on gas or propane, providing you with flexibility and control over your power source. It offers 4,750 starting watts and 3,800 running watts on gas, an electric start, and two 9-inch “never flat” wheels (they’re solid, with no air to potentially leak out) to roll the 119-pound generator around more easily.

The generator features a 4.7-gallon tank that Champion estimates will last up to 14 hours when running on gas. That’s enough time to get through an emergency, especially if you have extra gas for refills. According to Champion, the generator will run for up to 10.5 hours with a 20-pound propane tank. The fuel select dial allows you to easily switch between the two sources.

There are four outlets, including two 120-volt, 20-amp household outlets and a small display that keeps track of voltage, hertz, and runtime in hours. Additionally, the generator features a built-in surge protector to prevent overloads and keep your gear safe.

Portable generators are often big and heavy, but this one is relatively small. Weighing only 39 pounds and measuring 17.7 inches tall, it’s easy enough for one person to carry it around your home, job site, or campground via its sturdy handle. And despite the size, it can run on gas or propane, giving you the flexibility to choose your fuel, depending on your situation. However, its inverter technology, which converts AC power into DC power and then back into clean and stable AC power, is its calling card. This ensures you can use the generator to power even the most sensitive electronic devices without worrying about power surges or other issues.

This 2,000-watt generator has two 120-volt, 20-amp AC outlets, a 12-volt DC socket, and a dual-port USB adapter that you can use to charge smaller electronic devices such as your smartphone. Like the other Champion model above, there’s a fuel selector dial to switch between the two sources, plus support for Champion’s Parallel Kit, allowing you to connect a second generator with the same power output.

Champion claims the generator will run for up to 34 hours on propane. Coupled with the compact size, this model’s longer run time makes it ideal for weekend tailgating. Plus, since inverter generators are often closed-frame models, it’s relatively quiet—think only 53 decibels of noise from 23 feet away, about the same level as a normal conversation.

The 12,000-Watt Dual-Fuel Portable Generator from DuroMax features a robust 457cc engine strong enough to power heavy-duty appliances like a refrigerator or home air conditioner. Larger-capacity generators like this are handy as home backup power during emergencies. The generator can run directly to your house’s critical circuits through a manual transfer switch instead of you having to run extension cords to individual appliances.

This DuroMax has a durable all-metal frame and wheel kit, allowing for easy mobility. Like other models here, it can run on gas or propane, giving you the flexibility to choose your fuel.

Equipped with several outlets, the generator includes: two 120-volt, 20-amp outlets; one 120/240-volt, 50-amp outlet; one 120/240-volt, 30-amp outlet; and one 120-volt, 30-amp outlet. That means you can run appliances off of 120-volt and 240-colt outlets simultaneously. But, if you plan on employing this as a power source for your home, know that, to plug into a house’s transfer switch to power critical circuits, you’ll need to use the 240-volt setting on either the 50- or 30-amp outlet. Less voltage won’t be enough. DuroMax says the 8.3-gallon fuel tank can provide a runtime of approximately 19 hours on gasoline at 25 percent output, making it an ideal backup power source during extended outages.

Champion’s 4,500-watt Portable Inverter Generator is an excellent choice for many reasons. It comes with a wireless remote start, an economy mode to help with monitoring power consumption, and a three-year limited warranty. However, this is an inverter too, like the Champion 2,000-watt model above, and so is safe to use on sensitive gadgets and other electronics.

Moreover, inverter generators are also more efficient, as they adjust the engine speed based on the power demand. Champion claims that its generator can offer up to 14 hours at 25 percent load, giving you plenty of time to wait out an emergency. The brand also offers a parallel kit, allowing you to connect another inverter model with a 2,800-watt or higher capacity to double your output power.

This Champion model, like a few others, is equipped with an RV-compatible 30-amp outlet, as well as two 120-volt, 20-amp AC outlets and a 12-volt, 8-amp car outlet. It also features a user-friendly display that provides session time, total runtime, volts, and frequency information.

Duracell is one of the most well-known brands in the battery space, so it’s no surprise it offers a portable power station. This Duracell model provides 300 watts of output, enough to power laptops, mobile devices, and other small electronics in a portable, lightweight design. It’s compatible with Duracell’s 100W Solar Panel for charging. (If you’re thinking of buying this generator, spring for that bundle, since the discounts will save you more money than purchasing them separately.)

This Duracell features three USB-A ports, a 60-watt USB-C PD port, a 120 AC inverter output, and a 12-volt DC charger. The front of the power station features an LCD screen that can display the battery level and indicate which ports are ready to connect. Meanwhile, there’s a built-in light so that you can use it for emergency illumination.

The power station weighs a mere 7.5 pounds in a compact 8.5 by 6.2 by 6.3 frame, small enough to carry in your backpack. That makes the Duracell good for camping because it’s easy to travel with.

Our selection for the best overall portable power station, the EcoFlow Delta Pro has output comparable to that of gas-powered generators. The brand says this model can run nearly any appliance, and during Ford’s testing, he confirmed their claim. With an output of 3,600 watts, it can handle more than one appliance. Additionally, you can increase its output to 4,500 watts if you need.

Ford ran the Delta Pro with a continuous 470-watt load, and it provided power for 6 hours and 57 minutes. If you needed it for home backup during a power outage, you would only run what you needed to conserve energy. So he also tested it by powering a full-size, 25-cubic-foot refrigerator; it ran for an impressive 51 hours and 24 minutes.

After depleting the power station to 0 percent, Ford recharged it back to full capacity using a standard 120-volt home outlet in just 2 hours and 36 minutes. Additionally, the system comes with an adapter that allows you to juice it at EV charging stations, with a solar panel, a car charger, or any combination of these methods to speed up the process. EcoFlow’s model supports 1,600 watts of solar input, which can recharge the unit in less than 3 hours.

Most portable generators come in pull-start or electric-start versions. However, the Westinghouse 4,500-Watt Portable Generator is different. It comes with a key fob that lets you start the generator remotely, giving you control over the device from a distance. Westinghouse claims you can start or stop the generator up to 260 feet away.

This inverter generator runs on gas and has a starting wattage of 4,500 and a running wattage of 3,700. Its digital display shows fuel level and other important information, and it can run for up to 18 hours at 25 percent load. The generator is also quiet, producing only 52 decibels of noise. Like with the Champion models on this list, you can connect a second generator for double the output power via an adapter.

Other features include a low-oil shutdown and an active throttle system that can adjust the engine speed to produce only the power needed. That equals better fuel efficiency and quieter operation since the engine isn’t constantly running at full speed.

When is Prime Big Deal Days 2023?

This October Prime Day, if you will, kicked off yesterday, October 10, and runs through today, October 11. And there might be some sales that run beyond Wednesday, so we’ll be updating this article as we see stock go in and out and discounts change.

Is Prime Big Deal Days a Good Time to Buy a Portable Generator?

Yes. As I mentioned, fall and winter can bring severe weather, potentially knocking your power offline. If you wait until that happens, your options may be limited or, worse, there may be no stock. This Prime Big Deal Days will generally have the best or close to the best savings on popular products compared to events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

How Much Wattage Do I Need?

“It depends on what you need to power,” Ford says. “Look at the appliances or equipment you plan on running. You’ll need to calculate the power consumption, in watts for each one, and add them up. To do that, multiply voltage (usually 120 volts) by the amps (amperage) required to run the appliance (usually found on a tag attached to the appliance).”

What Type of Fuel Is the Best?

The primary fuel options for portable generators are gasoline or propane. Each of these fuels has its own set of advantages and considerations. Gasoline is widely available and provides reliable power output, making it a popular choice for general use. However, local gas stations may struggle to meet demand during big storms or power outages, leading to long lines. Keep in mind too that gas can go bad. Don’t take for granted that any you have from past seasons will still be good.

On the other hand, propane offers a longer shelf life and lower maintenance requirements, making a generator that runs on propane an excellent option for infrequent use. The best fuel type for your portable generator will depend on factors like fuel availability in your area, intended use, and personal preferences.

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