Are Generators Safe For Electronics?

There’s a lot of confusion regarding whether or not generators are safe for electronics.

Some people believe generators produce low-grade electrical currents that could fry expensive electronics, while others maintain that portable generators are completely safe.

Due to all this confusion I decided, through this article, to uncover the truth surrounding the question: are generators safe for electronics?

Let’s get right into it.

Are Generators Safe For Electronics?

Over the last decades, we have seen how people got more and more engaged with their electronic devices, to the point that they become essential.

Due to this, some people have asked themselves how safe it is to plug their expensive and vital electronics into portable generators.

To answer this question, there are a few things we need to clear up:

Electric Current’s Quality

The quality of the current produced by a generator is just as important as its wattage or noise levels when it comes to keeping electronics safe.

A generator that produces clean, stable power will help protect delicate electronic components from getting fried while a lousy generator that outputs a poor quality current could cause havoc on your electronic’s internal components.

That’s why we make so many articles about choosing the best generator possible for your specific needs that outputs stable electrical currents, as it could help you from dealing with the frustration of ruining your expensive electronics.

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Surge Protectors

You can never be too sure when it comes to keeping your expensive electronics safe. That’s why we recommend that, on top of getting a reliable generator, you use a surge protector hooked to the generator.

A surge protector will keep your devices safe by absorbing excess electricity and channeling it away from them. This can help you prevent the frustration of seeing your costly devices entirely destroyed when an unexpected power surge occurs.

But, what’s the best surge protector? We recommend the following one:

POWSAF Surge Protector 50 amp

This surge protector from POWSAF is of my liking as, through its technology, it offers 4100 joules of surge protection, which is more than enough to protect your most expensive electronics during a power surge.

On top of that, it’s weather resistant, making it perfect for outdoor scenarios (i.e. camping) and substantially more durable than the competition.

To allow you to get more information about the quality of the electrical current, this surge protector has a led screen that shows a pretty good diagnostic on current electrical issues.

Last but not least, it has an ergonomic handle with contoured grips which makes the action of plugging and unplugging devices pretty convenient.

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Power Overload Protection

As previously discussed, a generator could damage sensitive components or shorten their lifespan.

One way through which it could do it is by the so-feared power overload.

To generate electricity, a generator uses an engine that turns a series of magnets inside a wire coil. When too much electrical current is passed through the coil, the magnets overheat, causing current instability and putting your electronics at risk, this is what most people call a power overload.

That’s why it’s important to make sure your generator has proper power overload protection, as it could save your most expensive devices.

How can you know if a generator has overload protection?

When promoting the generator, the producer should make it explicit in the features. If you can’t find it, it’s possible that the generator you’re considering doesn’t have power overload protection.

Read More:

• What Happens When You Overload a Generator?
• Generator Running Watts vs Starting Watts

Conclusion

So… are generators safe for electronics?

They most definitely are, but you must ensure that they are manufactured with particular features, such as the previously mentioned overload protection. They should also be made by reputable brands with a significant presence in the generator business (i.e. Generac or Honda) which offer a nice warranty.

And, to reduce the odds of your devices being destroyed by a power surge even further, you should get a power surge protector that will absorb any current that could harm your devices.

The Best Portable Generator Safe for Electronics

WEN 56380i Super Quiet 3800-Watt RV-Ready Portable Inverter Generator

Features

• Wattage: 3800 surge watts and 3400 rated watts
• Runtime: 8.5 hours at a half load
• Fuel: Gasoline

This generator comes with a 212cc 4-stroke OHV engine that outputs 3800 surge watts and 3400 rated watts to power all of your devices, all while delivering a clean stream of electricity that protects your devices from being ruined.

To make its operation even safer, it has the so-called power overload protection, which makes sure that both the generator and the electronics remain protected when there’s something wrong with the electrical current.

Although some people like to complain about it being a bit too loud, it does come with very convenient features to compensate, such as its low oil and low fuel automatic shutdown which makes sure to turn off the generator before it breaks.

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