ALMOST EVERYTHING WE OWN TODAY-SMARTPHONES, laptops, TVs, air purifiers, refrigerators, gaming consoles, and even electric vehicles-requires power. Losing power can be a minor annoyance or a dire situation that threatens your safety or even your life.
Extreme weather events, which have become more frequent, can disrupt power systems and cause outages that last for hours or drag on for days. Not only can a loss of power keep you in the dark, but it can affect a whole litany of things like stopping your refrigerator, disabling your basement's sump pump, interrupting use of a medical device, or even stranding you if you drive an electric car.
But the solution is simple: A generator or portable power station can ensure you always have power where you are. Whether that means at home, camping, or living off the grid, one of these devices gives you the ability to charge your gadgets or power your appliances and equipment no matter the conditions.
A generator can be a great investment for all these reasons, and best of all, you don't have to commit to a big unit sitting fixed in your backyard if you don't want to; there are portable models that you can deploy when needed and bring with you for camping and cookouts.
Before running out to buy a generator, it's important to think about how and where you're going to use it. There are several types of generators to consider: standby, portable, and inverter. Each requires a certain type of fuel, and some work with more than one.
Generators typically run on gasoline, but some dual-fuel models can run on gas or propane. There are even tri-fuel models capable of running on gasoline, propane, or natural gas. Additionally, there are portable power stations-different from portable generators since they use a battery bank-that are easy to take on the go. These are ready to run your power tools, charge electronics, or even keep appliances going when the power's out at home.
Esta historia es de la edición September - October 2022 de Popular Mechanics US.
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Esta historia es de la edición September - October 2022 de Popular Mechanics US.
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