Generator Gift Guide: How to Gift the Perfect Generator

Looking for a holiday gift? Why not give the gift of power?

A generator makes for an excellent personalized gift—they can power a campsite, food truck, DIY project, or home when the grid is down or inaccessible, particularly during the cold, winter months.

Do Generators Make Good Gifts?

Why is a generator an excellent choice? There are several reasons:

  • Plug-in power isn’t always available – If your friend is looking for the right size camping generator for their next excursion, runs a food truck, or takes storm preparation seriously, they understand better than anyone that electricity access is a luxury—and a necessity. A generator for RV is a good option in those scenarios. A tailgate generator is also handy at tailgating parties.
  • Power access can change on a dime – Power interruptions are on the rise. For someone working from home or on a home construction project, even an hour of lost work can impact profits or derail schedules. Generators are essential during emergencies and a vital part of any winter storm preparedness plan.
  • A generator is the unique gift idea that keeps on giving – As long as they’re well-maintained, generators can last you years. 

But generators aren’t just useful for backup power at home—they’re also incredibly useful tools for people who:

  • Vacation at primitive campsites
  • Plan or host parties often
  • Run a construction company or a skilled trade business
  • Operate a food truck or a weekly stand at the farmer’s market

Regardless of your recipient’s lifestyle, a generator is simply an excellent resource to have on hand for reliable power access.

How to Give a Generator as a Gift

Let’s break down some important steps in the generator buying process:

#1 Set a Budget

Before you start searching for products, figure out how much you can reasonably spend on a generator. Understanding what size generator the receiver of your gift may need can help determine this.

If you’ve set aside significant savings to purchase a generous gift for someone, money might not be a particularly limiting factor. But, even if money is no object, you might not know what to expect in terms of generator prices.

The cost of a generator generally depends on two major factors:

  1. The maximum wattage that the generator can sustain to determine how much power you need.
  2. The technological features that set new generators apart from their predecessors, like:
    1. Multi fuel capabilities (i.e., the generator can run on more than one fuel type, such as gasoline, propane, or natural gas)
    2. The number of plugs and outlets on the generator itself
    3. Safety features, like built-in carbon monoxide (CO) and overheating detectors
    4. Digital displays, remote start, and other nice-to-have operational features

#2 Estimate the Wattage You’ll Need

Before you start shopping for generators, estimate the amount of power your recipient will need—generators come in a variety of sizes, and wattage generally correlates to price.

While we’ll break down wattage calculation in the following sections, let’s explore the importance of capacity.

Running Watts

Let’s break down wattage calculation.

The first step to determining how much power one might need is estimating the total running wattage. Running wattage is the power your devices continuously use to stay operational after start-up.

While every appliance is different (and you can find the exact wattage requirements for your devices in their user manuals), here are a few examples of running wattages for common products:

Device

Estimated Running Watts

Box fan

50

RV AC unit (13,500 BTU)

700

Refrigerator/Freezer

700

Space heater

1,800

27” TV

500

Computer with a 17” monitor

800

1 HP air compressor

1,400

3” belt sander

1,200

7 ¼” circular saw

1,400

Surge Watts

Devices with motors require a little extra power to get those motors spinning for the first time—this is called surge (or start-up) wattage.

Some motored devices that demand surge wattage are:

  • Air conditioners
  • Refrigerators and freezers
  • Inflator pumps
  • Saws and drills

Each device is unique, but here are some estimated surge wattage needs for the motored items above:

Device Name

Estimated Start-Up Watts

Box fan

100

RV AC unit (13,500 BTU)

1,500

Refrigerator/Freezer

2,200

1 HP air compressor

3,600

3” belt sander

2,400

7 ¼” circular saw

2,300

There are a few key things to note about surge wattage:

  • Unless you’re starting all of the above devices at the same time, you only need to account for the device with the highest surge wattage in your overall calculation.
  • Start-up watts are only required for a few seconds, but even brief overloading can damage your generator or increase your operational risks
  • Starting with your highest-surge wattage device first and slowly incorporating other devices can help prevent overloading

Calculating Total Wattage

The formula you should use for calculating your wattage is:

Total running watts + highest starting watts = minimum generator wattage needed

Let’s return to our example tables above to calculate three hypothetical scenarios:

Camping/RVing

Device

Running Watts

Starting Watts

Box fan

50

100

RV AC unit (13,500 BTU)

700

1,500

Refrigerator/Freezer

700

2,200

27” TV

500

0

 

Total Running Watts

Highest Suge Watts

1,950

2,200

Estimated Generator Wattage Minimum

4,150

Home backup

Device

Running Watts

Starting Watts

Box fan

50

100

Refrigerator/Freezer

700

2,200

Computer with a 17” monitor

800

0

27” TV

500

0

 

Total Running Watts

Highest Suge Watts

1,450

2,200

Estimated Generator Wattage Minimum

3,650

Job Site

Device

Running Watts

Starting Watts

Box fan

50

100

1 HP air compressor

1,400

3,600

3” belt sander

1,200

2,400

7 ¼” circular saw

1,400

2,300

 

Total Running Watts

Highest Suge Watts

4,050

3,600

Estimated Generator Wattage Minimum

7,650

#3 Choose a Fuel Type

While some generators only run on one type of fuel, others can accommodate multiple fuel varieties, including:

  • Gasoline
  • Propane
  • Natural Gas

While the most versatile generators run on all three of these, a Dual Fuel or Tri Fuel  generator can increase your costs. Consider the pros and cons of each fuel type before making a decision:

  • Traditional gasoline is easily accessible, but it expires—and it can get expensive
  • Propane can be stored for a long time, but can use significant storage space
  • Natural gas is inexpensive and reliable, but you’ll have to connect your generator to a gas line (natural gas generators are best for home backup applications)

#4 Compare Generators and Choose the Best Product

As you prepare to make a purchase, gather a few products that meet your standards, such as:

  • They’re within your budget (if you have one)
  • They can accommodate the minimum power your gift recipient will need
  • They use your ideal fuel type or multiple types
  • They’re covered by manufacturer and/or parts warranties

Once you’ve collected a few options, choose the product that comes the closest to meeting every need on your list.

But, if you’re stumped by the comparison process, don’t be afraid to reach out to a generator expert for purchasing advice.

Gifts for Generator Owners

Gift guides might recommend a generator, but what do you do if the recipient already owns a generator?

Consider supporting their backup and maintenance supplies by giving them:

  • A portable rain shelter for their generator (like a pop-up canopy)
    • Your shelter should protect your generator from the rain without enclosing it
  • Extra engine oil, fuel filters, and air filters (which need to be replaced periodically)
  • Replacement spark plugs
  • Funnels (washable or disposable)
  • Cleaning and safety supplies, like:
    • A mechanic’s apron or coveralls
    • Protective goggles
    • Cloth gloves or a box of disposable ones

Just because someone already has a generator doesn’t mean you can’t give them the thoughtful gift of reliable power access—generator repair and maintenance supplies make excellent gifts, too.

Find the Perfect Generator at DuroMax

While you might find one listed in a gift guide, generators are excellent tools for anyone—they’re the gift that keeps on giving for decades to come.

When you’re ready to shop for generators for a loved one (or yourself), head over to DuroMax. We’re committed to excellence in everything we do, and we stand by the quality, reliability, and durability of all our portable power products.



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