If you’ve ever gone through a power outage with a conventional generator running nearby, you probably prayed that the situation gets back to normal. Generators can be such an annoyance that you wonder if the benefit powering up your computer or TV is worth it. You can be creative in how you keep generators out of hearing range, but that will cost in terms in ways that makes you wonder if it’s all that necessary. Locating it outside the house risks being stolen, apart from having to spend on long power cables. And for condo, apartment, townhouse and city dwellers, that may not be an option at all.
A Most Sensible Invention
Generator noise can’t often be helped unless someone invents a quieter piston motor to drive their AC currents. For so long, those engines are exposed without any means to absorb or cancel the noise. They are basically air-cooled engines and won’t like it any other way.
But it’s now a real blessing to have those inverter using suitcase generators making their way to our homes. Their neat plastic molded housing works to seal out much of the noise inherent in the 2-4 horsepower 4-stoke engines virtually all of generators use. Quiet doesn’t mean silent. They still generate noise, but on a scale of acceptability, they’re about 3, with 0 being totally silent and 6 your typical generator noise.
When Quiet is Everything
During a power outage, those relatively quiet suitcase generators are most welcome when:
- You live in a small motor home and any kind of noise is driving you nuts. Even if you locate the generator outside, the noise can be annoying when you need to focus on some computer work or enjoy music listening.
- Your baby’s room is near the shed housing the generator and can’t get to sleep.
- Your kids decide to camp out in our backyard across the neighbor who dislikes any noise whatsoever. And they decide to watch TV right there.
- You’re like to go camping often with the TV or need to recharge your cellphones and mp3 players.
- You like to host parties outside where there are no outlets and you can’t have long cables snaking around to trip your guests.
- You’re in front of your computer during a power outage and can’t focus with all that generator noise.
- Your bedroom is just above where it’s installed can you can’t sleep. A set of ear muffs could come in handy here.
Typical suitcase generators weigh about 25kg to 30kg, light enough for even a woman to lug around in short distances or brought with you in camping, boating and caravanning trips. They can’t support as many appliances powered simultaneously, but can take in a TV, computer and printer anytime with an ample 2-3 kilowatts of power. Versatile enough to be a vital accessory, every home should have one, these small suitcase generators can be your ticket to a seamless uninterrupted lifestyle that won’t get distressed with a few minutes or hours of electric power outage.