Coleman Generators

The Coleman series of generators from Powermate comes in a wide range of capability levels, with variation in wattage, size, horsepower, and rate of gas usage. A Coleman generator is a great thing to have for backup for situations when you lose power or it can be the primary power source for a place or building that has no electricity. But with so many different choices, it is important to find the model that best suits your needs.

The permanent generators, called PowerStations, range from ten to thirty-two kilowatts. PowerStations are constantly linked to the power in your home or building so that they can turn themselves on at the first sign of a power outage. They also have automatic shutoff for when the power comes back on, protecting against a generator-induced fire.

Their portable counterparts, which are all designed for easy mobility, are sorted into three divisions based on their size and amount of power they produce. These portable generators tend to have manual start-up and shutoff. The largest portables are in the Contractor Series, which houses seven models ranging from 3,250-17,000 watts, 7-25 horsepower, and all different levels of control options. It should also be noted that, whereas almost all of the Contractor models are approved in forty-nine states, California has only given their approval to model PMC601200.

The next-largest Coleman collection is known as the Home Back-up Series, into which fall thirteen generator models. Home Back-ups are available from 2,300-8,750 watts/5.5-12 Horsepower. They have three to eight-gallon tanks and, while approval of the individual Home Back-up models varies by state, many are legal in all areas except California. In addition, some have also been approved for use in Canada.

There are three smaller generators in the Recreational series, which are best for powering various outdoor events and small individual areas in the home. The Recreationals come in anywhere from 1,100 to 2,250 watts and 3-4 horsepower, with 1.3 to 1.5-gallon gas tanks.

Generators can be installed professionally, or you can choose to install them yourself. Making this choice wisely will depend on the complexity of installing a given model, the conditions of the place where you want it installed, and of course, your expertise and knowledge of electrical work. If in doubt, it's probably best to have a professional install it.

You can find professional installers, safety guidelines, and step-by-step instructions for DIY installation online, although all of these will most likely be available where you purchased your generator as well. It is important to remember that generators cannot be installed inside any enclosed space - or near any opening to a building - as they emit toxic carbon monoxide.

Generators are very useful but they can also be dangerous if used incorrectly or in inappropriate ways. It is important to cut down on risks of fire, electrocution, burning or carbon monoxide poisoning by following appropriate safety procedures and making everyone who lives or works in your building aware of safety around a generator. Choosing a generator with an incorrect power rating for the job will cause it to either waste fuel or run out of it early, and could possibly lead to a fire hazard. You can find the right amount of watts for your new generator by looking around your house at the watts listed on your light bulbs and appliances.

As I said previously, generators pose a certain risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, but this can be avoided by keeping them out of your home and away from any entrance of air to it, as well as by the installation of carbon monoxide alarms. To prevent electric shock or electrocution, never touch the machine when it is wet or plug it into a normal electrical outlet. Always keep children away from the generator and make sure they know not to play with or near it, and putting your generator in a small fenced, gated area with some nice shrubbery around it wouldn't hurt at all either.

To cut down on fire risks from your generator, keep gasoline cans and other fuel in a designated safe area away from the generator. Know whether your generator has automatic shutoff, and even if it does, always make sure that it goes off when your electricity comes back on.

Whether or not you buy your Coleman generator directly from Powermate, Powermate's website contains free instructions, information, product descriptions and recommendations of accessories for Coleman generators. It is also probably the best place to determine what is fair for you to pay.

Coleman generators are available from various home improvement stores, and online at these stores' websites, as well as general shopping websites and generator-specific websites. These include Ace hardware, the official Powermate site. There is a wide range of models, and they vary in price from $300 to upwards of $1,500.

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