Hurricanes, winter storms, and persistent flooding throughout the year in many parts of the U.S. bring their own headaches, including power outages. Keeping the lights on, medical equipment running, wireless connections active and other necessities powered are an important part of the modern, everyday routine—and that means having the right portable generator ready. According to experts at Honda Power Sports & Products, which produces some of the quietest, most dependable generators for work, home and play—gas-powered models ranging from 1,000 watts to 10,000 watts—getting the most from a portable generator requires some simple planning.
A portable generator might not replace all of the electricity provided by the public utility, but it can make life more comfortable and keep critical applications running until power is restored. That's why information, safe operation and knowing your needs and budget are essential. Since generators have a broad wattage output range, consumers must be able to estimate electrical requirements and emergency needs—determining priorities for the systems, lighting, appliances and devices that must receive power during an outage. For example, freezers operate on about 500 watts but require as much as 1,200 watts to start and cycle on; a computer draws 80 to 300 watts. So, it could take a 2,800-watt generator to run a refrigerator, small fan, minimal lighting, a computer, TV, and phone chargers.
To help consumers understand the power needs of their systems, Honda offers a handy wattage calculator at http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/wattage-calculator. The calculator shows the wattage requirements of typical appliances and devices, helping users match their wattage needs against a generator's output.
GENERATOR SAFETY
There are many benefits to using a portable generator, especially during a power outage, and there are vital safety precautions to observe during operation. As a member of the Portable Generator Manufacturers' Association (PGMA), Honda advocates safety for everyone when it comes to the operation of all power products. The PGMA seeks to develop and influence safety and performance standards for the portable generator industry and its products.
Most important, because a gasoline-powered generator emits carbon monoxide (CO) during normal operation, a generator must be run outside—never indoors or in any partially enclosed space. To prevent overexposure to CO, Honda advises users to understand proper placement and usage of a generator, recognize the warning signs of CO poisoning and be aware of the benefits of a properly installed CO alarm.
During summer 2025, Honda Power Sports & Products, took another important step toward even greater generator safety by equipping its portable generators with an advanced version of its original CO-MINDER™ carbon monoxide (CO) detection and automatic shutoff system. All Honda generators across the Economy, Deluxe, Industrial and Super Quiet Series now integrate CO-MINDER™ enhancements, meaning all models meet ANSI/PGMA G300-2023 safety and performance standards. Honda engineers recalibrated and reprogrammed the CO sensor to automatically shut down a generator immediately when it detects 600 parts per million (PPM) of carbon monoxide at the generator, or if it detects a 10-minute average of 400 parts of CO per million.
The Honda CO-MINDER™ system, designed to help protect users from injury or death from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, continuously measures carbon monoxide levels in the air near the generator and automatically shuts down the unit before detected CO reaches a dangerous level. Honda designed the CO-MINDER™ system to be fast-acting while also reducing nuisance shutdowns from false positives. Slower CO sensing systems must respond to dangers at a lower CO concentration in order to react in time to shut down the generator. Lower, temporary concentrations of CO can occur in certain conditions, such as when a gust of wind blows exhaust back toward the sensor, creating a false positive, a shutdown, and an inconvenience to the user. The Honda CO-MINDER™ is an improvement over those systems.
The Honda CO-MINDER™ carbon monoxide detection system is built with a comprehensive range of safety features. The system is not intended to be overridden or tampered with, and the sensors are designed to work even if they are accidentally blocked. The sensors, with the widest temperature operating range of any existing CO monitors for generators, match the design running temperatures of Honda generators. Both moisture and dust resistant, the sensors are designed for years of use. Further, the generator sensor system automatically tests itself and is equipped with a built-in warning, alerting the user to replace the sensors prior to end of life.
Rounding out best safety practices, Honda reminds users that portable generators should never be plugged into a standard outlet. A safe connection for home backup starts with a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. The switch cuts off the utility power while the generator operates, and powers only selected circuits. When utility power is restored, the generator and transfer switch are disconnected so that power is not fed back to the utility power source (thereby preventing injury to a utility worker).
CHOOSING THE BEST GENERATOR FOR THE JOB
The Honda generator line offers variable wattages and other innovative features, including inverter technology that provides clean, stable power, protecting against damaging power surges; large fuel tanks; full frame protection; and electric starters. There are a number of important things to consider and questions to ask when selecting a generator.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO USE YOUR GENERATOR?
Generators are used to perform a wide variety of tasks, and Honda offers a broad range of models to suit almost all potential users. Honda generators provide a high-quality power source that is reliable and convenient for a myriad of applications:
- Camping / Recreation / Boating
- Home Backup
- Construction / Rental
HOW QUIET DOES YOUR GENERATOR NEED TO BE?
Honda generators are known for quiet operation. Honda has engineered exceptionally quiet-running, portable models, and offers options that may meet your needs at a lower cost. While outdoor enthusiasts may require a Honda Super Quiet EU Series choice, home backup and construction applications could be satisfied with a Honda Deluxe or Honda Industrial Series model, and some applications will allow for the Honda Economy Series that do not have the additional features required to provide quiet operation.
IS ELECTRIC START REQUIRED?
Honda engines are renowned for the ease of starting, even when only equipped with a manual recoil starter. Honda offers many models with the convenience of electric start for applications that may require remote start or where the ease of electric start is preferred.
DO YOU REQUIRE EASY TRANSPORT?
While all Honda Generators are portable by definition, many models include standard wheel kits for easy movement of the generator from storage to where the unit will be used. Consider the options when selecting the right model for your application.
WHAT ABOUT CONVENIENCE FEATURES FOR OPERATION SUCH AS BLUETOOTH?
There's always room for convenience. Honda Power Sports & Products launched its exclusive Honda My Generator Bluetooth® App during the exceptionally active 2020 hurricane season. The app, available on a number of Honda generator models, operates within a 75-foot line of sight, allowing the user to start (electric start models only) and stop the generator; monitor a range of information, such as output power, engine operating hours, oil life, (fuel level EU7000iS only), estimated run times based on power usage; as well as receive warnings and routine maintenance reminders. The Honda My Generator Bluetooth® App also allows the user to control multiple, compatible Honda generators from a single mobile device.
HOW MUCH POWER DO YOU NEED?
Generators produce the same AC voltage available in your home. However, while your electric utility company produces sufficient power for all your electric powered devices, a portable generator is limited in power output based on the engine horsepower. The amount of power that a generator can produce is rated in watts. Rated power is generally 90 percent of maximum power because certain components lose efficiency as they are heated from use. To determine wattage requirements, select which devices need to be powered simultaneously and the starting requirement of each device. Remember that with simple power management techniques, a small generator can provide adequate power for home or recreational applications.
MAXIMUM and RATED POWER
A generator should never be operated at its maximum power output for more than 30 minutes. Rated power, or the power that a generator can produce for long periods of time, is a more reliable measure of generator power. Typically, the rated power is 90 percent of the maximum power.
For example, a 2,800-watt generator produces a maximum 2,800 watts of power. This means at maximum power this generator could light up 28 100-watt light bulbs at the same time. The rated wattage of this generator would be 2,500 watts and should only be used to power 25 100-watt light bulbs. When considering your power needs, first determine the highest power application required, such as an air conditioner. The power required to start the capacitor motor will determine the maximum power of the generator you should choose for your application.
More information, including wattage calculators, is available at http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/wattage-calculator.
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About Honda Power Sports & Products
Honda Power Sports & Products, a business unit of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., markets a complete range of outdoor power equipment, including outboard marine engines, general purpose engines, generators, walk-behind lawn mowers, pumps, snow blowers, tillers and trimmers for commercial, rental and residential applications.
Lightweight, compact gas-powered Honda generators for commercial and consumer applications produce between 1,000 and 10,000 watts of power, providing smooth, dependable power for recreation, construction, rental, home back-up, computers, appliances and emergency use. All Honda generators are powered by advanced Honda 4-stroke engines and incorporate technology that make Honda generators among the world's quietest. Honda generators for typical residential use average 64-73 decibels dB(a) with the Super Quiet Series operating at noise levels as low as 49 decibels—roughly the noise level in a private office. These models also carry the Honda industry-competitive, commercial use three-year warranty.
Take it outside! As the only safe place to operate a portable generator, taking it outside is absolutely mandatory to keep your family safe from carbon monoxide. But there's even more you can do. By educating yourself about all carbon monoxide risks, you'll be better prepared to protect your family from this colorless, odorless threat. The Portable Generator Manufacturers' Association (PGMA) provides a fact sheet and website dedicated to safe portable generator operation, the information can be found at http://www.takeyourgeneratoroutside.com/.
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