Portable Generators have been around for some time which are extremely handy during emergency power outages. Apart from emergency situations, they are also used in construction, RVs, camping, events, parties and many such scenarios.
Traditionally, most portable generators are either gasoline powered or diesel powered. But lately, the Propane (a type of LPG – Liquified Petroleum Gas) powered Portable Generators are also becoming common. To be fair, such Propane Generators are in fact dual fuel type generators i.e., they run on gas as well as propane.
If you want to have a power source during a power cut or just want to power your electric devices in a remote location, then having a propane generator is the best option for you, especially, if you do not have ready access to gas pumps.
The main benefit of Propane Generators is Propane is a clean-burning fuel and doesn’t produce much pollutants (Carbon Monoxide) when compared to burning gasoline. So, you have an environment friendly generator.
But the downside with propane generators is, well, Propane itself. Unlike gas or diesel, which you can easily obtain at gas pumps, propane is often available in tanks. You have to buy these tanks beforehand if you are planning to use it with a generator.
Propane Generators are highly practical even for powering heavy-duty electric appliances. Some of the important specs of a typical propane generator are:
- Power Output: It tells you about the electric power output of a given propane generator that is important to check for your given load. This includes industrial grade options like 12000 watts or consumer-grade options such as 4000 watts power output.
- Engine Capacity: As these generators are powered by a propane / gas engine, checking the engine capacity is quite important. It includes options like 200 CC or 400 CC gas engines and depending on the model that you get, a higher capacity results in better performance.
- Engine Power: You can also check the engine power rating of the engine of a given generator. When compared with each other, a 15 HP gas engine offers better performance than a 10 HP engine in terms of its electric output.
As you can use these propane generators for all kinds of applications, including consumer applications and industrial applications, there are a lot of options out there. And we are here with some of the best propane generators. You can find all of the major features and options of these different propane generators so that you can easily buy the perfect one for you. If you also want to check out a detailed “Buying Guide”, go through this article until the end.
Best Propane Generators List
| Propane Generators | Peak Power Output | Engine Capacity | Warranty | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westinghouse Propane Generator | 12500 watts | 457 CC | 3 year | Check On Amazon |
| Durostar Propane Generator | 10000 watts | 439 CC | 3 year | Check On Amazon |
| Duromax Fuel Propane Generator | 12000 watts | 457 CC | 3 year | Check On Amazon |
| Champion Power Equipment Propane Generator | 4000 watts | 224 CC | 3 year | Check On Amazon |
| Wen Propane Generator | 4750 watts | 224 CC | 2 year | Check On Amazon |
| A-iPower Propane Generator | 12000 watts | 459 CC | 2 year | Check On Amazon |
| All Power America Propane Generator | 12000 watts | 459 CC | --- | Check On Amazon |
7 Best Propane Generators Reviews
1. Westinghouse Propane Generator
Westinghouse is a brand of generators that is mainly known for industrial options that are ideal for heavy-duty usage because of their power rating.
The Westinghouse WGen9500DF is a dual fuel Portable Generator that can be powered using either gas or Propane. It offers one of the highest power output rating in this list.
When powered by gas, it is rated at 12500 watts peak and 9500 watts running. When powered with Propane, it is rated at 11200 watts peak and 8500 watts running. Speaking of the engine, this generator is powered by a 457 cc Westinghouse 4-stroke engine.
Coming to connectivity, there are a ton of receptacles on this generator such as:
- Couple of GFCI 120V 5–20R Standard Household Receptacle
- One Transfer Switch Ready 120V L14-30R
- One RV Ready 120/240V 14–50R
To start the generator, you can either use the push button or a remote key fob (up to a distance of 260 feet). You also get a 3-year warranty with this generator.
Highlights
- Peak power output rating of 11200 watts (with Propane)
- 4-stroke 457 cc engine
- 3-year long warranty
- Comes with various receptacles
- Perfect option for heavy-duty usage
- Comes with easy remote start option
- All receptacles have rubber covers
- Highly powerful engine for high power output
- Quite an expensive propane generator
2. Durostar Propane Generator
DuroStar is a highly popular brand of Portable Generator that makes a wide range of options for different types of users out there with different requirements in terms of power output or fuel type.
The DuroStar DS10000EH is Dual Fuel Portable Generator, which supports both Gasoline and Liquid Propane. This is one of the options out there that offer a great balance between heavy-duty generators and consumer-grade generators. It is able to do this by offering a peak power output of 10000 watts and continuous power of 8000 watts (when run using gas).
You can get this power output with the help of the 439 cc engine, which is rated at 18 HP. Coming to the receptacles, you get:
- Couple of 120V Household style outlets
- One 120V 30A Twist Lock outlet
- One 120/240V 30A Twist Lock outlet
- One 120/240V 50A Heavy Duty outlet
- A voltmeter and a 12V DC charging port (for charging external batteries)
And just like the previous propane generator, this one also comes with a 3-year long warranty for peace of mind. Although the build quality offered by this propane generator is good, the receptacles don’t have any covers. This is important for an RV ready generator like this that is made for outdoor usage.
Highlights
- Peak Power output rating of 10000 watts (when run using gas)
- 18 HP 439 cc engine
- 3-year long warranty
- RV ready generator with various ports
- Offers a balance between industrial and consumer-grade options
- Includes multiple ports for power output to various devices
- Outlets don’t have rubber covers
3. Duromax Fuel Propane Generator
As you can tell by its name, DuroMax is a sub-brand of DuroStar that makes more powerful options that are ideal for industrial usage because of the higher power output.
The DuroMax XP12000EH is a Dual Fuel Portable generator powered by a 4-stroke 457 cc engine, which can run either on gas or propane. It can be another great option as a heavy-duty generator with a peak power output of up to 12000 watts and a continuous power of 9500 watts (when run with gas).
Receptacle panel consists of:
- Couple of 120V / 20A Household style outlets
- One 120V / 30A Twist Lock outlet
- One 120/240V 30A Twist Lock outlet
- One 120/240V 50A Heavy Duty outlet
As you saw with the DuroStar generator, this one also comes with a 3-year long warranty that is always great to have. A great thing about this generator is that it has multiple ports in it that allows you to use it at your home or with an RV.
Best Features:
- Power output rating of 12000 watts (with gas)
- 4-stroke 457 CC
- 3-year long warranty
- Approved in 50 states for safety
- Offers multiple ports for ease of use
- High power output for heavy load devices and appliances
- Long warranty for reliability and durability
- A bit expensive for some users
- No covers for outlets
4. Champion Power Equipment Propane Generator
In comparison with other brands out there, Champion is a much smaller brand of Portable Generator but makes multiple options for users who are on a budget.
Champion’s Dual Fuel Generators can be another great pick if you are looking for a budget offering for simpler usage. The Champion Power Equipment 200914 is an open frame generator with dual fuel technology. It comes with a decent peak power output of 4250 watts and a continuous power of 3500 watts, when powered by gasoline.
The peak power is also same when run on propane but the continuous power is 3150 watts. So, it is not the best for heavy-duty applications. Just like the previous Wen propane generator, this one also comes with a 224 cc engine, which is quite common at this price range.
Although, unlike other budget options out there, this one comes with a 3-year long warranty. In fact, it even offers a great build quality to the user that is always great to have. Even though you have an open frame design, this propane generator is quite silent, thanks to its engine design.
Ports on this generator are:
- One 120V 30A RV style Outlet
- Two 120V 20A Household Outlets
- 12V DC Outlet with dual USB adapter
Highlights
- Peak Power output of 4250 watts (with gas and propane)
- Small 224 cc Engine
- 3-year long warranty
- Offers a silent and quiet engine for peace of mind
- Great option for users on a budget
- Only 120V outputs. No 240V Outputs
- Not the best option for heavy-duty usage
5. Wen Propane Generator
You can find a wide range of affordable appliances and power tool options from WEN apart from its propane generator option that we have mentioned in this article.
The Wen DF475T Dual Fuel Portable Generator is one of the best options out there if you are looking for an affordable model. It is one of the cheapest models because it is made for smaller power loads or for using smaller appliances.
You get a peak power output of 4750 watts and continuous power of 3800 watts with this generator when powered by gasoline. If powered by propane, the peak power is 4350 watts and continuous power is 3500 watts.
This small power output rating is offered by a small 224 cc engine, which is expected at this price range. Although unlike other budget options, this propane generator is CARB compliant, that is always great to have. And as you would expect from any other budget brand, Wen only offers a 2-year long warranty.
Ports include:
- Two 120V 5-20R GFCI outlets
- One 120V / 240V NEMA 30A L14-30R Twist-Lock
- One 12V DC cigarette-lighter-style plug
Highlights
- Peak Power output of 4750 watts (for gas)
- Small 224 cc Engine
- CARB compliant propane generator
- Affordable price tag for users on a budget
- Decent performance for simpler applications
- Electric start option for ease of use
- Not suitable for large power applications
- Only a 2-year long warranty
6. A-iPower Propane Generator
A-iPower has been providing high quality products across America for 30 years. They dual fuel generator is a gas and propane powered machine.
It comes with a powerful 459 cc OVH 4 stroke engine which is powerful enough to cater to your needs. It produces 12,000 starting watts with 9,000 running watts of power when you use gasoline. However, when you use propane gas, it uses 10,800 starting watts with 8,100 running watts.
This generator comes with a run time of 7 hours on 100% load and 9 hours on 50% load. As it comes with electric start capability, you can easily and conveniently turn it on.
Its panel consists of
- Four GFCI 120 V
- One 120V NEMAL 5-30R
- One 120/240V NEMA L-14-30R
- One multifunctional Port USB Ready
Highlights
- 4-stroke engine
- Ideal for both consumer-grade usage
- Comes with various ports for flexibility
- Electric start
- Longer run time
- Low oil alert and low oil automatic shutdown
7. All Power America G12000EGL Propane Generator
All Power America is a reliable brand that is well-known for providing high quality products that include propane generators, water pumps and pressure washers.
The G12000EGL is a dual fuel generator with 459cc OHV air cooled Engine. It is equipped with 8 gallons can gasoline tank. On half load, this propane generator can last for about 10 hours.
Being compact and portable, this generator is a perfect choice for tailgating, camping, mobile homes or as a power back up for homes.
The receptable panel consists of
- 2x AC Duplex 120V Outlet
- 1x 120V/240V Twist-Lock Outlet
- 1x 120V Twist-Lock Outlet
- 1x 120/240V 50A Outlet
This propane generator is EPA certified and Non C. A. R. B. complaint. It automatically shuts down when the oil reaches low level.
Best Features:
- Wide range of applications
- 8 gallons tank capacity
- Easy to use and transport
- Durable
- EPA certified
- Low-oil level shut down
- Electric start
Buying Guide for the Best Propane Generators
If you are planning to buy a portable generator, then we recommend you to invest in dual fuel type generators, which can be powered using either gasoline or propane. These are extremely useful if you want a power source while in a remote area, camping, RV, during emergency power outages etc.
We have selected some of the Best Propane Generators and presented in the list above. Different models mentioned in this list are made for different users and applications. Hence, we have mentioned all of the major features and options of the various propane generators mentioned in this article.
These can be quite handy to understand the differences between these models and choose the best one for you. Although, some of you might be still confused while buying the perfect propane generator. Therefore, we are here with a detailed buying guide related to the best propane generator out there. As a result, you can easily find the perfect propane generator after going through the following points one by one:
1. Power Output
One of the most important things to check while buying a given propane generator is to ensure that it is optimum for your given requirements. While some of you might want a generator for consumer-grade applications, others might be looking for one for industrial usage. The major difference between such models is their power output rating that is given watts.
It includes options like 4000 watts or 12000 watts depending on the model that you buy. As you would expect, the higher power output rating of 12000 watts is more ideal for industrial usage. On the other hand, a 4000-watt propane gas generator is more ideal for using at your home whenever you have a power cut.
2. Engine Capacity
Just per its name, these propane generators are powered by a gas engine for their functioning. The gas engine is responsible for powering dynamo of the generator that is responsible for generating all of the required electricity. And just like the gas engine of a vehicle, this engine capacity is given in CC.
You can find options like 200 CC or 400 CC gas engines in different propane generators available out there. Out of these two options, the higher 400 CC engine capacity rating offers better performance to the user. Although, you can also expect higher fuel consumption with such higher engine capacity ratings.
3. Engine Power
Another way to get an idea of a propane generator is to check its engine power rating. Just like a typical gas engine, this power rating tells you about its performance. And since these generators are powered by a gas engine, checking this rating is highly important. While some of them come with an engine power rating of 10 HP, more powerful options might even have an engine power rating of 18 HP. As you would expect, the higher engine power rating is more ideal for industrial usage. But, just like engine capacity, a higher engine power rating results in higher fuel consumption, which is something that you should keep in your mind.
4. Output Ports / Receptacles
If you are using a propane generator away from your home, the chances are that you are going to connect multiple electric appliances with it. This is simply due to the reason that you might be using multiple devices at once. Although to make this possible, you will need to have multiple ports in your given propane generator for connecting various appliances at the same time.
As a result, a lot of the generator models out there come with different output ports like standard household ports, transfer switches, RV ports, USB ports, and various others. Generally, any generator that has multiple ports is considered to be a highly practical and a better option overall.
5. Warranty and Reliability
There are a lot of moving parts in any given propane electricity generator. This includes things like the gas engine, the dynamo, and various other gearing parts. You can even find electronic components in a given platform generator that are quite important for proper electricity generation.
Although, if you use your generator quite a lot, all of these different parts can face a lot of wear and tear over time. Due to this, most of these come with a 2 year or a 3-year long warranty for peace of mind.
Conclusion
A propane generator allows you to generate electricity using propane gas that makes them highly practical for remote usage. You can even use these generators for heavy-duty and industrial usage if needed. Thus, we are here with the best propane generators in this article, along with their major features and options.
If that is not enough for you, you can even find a detailed buying guide in this article. This buying guide will take you through the various things related to propane generators that you should know before buying one. Although, if you are still confused, then you can consider going with one of the following recommendations:
- The Westinghouse propane generator is the most powerful option present in this article. It comes with a highly powerful 457 cc engine, which can be powered using gas or propane. It is also able to generate a peak power output of up to 12000 watts that is more than enough for most users.
- If you are on a budget, then you can go with the Duromax Fuel Propane Generator. Despite being the cheapest option in this article, it comes with a decently powerful 457 cc engine. It can offer up to 12000 watts of electric output that is quite great.
- You should also consider the DuroStar propane gas generator as it offers a great value for money. While it has a justified price tag, its 10000-watt peak power output rating is ideal for both industrial grade as well as consumer-grade usage thanks to its 440 CC gas engine.
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