Blackouts happen, and generators can make them a lot less awful. But what kind of generator do you need, and how powerful does it have to be? Here’s how to tell.

These editor-tested models are ideal for camping, tailgating, or powering tools when you’re too far from an outlet.

Introduction: When sudden outages hit because of wild weather, an old power grid, or soaring electricity use, most homeowners feel the stress. Maybe it’s time to swap the noisy, fussy gas generator ...

Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. When the power goes out, a generator is the ...

Cost, sizing, and ROI explained.

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more When winter storms knock out the power, they rarely give much warning — and suddenly, everyday essentials ...

When Hurricane Katrina hit back in 2005, I was trapped in New Orleans for days without power. That lesson taught me to always have a backup plan because you never know when you will find yourself in a ...

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The power just went out—again. As you dig around for candles and wonder whether your laptop is fully ...

The best practice is to plug appliances and electronics directly into the generator. If you must use an extension cord, make ...

More people want a backup, portable generator to have on hand for emergency situations. An alternative source of power can help a household stay put when faraway wildfire or smoke has caused high ...

Brian Cooley is CNET's Editor at large and has been with the brand since 1995. He currently focuses on electrification of vehicles but also follows the big trends in smart home, digital healthcare, 5G ...

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that most solar systems stop working during an outage — even on sunny days. That’s why many people add a backup generator (or solar batteries) to make sure their ...