COMPARISON OF PORTABLE AND STATIONARY GENERATORS FOR HOME STANDBY USE

is is a comparison of a 5,000 and 10,000 watt portable generator compared to a 12,000 watt Onan Residential Standby generator. We used our experience and costs based on Santa Rosa, CA. Not all areas of the country will be the same or have the same conditions.
Cost is only one factor. Carefully consider the safety, security, setup and storage issues shown on the chart. Please read the summary at the end of this chart too! Whether you agree or now we want you to be informed. No matter what you decide to purchase we would like to have your order.

We have residential generators from 8,000 watts (8 kW) to 45,000 watts (45 kW), in propane, natural gas and diesel. We have portable generators from 1,000 watts (1 kW) to 15,000 watts (15 kW) in gasoline, diesel, propane and natural gas. The majority of portable generators are gasoline powered.

We will be offering portable kits which include a generator, transfer switch, cord and outlet box for one low price. To see our kits click Portable Kits. COMING SOON!

If you are considering a portable for an RV use, see our chart at Portable vs RV. For more information about fuels see Generator Fuels.


COMPARISON OF CATEGORIES BETWEEN PORTABLE AND STATIONARY GENERATORS FOR HOME STANDBY USE
Category Typical Portable Stationary Winner
6,000 Watts 12,000 Watts Stationary
Models Portable vs Residential Winco WC6000HE Onan RS12000 Onan RS12000
Time of Need Usually at night, bad weather Must be protected from rain. In protected cabinet. Stationary
Powers % of House 50% 100% Stationary
Largest Single Load Due to plug restrictions 20 Amps 100 Amps Stationary
Remote Control/Start Automatic Preferred No Auto-start Auto-start Standard Stationary
Auto Choking Automatic Preferred No Auto-choke Auto-Choke Standard Stationary
Move In/Out Permanent Desirable Required unless shelter Move not required Stationary
Setup or Connecting Permanent Desirable Required unless shelter Always Connected Stationary
Transfer of Power Automatic Preferred Manual Only Automatic Stationary. Automatic
Unattended Operation Unattended desirable Short Periods Only Runs Unattended Stationary
Operation by Family Desirable Usually difficult Automatic Operation Stationary
Weather Protection Desirable Requires shelter or move out/in Enclosure Standard Stationary
Security Desirable Easy to steal if left out Anchored to ground Stationary
Security During Operation Highly Desirable Must go outside during storm to start and refuel Runs Automatically Stationary
Security Storage Highly Desirable Must keep inside and drain fuel Secure Outside Stationary
Fuel Tank Type Strongest Preferred Usually plastic Usually steel Stationary
Fuel Tank Size Larger better than smaller 4.5 gallons 50-100 gallons Stationary
Run Time per Tank Longer is better at 1/2 load 11.2 hours
at full load 5 hours 200 gallon tank lasts 40 hours Stationary
Refueling Automatic Preferred Every 5-11 hours @ 1/2 load Every 40 hours Stationary
Storage of Fuel Desirable, if safe Fuel cans outside,
not inside In Tank Outside Stationary
Fuel Economy @ Full Load Poor Excellent Stationary
Refueling System Automatic Preferred By hand with cans, stop generator By Fuel Supplier Stationary
Layout Simple is Preferred See Diagrams See Diagrams Stationary
Number of Parts Smallest number preferred 4, generator, switch, outlet, cord 2, generator & switch Stationary
Generator Cost Lower is better than higher $1,918 $4,202 Stationary
Transfer Switch Cost Lower is better than higher Gen-Tran 200600, Manual, $235 Onan Indoor, 100 Amp, Automatic, $670 Portable, Manual
Other Parts Outlet box, cords, plug Gen-Tran $125 Fuel Tank, $200 Stationary
Estimated Install Labor (electrician) Lower is better than higher $500 $900 Stationary
Total Initial Cost Lower is better than higher $2,778.00 $5,972, ($3,194 more) Portable
Cost Per Hour to Run @ 1/2 Load Lower is better than higher 0.53 gallons per hour or $1.50 hr 54 cu.ft/hr,
< $1.00 hour Stationary
Estimated Life Hours Longer is better than shorter 2,000 10,000 Stationary
Years of Life Longer is better than shorter 555 15 Stationary
Cost per year life years Lower is better than higher $574 $398 Stationary
Noise Lower is better than higher 79 db(A) <70 db(A) Stationary
Oil Capacity Larger better than smaller 1 Quart 3 quarts Stationary
Adds to value of home? According to RE appraiser No Yes 50% Minimum Stationary
Need Permit? According to City of Santa Rosa in California No Yes, $25 Portable

Even though the Portable is cheaper overall, by almost double in the 6,000 watt size and only $3,194 more in the 12,000 watt size; you have to ask yourself, is it worth the savings. I reality you only get 50 % of the power off a portable because you can only get the output from one plug which is 1/2 of the generators capacity unless there is a full power plug.

If you, (or your family members if you are out of town, sick or injured), must struggle one time to haul the portable out, plug it in and refuel it in foul weather at night every 4-11 hours, is it worth the difference in savings.

Read the list over a few times and you should conclude that unless you love to get cold and wet, stay up late and play survivor, your better off to have an installed system that is totally automatic.

REMEMBER: Cost is only one factor. Carefully consider the safety, security, setup and storage issues shown on the chart. Please read the summary at the enc of this chart as well. Whether you agree or now we want you to be informed. No matter what you decide to purchase we would like to have your order.

We have residential generators from 8,000 watts (8 kW) to 45,000 watts (45 kW), in propane, natural gas and diesel. We have portable generators from 1,000 watts (1 kW) to 15,000 watts (15 kW) in gasoline, diesel, propane and natural gas. The majority of portable generator are gasoline powered.

We will be offering portable kits which include a generator, transfer switch, cord and outlet box for one low price. To see our kits click Portable Kits. COMING SOON!

If you are considering a portable for an RV use, see our chart at Portable vs RV. For more information about fuels see Generator Fuels.