6 Cheap Portable Generators Everyone Ignores (But They're Absolute Goldmines)

Honda wants $4,899 for its EU7000iS. Before you pay that, see what $800 to $1,300 actually buys you. Retired master electrician Cal Watts ranks six portable generators most folks walk past: the Predator 3500, Westinghouse iGen5000DFc, Champion 4500 Dual Fuel Inverter, Westinghouse WGen9500DF, Champion 7500 Dual Fuel and DuroMax XP13000EH. You get real running watts, real prices, warranty and recall history, and what each one can actually carry through a multi-day outage. That includes which ones can't start a 240-volt well pump at any wattage. Plus the two safety rules that matter more than any brand: where your generator sits, and why a dryer-outlet cord is the most dangerous shortcut in backup power. Always follow local code, and have a licensed electrician install your interlock or transfer switch.