What Is a Portable Generator?

A gasoline-, propane-, or diesel-fueled generator that is not permanently installed — it must be manually set up, fueled, and started when a power outage occurs, and is typically connected to specific appliances via extension cords or, with a manual transfer switch, to a subset of your home's circuits. Portable generators are generally lower-cost than standby systems but require active management during every outage and must always be run outdoors due to carbon monoxide risk.