News & Updates

Why Camping and Inverters Are a Perfect Match

July 1, 2022

Going camping for vacation? You’re not alone. According to Kampgrounds of America (KOA), 57 million households headed to the great outdoors last year, with 80% of all leisure travelers choosing some form of camping or glamping for some of their trips.* 

Whether you’re a seasoned camping enthusiast or ready to try something new, you need to decide on a power source. 

If you’re planning to add a standard portable generator to your camping gear, consider an inverter generator instead. Here’s why. 

Inverters are Quiet, Save on Fuel, and Reduce Emissions

Ask people why they’re choosing to camp and most will say something about peace and quiet. What they’re envisioning usually doesn’t involve a loud generator.Inverters are quieter than traditional generators because they’re fully enclosed which means you won’t disturb others around you when you want to power up your coffee maker.

Campgrounds and parks have noise ordinances for many reasons, and it’s wise to make sure the generator you purchase will stay well within the boundaries of what’s allowed. Just like those around you, you’re probably camping to enjoy the wildlife, not scare it all away.

The noise level of an inverter depends on what’s connected to it. It senses how much power is needed and makes adjustments. This lowers the noise level, saves big on fuel, and reduces emissions. An inverter’s variable speed can also extend your run time and the life of your engine. 

Inverters Produce Clean Power

Clean power is defined as 3% or less THD (Total Harmonic Distortion). The THD level of some traditional portable generators can be as high as 9% which makes them less than ideal for powering many electronics. The THD of inverters is usually below 3%, many times as low as 1%. 

The clean, smooth, steady flow of power produced by an inverter is ideal for electronics that use a microprocessor. Inverters produce some of the cleanest power around, meaning you don’t have to think twice about using one to power up your sensitive electronics. 

Inverters Are Easy to Transport and Easy to Connect

For outdoor activities when you’re camping, you need a power source that’s lightweight and easy to transport from one place to another. An inverter’s fuel tank and other components are smaller, making them much lighter and more portable than traditional generators. 

If you want to use an inverter but need additional power, some inverters can be paralleled with another one to increase or even double your output. Many people really love the flexibility of Champion’s ultra-lightweight inverters that are parallel-ready. If you buy a parallel kit, you can use it to easily connect two compatible inverters together when you have greater power needs. 

Inverter Selection Made Simple 

Whether you’re glamping in your RV with a TV, gaming console, and air conditioning or roughing it in a tent, you need to think about what items require power and whether or not you’ll be using several of them at the same time. Champion has a handy Generator Selector that makes it easy to think through your power requirements so you can see which generators will be the best fit for your needs. 

Inverters are available with many other special features, such as electric push-button start, wireless remote start, economy mode, USB outlets, surge protector, and much more.   

Whether you plan to camp for an extended season, take a week or two with the family, or enjoy a quick weekend getaway, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ve chosen a power source that’s the best fit for your needs.  

For lightweight, portable power on the go, grab an inverter and take it with you on your next camping trip.

 *Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/camping-hits-new-record-with-57-million-households-flocking-to-the-outdoors-in-2021-301531301.html#:~:text=About%20seven%20million%20leisure%20traveler%20households%20will%20try%20camping%20in%202022.

6 Things Hurricane Survivors Want You to Know

June 1, 2022

People who experience hurricanes have one thing in common. If they could go back in time, they would have been more prepared. Most of us subconsciously assume that our lives won’t ever really be disrupted by the weather. This makes it easier to put hurricane preparedness at the bottom of our to-do list. 

Most of you reading this probably won’t have your life disrupted by a hurricane. But wouldn’t it be worth it to go ahead and prepare anyway just in case? Get ready now and your future self, your family, and your home will thank you. 

Here are 6 items hurricane survivors recommend you take care of right away.  

• Evacuation Plan: Know the recommended evacuation route, and keep your gas tank full. 
• Supplies: Keep bottled water and other supplies on hand.
• Hurricane Kit: Include a first-aid kit, medications, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, batteries, whistle, and local maps.
• Copy Important Documents: Back up your computer, and keep copies of important documents in a safety deposit box. 
• Prepare Your Home: Secure or store outdoor items, and make sure your roof and shingles are in good shape to withstand strong winds.
• Back Up Your Power: Determine what type of generator you need in case of a power outage. 

Hurricanes mean power outages. If conditions are unsafe, you and your family may need to remain at home. You depend on your refrigerator, electric stove, lights, and A/C. What if they can’t be used? Communication is vital during a hurricane power outage, and if you can’t charge your phone, use your computer, or tune in to the local news, you’ll be cut off from communication.

If you lose the ability to cool your home during the summer months, the heat can make your home unbearable, and continual high temperatures and humidity can damage your home’s interior. Losing power to your refrigerator means your food will go bad and replacing it can be incredibly expensive.

Hurricane power outage readiness should include the purchase of a generator. Owning a reliable generator ensures peace of mind during a power outage caused by a hurricane.

There are two main types of generators for hurricanes: portable and home standby. 

A portable generator is a convenient solution if you only want to back up a few essentials. Portable generators come in different sizes, they run on either gasoline or propane, and they don’t need to be installed. If you haven’t looked at generators in a while, you’ll find lots of new technology and features designed to make your life easier. One example is Carburetor Free® electronic fuel injection technology, which helps conserve fuel and simplify long-term storage. Portable generators also include a variety of convenient features like wireless remote start so you can start and stop your generator from up to 80 feet.

If you’d like to power more than just the essentials, or even your whole home, you may want to have a standby generator installed. Standbys never need refueling since they are connected to your propane or natural gas system. Your home standby generator starts automatically when the power goes out and returns to standby when power is restored, ensuring security and convenience for your family during a hurricane power outage.

Hurricane season is upon us, so post your to-do list in a prominent place, and don’t forget to invest in a safe source of backup power. Following recommendations from hurricane survivors and making preparations ahead of time will give you and your family peace of mind so you can relax and enjoy your summer.