Road Test – Powertech 2kVA Generator

"Sometimes you just can't find a power point!"

Anticipating some cold nights and hot days on our expedition in search of ‘Our Waddi’, I went in search of a generator that would run our RC Air Conditioner and charge some of our equipment needing 240 volts. Having an electrical/electronic background I didn’t go in blind but was pleasantly surprised at what I found.

The Criteria

1. Price

2. Output to do the Job. The AC is small and only draws around 900W and around twice that on start up. So, I was looking for a machine ‘rated’ at around 2kVA

3. Pure sine wave inverter technology. Many ‘intelligent’ batteries including those in power tools and laptops are very sensitive and will not charge and can even be damaged when connected to a modified sign wave inverter. I learnt this the hard way.

4. Size We, like most are limited in carrying space. Smaller the better.

5. Weight Not wanting to lugg an overweight machine around by hand or in the vehicle, I was looking for something light.

6. Noise Now this was the big one! I discovered you should not take the published spec sheets on face value. More on this below.

Some things still need 240 volts

Fridge and Aircon

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The choices. I was amazed at the range of generators available and the difference in price for similar 2 kVA rated machines.

1. The Cheapies

2. Price – $400 to $600

3. One was pure sine wave most were modified sine wave.

4. Size 0.078cm – 0.115 cm (Big)

5. Weight 27kg – 38kg

6. Powertech 2kVA sine wave

7. Price - $899

8. Pure sine wave inverter

9. 0.053 cm

10. Weight 23kg

11. Expensive models.

12. Price $1800 to $2000

13. Pure sine wave inverter

14. 0.053 to 0.098 cm

15. Weight 21kg - 23kg

Powertech 2kVA Generator

The size and weight of the cheapies made them impractical for my purposes and online reviews and feedback on the smaller ones were very scathing for many models. The specified noise output of the Powertech machine was considerably higher, 91dB(a) v 54dB(a), however the reviews were very good and considering the substantial price difference this was the one I selected.

Noise

On a cold night at base camp at St George we ran the generator to ascertain how long it would take to heat the Van so we had some idea of how much fuel to carry. On site there was also one of the expensive generators so we put them head to head to see how they differed. The two units other than colour we remarkably similar in size weight and shape. We ran both units next to the van and then around 10 metre away behind some bushes. To our surprise the noise levels (tested on 3 different sets of ears) were almost the same despite the major difference in rated dB9(a). From inside the van you could only hear a faint hum of the machine. The Powertech having a slightly sharper sound. For the record we raised the van temperature 15 degrees in 15 minutes and 5 minutes an hour kept it there.

Further along in our travels a fellow camper was running one of the cheapies and I was keen to investigate. I discovered despite the rated dB(a) being lower than the Powertech this one was much louder and bloody obnoxious to other campers around.

This led me to do some research on the rating and it appears ‘noise aint just noise’. There are standards set in certain industries. The experts refer to it as a Complex Maze that needs to be unravelled to the very simple. It's not just dB(a), it's where it's measured from, it’s sound power levels, it’s sound pressure levels, then there’s tone, pitch and frequency. None of which take into account how it sounds to the human ear. The message here is when choosing a generator do not rely just on the specified dB(a).

All up the Powertech 2kVA generator matches all the features of the expensive models at around half the price. This include noise levels despite the discrepancies in specifications. I give it a big tick.

We bought ours from Road Tech Marine at Kawana. These guys really do know their equipment.