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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

Hurricane evacuation route sign on highway

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. 

Pressure Washing 101 for Spring Cleanup Success

May 24, 2022

Grime, pollen, mold, mildew, and dirt have been busy accumulating over the winter. Why hire someone to clean things up for you when you can do it yourself? 

Using your own pressure washer is cost-effective, efficient, and satisfying! Here’s what you need to know so you can be confident your spring cleanup projects will be a success. 

Hot or Cold 

You can buy a hot water pressure washer or a cold water pressure washer. 

The hot water variety is especially good for cleaning up any kind of grease or oil, plus hot water kills germs, mold, and bacteria. The hot water allows you to use less detergent and you’ll also have a shorter drying time. Hot water pressure washers are typically much more expensive than cold water pressure washers. If a pressure washer is not explicitly labeled as “hot” it’s generally safe to assume it’s a cold water unit. The vast majority of pressure washers available at retail are cold water.

Cold water pressure washers are less costly than the hot variety and are the machine of choice for most homeowners. They are a popular solution for cleaning up your home’s exterior,  driveway, sidewalk, patio, or deck.  

Do I really need a pressure washer? 

When springtime arrives, most people notice how dingy or dirty their home looks. Winter weather tends to leave dirt and debris behind, but warmer weather’s arrival means it’s time to clean things up. 

Whether your home’s exterior is brick, stucco, or vinyl, a pressure washer and a little time on the weekend is all it takes to brighten up your home and give it a fresh appearance for spring. Your sidewalk, driveway, patio, or deck may also need a spring cleaning. Unless you enjoy using a scrub brush and a bucket, you’ll love how a pressure washer will make your outdoor cleaning a lot easier.  You might also want to clean up your patio furniture, your vehicle, or your boat. 

Pressure washing saves your back. When you are washing your deck, you don’t have to be on your hands and knees scrubbing away stubborn stains. Stand upright and let the water do the work for you. 

Pressure washing saves time. You can have all the outdoor areas of your home fresh and clean in the amount of time it would take you to do one area by hand. You also don’t have to drag out lots of extra stuff like buckets, cleaning solutions to mix, sponges, and ladders. Speaking of ladders, using a pressure washer means no more dangerous climbing. Just point your pressure washer up and spray away that hard-to-reach mildew on your house. 

Pressure washing saves money. Did you know that using a pressure washer instead of a garden hose saves water? The high pressure creates more cleaning power with less water so you’ll use less water and save on your water bill. 

Pressure washing keeps your family safe. You’ll blast away contaminants and harmful mold so your family can breathe easier. When you clean slippery algae off horizontal surfaces, you’re preventing dangerous slips or falls. 

Pressure washing boosts curb appeal and helps maintain the value of your home. Improving the condition of your driveway and sidewalks and spraying away unattractive mildew will make your home more attractive so it stands out whether you’re selling your home or not. 

Which detergents should I use? 

First, you don’t have to use detergents with your pressure washer, but sometimes it might be necessary. 

Before you clean, read up on the safest way to clean each surface.  

If you want to use your pressure washer for lots of different projects, you should consider a multi-purpose detergent so you can use it on your house, deck, vehicle, or driveway. Also, using one detergent for most of your projects is more cost-effective than buying different specialty detergents for each item you want to clean.

On the other hand, you might get better results from a detergent created specifically for the job you have in mind. You might choose a detergent specifically formulated for removing stains on stucco, or for destroying mold and mildew on brick. If you’re washing a boat or a car, you should read your owner’s manual in case you should use a recommended type of detergent. If you’re about to clean all the concrete, you might want to grab a detergent created to get the job done right. 

If eco-friendly products are important to you, you’re already familiar with reading labels. Choosing the right detergent also means you need to read the label and make sure the detergent you choose is biodegradable and the ingredients are environmentally friendly. You’ll also want to check the toxicity levels of the product to make sure it won’t cause harm to people, animals, or plants.

Outdoor Cleaning Simplified

Simplify all your outdoor cleaning projects with pressure washing and be confident your spring cleanup projects will be a success.