Portable generators

Now is the ideal time to invest in portable power, as the cost of generators continues to fall. Around £70 will get you a unit with the same kind of electrical muscle as plugging into the mains. This can transform working in a lock-up or remote workshop, thanks to the potential for lights, power tools and heaters.

There's a choice of two or four-stroke units with a range of power outputs, plus less weighty, more compact inverters. So, which will be the light of your life? We fired up eight to find out.

The test

It's not only about how much electricity each generator delivers, but the way this is supplied, as sharp spikes of power can damage sensitive electronic kit. To check this, we used a range of heaters and lights to take each unit up to its limit, and monitored the current.

We also checked how each device coped with a sudden spike of power needed for a drill. Ease of starting, checking and changing the oil, noise, running times between fill-ups and types of output were also considered.

Verdict

Wolf's 2300 from mail order specialist Screwfix Direct has a winning combination of price, output and performance, and secures the Best Buy. The unit's baby brother, the 950, is close on its heels, as it provides solid performance for a comparatively throwaway price. SIP's Medusa T1000 is the best all-rounder in the 900-1,000-watt category. It's far cheaper than the SDMO and Stephill units, but outperforms Wolf's similar 1200.

1 Wolf 2300
2 Wolf 950
3 SIP Medusa T1000