Review of the PowerSmart PS50A Generator

Should You Buy It?

If you are in the market for a small and lightweight portable generator this inverter could be one of your top options. Owners generally rate it highly especially if it was their first step into the portable generator world.

Alternatives

Many owners regard the PowerSmart PS50A as an excellent portable generator though there are some other options that, unlike this model, have inverter technology you might want to consider especially if you plan on using it with sensitive electronics.

Key Points about the PowerSmart PS50A

Overview of the Generator 

Most of the smaller generators of this size are inverters whereas this one is not. Nevertheless, it's aimed at the occasional camper and people who just need a very limited amount of independent power. Bear in mind, however, that the power output will not be as clean as that of an inverter.

The P50 is a very basic portable generator and few should find difficulty in using it out of the box other than some possible difficulty in starting, as mentioned below.

The engine in this unit is a 2-Stroke variant with a displacement of 71cc. Although it claims 1200W on the face of the generator, this is its starting (surge) power. For continuous use, it outputs 1000W. As this is a 2-Stroke engine it runs on a mixture of gas and oil in a 50:1 ratio, meaning there is no separate oil sump.

The generator has a small 1.1 gallon fuel tank which at a 50% load will allow you to operate it for up to 5 hours. It is certified as being both EPA and CARB compliant so if you live in California you will as of now be able to operate this generator.

There is no electric start option on the generator and some owners have found it quite hard to start, sometimes taking 10 or more pulls of the recoil cord. This may, however, be as a result of incorrect operation of the choke and inadvertently flooding the engine.

For more detailed information on the operation of the PowerSmart PS50A see its manual.