Generator Jungle

Review of the PowerSmart PS50A Generator

1200 Starting Watts, 1000 Running Watts on Gasoline

Electric Start: No

Weight: 37.6lbs

Noise: 68dB

Powersmart Ps50

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

Lightweight

Up to 5 hours duration

Great value for money

Loud for size

Customer Service

Can be hard to start

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.

Controls and Features

Powersmart Ps50 Features

This is a very simple generator with no bells and whistles such as a digital display, and it only has 1 AC outlet and a 12V port. 

PowerSmart offer a 2-year limited residential warranty to the original purchaser of their portable generators, though this reduces to just 90 days if they are used for professional or commercial purposes, an unlikely scenario for this particular model.

Powersmart Ps50 Side ViewPowersmart Ps50 Overview

What Most Buyers Like

The PowerSmart PS50A is popular with many owners though there have been a few who have found it to be unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons. 

What Some Buyers Like Less

Most owners say this model is quite noisy for its size (though one says it's quieter than a lawnmower).

Customer service is handled by Amerisun although this is not made clear and, according to information on the Better Business Bureau, they are not rated highly (see here). This is confirmed by several owners who found them to be unresponsive.

Specifications of the PowerSmart PS50A

Specifications
2500W Open Frame Inverter GeneratorModel # PS50A
Surge Power1200W
Continuous Power1000W
Engine2 stroke, OHV, single cylinder
Coolingforced air
Oil capacity (fl. oz)See Fuel below
Displacement71cc
Fuel tank capacity (gal.)1.1 to be mixed 2 cycle oil in a 50:1 ratio
Runtime at 50% Load5 Hours
Voltage120V
DC Output12V
Current8.3A
Frequency60Hz Single Phase
Dimensions (LxWxH) inches16 x 14 x 13.8
Noise (dB) @ 23 ft68
Weight (lbs)37.6
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