You may not give them much thought, but portable generators are a staple of contemporary life. Whether you’re camping in the middle of nowhere or dealing with a power outage, portable generators can provide the juice you need to keep the lights on and your devices charged. In this blog post, we’ll trace the history of the portable generator, from its humble beginnings to its present-day incarnation as a must-have item for outdoor adventure enthusiasts and homebodies alike.

The earliest portable generators were actually hand-cranked affairs that were used to power early radios. These generators were far from portable by today’s standards, but they laid the groundwork for the development of smaller, more manageable units. In the 1930s, Einstein and Leó Szilárd developed the principles of nuclear fission; a few years later, Enrico Fermi built the world’s first nuclear reactor. This breakthrough paved the way for the development of compact nuclear generators that could be used to power everything from spacecraft to pacemakers. The world of power generation was changed forever.

The first fuel-powered portable generators were developed in the 1950s, and it was during this era Honda released the first internal combustion engine-powered portable generator. This unit was significantly smaller and lighter than its predecessors, making it much more convenient to use and relocate to wherever power was required. Honda’s Generator would go on to become a mainstay of construction sites and camping trips for decades to come. While these units were significantly lighter and more compact than their hand-cranked predecessors, making them much more portable, they were also quite loud and emitted noxious fumes, making them less than ideal for domestic and residential use. In response to these drawbacks, manufacturers began developing quieter, cleaner-burning engines in the 1970s. Today’s portable generators are virtually silent by comparison and emit very little pollution, making them safe for many uses.

Portable generators have come a long way since their humble beginnings as hand-cranked affairs used to power early radios. Today, they are an essential piece of equipment for everything from camping trips to construction sites. Thanks to advances in technology, portable generators are smaller, quieter and cleaner-burning than ever before, making them safe and convenient to use in a wide range of situations. Whether you’re looking for an emergency backup power source or a convenient way to bring electricity to your next camping trip, there’s a portable generator out there that’s perfect for you, and we’d be happy to help you with that. Get in touch with one of our friendly team members on 1800 442 447, and we’ll be more than happy to assist you choose the perfect generator for your needs.