A summer storm takes the power out at 9pm. The fridge is full, the fans stop, and the NBN box goes dark along with everything else. Whether the outage lasts two hours or two days, the difference between a ruined weekend and a minor inconvenience usually comes down to owning a box that makes its own power — and having bought the right size before you needed it.
The complication is that "generator" now covers two very different machines: petrol inverter generators and battery power stations. They look interchangeable on a spec sheet, but they suit different people, different loads and different places. This guide walks through how to size one properly, when fuel beats battery, what the noise ratings actually mean for you, and which models from our range fit camping trips, blackouts and worksites.
How to choose a generator or power station
Inverter generator or battery power station?
A petrol inverter generator makes electricity for as long as you keep fuel in it. Output is high and sustained, and a refill takes minutes. The trade-offs are engine noise, exhaust fumes, periodic servicing and the need to store petrol safely. It can never be run indoors, in a garage, or in any enclosed space — carbon monoxide is the single biggest safety issue with portable generators.
A battery power station is a large lithium battery with an inverter built in. It is close to silent, produces no fumes, and is safe to use inside a tent, caravan or apartment. It recharges from a wall socket, a car outlet or solar panels. The limit is capacity: once the battery is flat, you are waiting on a recharge rather than a two-minute refuel.
A useful rule of thumb: if your outages run to days, or you need to run big loads for long stretches, go petrol. If you need overnight power for a fridge, phones, lights and a laptop — or you camp where engines are unwelcome — go battery.
Running watts vs starting watts
Every appliance has a running wattage, and anything with a motor or compressor also has a starting surge that can be two to three times higher for the first second or two. A typical fridge runs at 150–250W but may demand 600–1,000W or more at startup. Kettles and toasters have no surge but run hard at 2,000–2,400W. Microwaves sit around 1,000–1,500W, and power tools like circular saws combine high running draw with a big startup spike.
To size correctly: add up the running watts of everything you would realistically run at the same time, then check that your largest single starting surge still fits within the unit's peak rating. Buy with 25–30 per cent headroom on top — running any generator flat out constantly shortens its life and, on petrol units, burns noticeably more fuel.
Fuel or battery for your situation
Petrol wins on total energy delivered per dollar and per kilogram once outages stretch past a day, and jerry cans are easy to top up. Batteries win on convenience: no servicing, no fuel going stale in the shed, and free recharging if you pair one with solar panels. Many households end up with both — a power station for the quiet, indoor loads and a petrol unit for the heavy lifting.
Noise, and where you can actually use it
Enclosed "suitcase" inverter generators are the quietest petrol option and are generally acceptable in caravan parks that permit generators. Open-frame models are louder but deliver more watts per dollar, which is why they dominate worksites and rural properties. Power stations are effectively silent, which matters more than people expect — national parks, campgrounds with quiet hours, and close-set suburban blocks all punish a droning engine at 6am. If sensitive electronics are involved, check for a pure sine wave output; laptops, CPAP machines and modern TVs want clean power, and all of our picks below provide it.
The picks: portable power by use case
Best all-round power station for blackouts and camping
The DJI Power 1000 Portable Power Station ($904.38, down from $1,185.58 — a saving of about $270) packs 1,024Wh of capacity with a 2,200W AC output, which is enough to boil a kettle and more than enough to keep a typical fridge running through the night. It suits households that mostly need quiet, indoor-safe backup for essentials, and campers who want to run lights, fridges and chargers without an engine idling outside the tent.
Most compact power station
The DJI Power 1000 Mini ($1,132.38, down from $1,618.32) delivers nearly identical capacity at 1,008Wh in a smaller, easier-to-carry package. It suits touring setups where boot space is the real constraint — weekend campers, ute canopies and anyone who wants serious capacity without dedicating a milk-crate-sized corner to it.
Best value petrol inverter generator
The ONEX SC4000i Inverter Generator ($1,355.99, down from $1,898.38 — over $540 off) offers 3,500W of pure sine wave output, enough to run a fridge, lights, TV and a microwave together during an outage. It suits homeowners after a genuine blackout workhorse, and caravanners who need air conditioning on unpowered sites.
Best for worksites
The Champion 4500W Open Frame Inverter Generator ($2,105.99, down from $2,948.38 — a saving of over $840) combines open-frame grunt with inverter-clean output from a long-established generator brand. It suits tradies running saws and compressors, and rural properties where noise matters less than reliable watts on tap.
Biggest output for home backup
The Onex SC6000i 5.5kW Inverter Generator ($2,255.99, down from $3,158.38 — over $900 off) is the pick when you want to run most of the house's essentials at once: fridge and freezer, lights, kettle, and a pump or heater on top. It suits larger households in outage-prone areas and sheds or small farms with real machinery to feed.
Best for existing 4WD and caravan battery setups
The KT Solar 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter ($472.50, down from $708.75) is not a generator — it converts the DC from a battery bank you already own into clean 240V mains power. It suits 4WDers and caravanners with a dual-battery or lithium setup who want to run 240V appliances without buying a whole separate power station. Check it matches your system voltage before ordering.
Cheap solar upgrade
The KT Solar Y Lead Connector ($38.85, down from $58.28) lets you join two solar panels into a single input, with waterproof and UV-resistant construction built for life on a roof rack. It suits anyone recharging a power station off-grid who wants faster solar input from panels they already carry.
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Power 1000 (1,024Wh / 2,200W) | Quiet all-round backup and camping | $911.98 |
| DJI Power 1000 Mini (1,008Wh) | Compact touring setups | $1,244.86 |
| ONEX SC4000i 3500W | Value home backup and caravans | $1,355.99 |
| Champion 4500W Open Frame | Worksites and rural properties | $2,105.99 |
| Onex SC6000i 5.5kW | Whole-house essentials | $2,255.99 |
| KT Solar 2000W Inverter | Existing 4WD/caravan battery banks | $472.50 |
| KT Solar Y Lead Connector | Faster solar recharging | $38.85 |
Frequently asked questions
What size do I need to run a fridge during a blackout?
A typical household fridge runs at 150–250W but can surge to 1,000W or more at startup, so anything rated around 2,000W continuous handles it comfortably with room for lights and chargers. A 1,000Wh-class power station like the DJI Power 1000 will typically keep a fridge going for eight hours or more, depending on the fridge and how often you open the door.
Can I use a power station indoors?
Yes. Battery power stations produce no exhaust, so they are safe inside homes, tents and caravans. Petrol generators are the opposite: they must always run outdoors, well away from windows, doors and vents, because of carbon monoxide risk.
Does pure sine wave output actually matter?
For laptops, CPAP machines, modern TVs and anything with sensitive electronics, yes. Cheaper modified sine wave output can cause overheating, buzzing or outright damage in some devices. Every generator and inverter in this guide delivers pure sine wave power.
Can I plug a generator straight into my switchboard?
Not without a licensed electrician installing a proper changeover switch. Backfeeding a house through a power point is illegal and dangerous. For most people, running extension leads to the fridge and a power board is the safe, simple approach during an outage.
Get sorted before the next outage
The best time to size a generator is before the weather report gives you a reason to. Browse the full range of generators and portable power at Auzzi Store — dispatched from Sydney, with 30-day returns and a 1-year warranty on every order.
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Prices correct at publication and may change. Stock levels update daily.