If you live in the state of California and want to play your part in reducing air pollution, then you must buy a CARB (California Air Resources Board) approved generator.
CARB has its own set of rules and regulations that are stricter than EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) set standards. Most of the states follow the EPA set standards, but in order to use the generator in California, it must be CARB certified.
The aim of CARB is to offer a cleaner and safer environment. CARB approved generators produce fewer fumes, which helps in reducing pollutants in the air.
So, if you need an environmental-friendly generator, here we have a list of the best five CARB generators.
Table of Contents
CARB Compliant Generator Reviews
Image | Product Name | Features | Ratings | Reviews | Check Price |
 | Westinghouse iGen2200 generator |
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 | Champion 75531i Generator |
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 | DuroMax XP4850EH Portable Generator |
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 | WEN 56105 1000-watt Portable Generator |
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 | Rainier R4400 Portable Generator |
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1. Westinghouse iGen2200 Portable Inverter Generator – Best CARB Compliant Inverter Generator
- Output: 2000-1800 watts
- Warranty: 3 years
- Weight: 46.3 pounds
More Features: On a full gas tank, you will get a runtime up to 12 hours at 25% load.
Type of Generator: Westinghouse iGen2200 is a gas-powered portable inverter generator.
CARB Compliant: It is not only a CARB (California Air Resources Board) compliant unit but also meets the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and USFS (United States Forest Service) set standards.
Weight and Warranty: The weight of this inverter machine is 46.3 pounds, and it comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
Start System: You only have a recoil start mechanism to turn the generator on.
Power Wattage: It generates 2000 starting watts and 1800 running watts.
THD Rating: Westinghouse iGen2200 allows you to power your smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Its THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) rating is less than 3%.
THD measures the harmonic distortion present in a signal.
Fuel Tank Capacity and Runtime: If we focus on its fuel tank, then it can store up to 1.2 gallons of gas. And on a full gas tank, you will get a runtime up to 12 hours at 25% load.
It features an Efficiency Mode that offers maximum fuel efficiency.
Parallel Capable: You can link another Westinghouse iGen Series Inverter to this iGen2200 to almost double the output power.
Control Panel: There are two 120V AC 20A outlets and two 5V DC USB ports with covers.
Also, there are low-oil, output ready, and overload indicator lights along with parallel operation outlets and an efficiency mode switch.
Noise Level: iGen2200 is an extremely quiet unit that operates at 52 dB (A).
My Opinion:
Pros: Westinghouse iGen2200 is a fuel-efficient generator that gives excellent runtime on a 1.2-gallon gas tank. It is parallel capable, operates without making noise, and features two USB charging ports.
Cons: You can’t store it safely as it can’t be run dry.
2. Champion 75531i 3100-watt RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator – RV-Ready Inverter Generator
Type of Generator: Champion 75531i is an RV ready portable inverter generator that runs on gasoline.
CARB Compliant: Yes, it is a CARB compliant generator with EPA certification as well.
Weight and Warranty: It offers a 3-year limited warranty, and its weight is 94.8 pounds.
Start System: Recoil start system with Cold Start Technology that ensures immediate starts in the winter season.
Power Wattage: Champion 75531i can produce 3100 watts of peak power and 2800 watts of continuous power.
THD Rating: Its less than 3% THD rating is suitable for powering sensitive electronics.
Fuel Tank Capacity and Runtime: Your generator can run up to 8 hours at 25% load on a 1.6-gallon gas tank.
Its economy mode helps you to get the extended runtime. It also increases the life of the engine and offers quieter operation.
Parallel Capable: It is not a parallel capable unit.
Control Panel: Champion 75531i features two 120V 20A outlets, one 120V RV-ready outlet, and one 12V DC outlet. Other than power outlets, there are low-oil, overload, and output ready indicator lights and an economy mode switch.
Noise Level: Its noise level is also on the lower side (58 dB (A)).
My Opinion:
Pros: Champion 75531i is an RV-ready inverter generator that gives decent power output. Its Cold Start Technology makes it easy to start the unit in cold weather. Also, it is fuel-efficient and operates quietly.
Cons: Its noise level exceeds the mentioned decibel rating.
3. DuroMax XP4850EH Dual Fuel Portable Generator – Dual Fuel
Type of Generator: DuroMax XP4850EH is a dual fuel conventional generator that runs on gasoline as well as propane.
CARB Compliant: It is both CARB approved, and EPA certified.
Start System: You have two start options to choose from. One is the recoil, and the other one is the electric start system.
Power Wattage: It is responsible for producing 4850 peak watts and 3850 running watts on gasoline and 4608 peak watts and 3658 running watts on propane.
Fuel Tank Capacity and Runtime: A 4-gallon gasoline tank can give up to 10.5 hours of runtime at 50% load and up to 9-hour runtime at 50% load on a 20-pound propane tank.
Control Panel: The control panel of DuroMax XP4850EH has a voltmeter, low-oil alert, and a voltage selector switch.
This voltage selector switch is featured with DuroMax MX2 technology that allows you to choose between 120V or 120V and 240V at the same time.
From each 120V outlet, you will be able to get maximum power.
Noise Level: It is a louder unit with a 69 dB (A) decibel rating.
Weight and Warranty: DuroMax XP4850EH weighs 130 pounds and offers a 1-year limited warranty.
My Opinion:
Pros: DuroMax XP4850EH is also a CARB compliant generator that is featured with DuroMax MX2 technology. It is a dual fuel unit that produces impressive surge power on both fuels. Also, it is easy to maintain.
Cons: Its operational sound is on the higher side.
4. WEN 56105 1000-watt Portable Generator – Lightweight
Type of Generator: WEN 56105 is a compact and portable conventional generator that is gas-powered.
CARB Compliant: It meets the standards of both CARB and EPA III.
Weight and Warranty: It is a lightweight machine that only weighs 37 pounds. Also, it comes with a 2-year limited warranty.
Control Panel: WEN 56105 features only one 120V 7A outlet and a circuit breaker for overload protection.
Start System: It only has a recoil start mechanism.
Power Wattage: If we talk about its power output, then it generates 1000 surge watts and 900 rated watts.
Fuel Tank Capacity and Runtime: It can run continuously for 5 hours at half load on a 1-gallon fuel tank.
Noise Level: Its operational noise is 60 dB (A) at half load.
My Opinion:
Pros: WEN 56105 is an inexpensive machine ideal for campgrounds and tailgates. It gives a good runtime, operates quietly, and starts with a single pull.
Cons: It features only one AC outlet.
5. Rainier R4400 Portable Generator – Inexpensive
Type of Generator: It is a conventional gas-powered generator.
CARB Compliant: Rainier R4400 is a CARB certified unit.
Power Wattage: It can produce 4400 starting watts and 3600 running watts.
Fuel Tank Capacity and Runtime: Up to 18 hours of runtime at 25% load on a 4-gallon fuel tank
Control Panel: Its control panel has a VFT meter that shows volts, frequency, and runtime. Also, we have two 120V 20A household outlets, one 120V 30A (L5-30R) outlet, and one 120V 30A (TT-30R) outlet.
Weight and Warranty: Rainier R4400 weighs 105 pounds and features a 3-year limited warranty.
Start System: It is equipped with both recoil and electric start systems.
Noise Level:65 dB (A) is its noise level.
My Opinion:
Pros: Rainier R4400 offers an excellent runtime on a 4-gallon tank. It features a VFT meter, enough power outlets, and a 3-year limited warranty.
Cons: It is not a long-lasting generator.
Buyer’s Guide
When selecting a CARB generator, it is necessary to focus on some of its features to get the best unit for home or outdoor use.
Type of Generator
Here type of the generator means inverter or conventional generator.
Both these generator types are best in their own ways. Inverters produce clean power, whereas most of the conventional generators fail to do so. But conventional units produce more output power than inverter generators despite having a parallel connectivity feature.
Also, many inverter machines are light in weight but expensive, whereas many conventional generators are heavy and inexpensive.
Power Wattage
Some of the units produce impressive output power to help you in running your whole house, whereas some generators allow you to power only essential appliances and electronics. So, the selection of the generator depends on your power needs.
The best thing to do before purchasing a CARB generator is to calculate the total number of watts required to power your appliances so that you can get the best suitable generator.
Runtime
It is also necessary to consider runtime as it determines how many hours your generator can run on a full fuel tank.
When buying a conventional generator, make sure it has a big fuel tank to get the maximum runtime. But, the runtime also varies according to the load applied.
And, when buying an inverter generator, there is no need to focus on the fuel tank capacity because even a 1-gallon tank can give excellent runtime due to eco-mode.
Sound Level
For home usage, your generator must be quiet. A noisy generator will not only disturb you during your night sleep but will also bother your neighbors.
Inverter generators operate at lower decibel ratings, but if you need a conventional generator, then try to get a unit with not more than 65 dB (A) noise level.
Why should I use a CARB compliant generator?
We all know that combustible fuels produce harmful pollutants that affect not only the environment but also human beings. So, when you cannot stop using diesel or propane to run the generator, you can use a CARB compliant unit to reduce air pollution.
Also, these generators reduce illnesses caused due to inhaling toxic pollutants with air. So, here, it becomes extremely important to use a CARB approved generator.
Is it necessary to have a CARB certified generator to use in California?
Yes, it is mandatory to have a CARB compliant generator if you live in California.
Can I use a CARB compliant generator in every state of the US?
No, your generator must meet the standards set by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) along with CARB to use it in every state.
It is always suggested to buy a generator that follows the rules and regulations set by both EPA and CARB.