The annual camping trip is the one time a year when your entire family seems to get along. Everyone is able to relax, forget their problems and enjoy the beautiful world around them. The fresh smell of trees and grass, the babbling of brooks and birds chipping, and the rumbling of the generator powering your campsite. Wait what? That’s not a soothing nature sound. In fact, it’s something you should hardly hear at all.

If you’re facing this problem, it’s time to invest in an inverter generator. But why?

Stable Power
First, inverter generators provide the most stable power output of any generator, thanks to their inverter technology. Unlike conventional generators, inverters create more than 300 sine waves per engine rotation. That 3-phase AC power is converted to DC power, then inverted back to 120 volts/60 hertz of AC power.

Typical generator sine wave

Inverter generator sine wave

What does that really mean? It means that you get consistent, adjustable “clean” power without fluctuations and surges. So you can power even the most sensitive electronics, like a computer. (Not that you’d be working on vacation, right?)

Low Noise Levels
One of the biggest benefits of an inverter generator is how quiet it runs. Because of the compact design, inverters use a smaller engine, which reduces noise levels.

Another noise reduction feature is the ability to run at varying output levels. It makes sense that the generator is the loudest when it’s running at full capacity, but not all jobs require that much power. When you decrease output levels for smaller jobs, you get quieter operations. As an added bonus, inverters can recognize when more electricity is needed and will automatically increase output.

But the body casing takes most of the credit for reducing sound. Inverters are constructed out of insulated, sound-attenuating materials that absorb noise produced by the generator, making it an ideal power source for camping or in residential areas.

Noise Comparison
You’ve heard over and over again that inverters are quiet, but where’s the proof? One example is Subaru’s inverter generators, the RG3200iS and RG4300iS. The generators produce 58 decibels and 62 decibels at full-rated output, respectfully, both of which are quieter than several daily encounters you experience. For comparison, normal speech is 60 decibels; a vacuum cleaner creates 70 decibels; when standing curbside on a busy street, the levels are at 80 decibels and heavy city traffic comes in at 100 decibels.

Inverter generators are quiet. Even when running at full output, they are similar to the levels of normal speech. So next time the family goes camping, opt for the inverter so you can really enjoy the outdoors and all the nature sounds that come with it.