Petrol generators produce carbon monoxide, which has no smell and is fatal. Never run one inside a house, garage, shed, tent, caravan or on a covered patio, even with the door open. Run it outside, well clear of windows, doors and vents, and never refuel it while it is running or still hot.

A rechargeable battery unit with built in outlets and ports. It runs silently with no fumes, so it can be used indoors and inside a tent or caravan, which is the main practical difference from a generator. Capacity is measured in watt hours, so a 2048Wh unit stores roughly seven times what a 299Wh one does.

Add up the running watts of what you want to power, then allow extra headroom for startup surge on anything with a motor or compressor. A fridge, some lights and phone charging is a modest load. Adding a pump, power tools or an air conditioner pushes you up considerably. Compare running watts between models, since peak figures overstate what a unit will sustain.

It describes the quality of the electricity produced, matching what comes out of a wall socket. Laptops, TVs, medical equipment and anything with a circuit board need it, since a modified wave can damage sensitive electronics or cause them to run hot. Inverter generators produce it.

Enclosed units are considerably quieter, which matters at a campsite where noise limits often apply and neighbours are close. Open frame units are lighter and cheaper for the same output, which suits a worksite or home backup where noise is less of a concern.

Not without a licensed electrician installing a proper changeover switch. Plugging a generator into a wall socket to backfeed the house is illegal and extremely dangerous, since it sends power back into the network and can kill line workers. Running appliances on extension leads directly from the generator is the safe approach.

Many parks and national parks restrict or ban generator use, and those that allow it usually set quiet hours and a noise limit. Check before you travel. A power station has no such restrictions, which is why it suits touring better if your load is modest.

Through the solar input, using a panel that matches the unit's voltage and current limits. Real world charging is slower than the rated figure, since it depends on sun angle, cloud and panel placement. Treat solar as a way to extend run time rather than a full overnight recharge.

An additional battery that connects to a compatible power station to increase its total capacity. It only works with the specific model it is designed for, so check compatibility against your unit before ordering rather than assuming it will fit.

Either run the tank dry or use a fuel stabiliser, since stale petrol gums up a carburettor and is the most common reason a generator will not start when you finally need it. Store it dry and level, and start it briefly every few months so it is ready before storm season rather than during it.

Airlines restrict lithium batteries by watt hour capacity, and units of this size are well above the limits for both carry on and checked baggage. They travel fine by road in a car or caravan, but plan on driving rather than flying with one.