Keep the lights burning over Christmas even if the main supply fails

So there you are on Christmas Day morning, turkey in the oven, about to open the first bottle of the day, lights twinkling on the tree and suddenly with no warning, the electricity supply fails.
And this is where, if you had a portable generator, you could salvage Christmas.
Small portable generators have a host of uses around the house and garden and are especially useful in barns and outbuildings where they might not be a supply and when camping or caravanning.

Loncin manufacturer’s a range of excellent generators and the LC2000i Inverter Generator is small, light yet powerful enough to keep the lights burning and designed to provide ‘spike’ free power which is vital for using with laptops and televisions.
It gives 1.6Kw of power via a 79 cc four stroke engine which vary the engine speed according to the amount of electric called for.
Machines like this are especially useful in rural areas more susceptible to power cuts and will run on a full tank of petrol for around seven hours.
Remember to check the wattage of the equipment you want to power by using generators and make sure they are always left outside barns, buildings and tents.
This generator costs £549 compared with the maker’s recommended price of £749, is delivered free the next working day and comes with a two year manufacturer’s warranty.
Another from the same company, a leading Chinese manufacturer, is the Loncin LC2000i-S Synchronising Inverter Generator.
The inverter is a clever processor which separates the speed of the engine from the voltage output to give a more even power flow.
It is easily carried around thanks to an integrated carrying handle and is light and compact enough to be stored in a car boot.
This can also be linked to other generators to increase the total power output.
Quiet in running it produces 1.6 Kw of power enough to keep lap tops running and Christmas lights shining.
Remember to check the power needed for equipment like lap tops and always plug in equipment after the generator has been fired up and not before.
This one costs £569 compared with the maker’s recommended price of £773.
It is delivered free the next working day and has a two year manufacturer’s warranty.
And thirdly, from the same company, is the Loncin LC3000-F Generator, a more traditional machine can produce a maximum of 2.5 Kw of power and with an 18 litre fuel tank can keep things running for up to 15 hours.
Sturdily built with a steel protective frame it is easy to start and will cut out should the oil level reach a critical level.
This is ideal for emergency use in the home or for power tools in sheds and barns where there is no mains supply. But make sure the generator is left outside any working area when in use.
It costs £339 compared with the maker’s recommended price of £439.
It is delivered free the next working day and has a two year manufacturer’s guarantee.
And if you’re still stumped for a present for the keen gardener, see our special pages for dozens of suggestions.