The All Power APG3014 is an excellent choice for a lower powered portable generator.  It is rated at 1400 running watts and 2000 starting watts.  Some might say that 1400 watts is not low power since portable generators are available in less than 1000 watts.  For purposes of this review site, versatility is key.  Although they have their uses for powering one item at a time, portable generators lower than this range typically do not have enough features to review.

This unit, however, at a lower price will give you features that you want and the versatility of a minimal power portable generator as an emergency safeguard for a power outage.  There are some features such as low oil shutoff and multiple outlets including DC that make it a wise choice.  It won’t run your entire house during an emergency but will run the necessities and be more than enough for around the house, camping and tailgating.

You get the basics in a 3 HP OHV 4-cycle gas powered engine,   Unfortunately for our friends in California, the All Power APG3014 is NOT CARB compliant and not for sale or use in California.  You can visit their website at Allpoweramerica.com.  All Power is a global company with a headquarters in North Carolina.  Distribution warehouses are located across the continent including locations in California, Illinois, South Carolina, North Carolina, Toronto Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Table of Contents
(click a title to jump ahead!)
1. Power Considerations – Wattage
2. Engine Type and Fuel Considerations
3. Starting Mechanism
4. Oil Usage Considerations
5. Outlets and Meters
6. Noise Level – Portability
7. Warranty
8. What’s in the Box
9. Dimensions/ Weight
10. Pros and Cons
11. Consumer Reviews
12. Price
13. Summary

Especially important in a lower end power generator, know your power needs before choosing.  Consider how you plan to use it and the features included. You don’t want to be caught short after making your investment.  Check out the table below to compare this to other All Power generators.   There are different wattage outputs  and features available as well as a generator that runs on diesel.  Their customer service is decent and will usually direct you to a locally authorized service center for repairs.

The All Power line of similar generators is listed in the table below.  The higher level models (up to 10,000 watts) give you more watts from more horsepower and more “bells and whistles” even an electric start, but you’ll have to expect it to be a louder running model and cost you more.

The Review…

Power Considerations – Wattage

There are enough watts available with the All Power APG3014 with its 2000 Surge Watts and 1400 Running Watts for powering most devices separately.  As mentioned earlier, you won’t be able to power several devices in an outage.  But you can take this unit out to the workplace as a workhorse to power your individual tools.  You might find that the available power is more suited to light jobs. Consider that most popular inverter type portable generators are sold in 2000 watts and less.  This is enough power when you know your limits.  For example, running a common refrigerator/freezer may take approximately 2000 watts to cover the surge requirement.  This leaves no ability to power anything else.  Check out this handy table for estimating your power needs and if this unit will have enough power.  Reviews, however caution against expecting the full running watts.  If you plan to run at the limit, purchase a more powerful unit.

The THD (total harmonic distortion) will be too high for you to safely operate your sensitive electrical equipment.  Anything over 6% and you’ll want to look at an uninterrupted power source (UPS).  Or purchase an inverter generator if operating these devices in an outage is high on your priority list.

You should not expect to hook this unit to your home’s power supply.  The All Power APG3014 is better suited for an “as needed” power supply.  Take it on your outdoor trips, or on the job and you’ll be happy with its reliability.

If you do want to hook this All Power APG3014 generator (or any portable generator for that matter) to your home’s power supply, make sure that you purchase the appropriate power transfer switch and have it installed by a certified electrician.  Make sure that this is done in accordance with the National Electric Code, NFPA 70.

There is no volt meter.  Instead, on the control panel there is a power indicator light.  When this light glows green, you know that the engine has supplied the necessary mechanical energy for the generator to supply the rated electrical energy.  With no volt meter, you’ll have to assume the volts being supplied is not varying much from the desired 120V.  Or consider an inexpensive voltage reader.

The following segment is provided by a comment by a reviewer on the Amazon.com site for this unit:

“Using accurate meters, an oscilloscope, and some resistive loads, I measured several output factors:

• the output power is less than advertised.
• voltage was 122.5 Volts.
• reliable current was only 10 Amps (1225 watts) — 11 Amps (1348 watts) caused the engine to slow way down and 12 Amps (1470 watts) caused the engine to stop.
• waveform was sinusoidal without anything plugged in but turned somewhat triangular under load.
• frequency was 60 Hz except while the engine throttle was adjusting to different appliance loads.

When looking at the manufacturer (Jiangsu Jiangdong Group) specifications web page for their JD 1500 unit, I noticed that they rate their JF156 engine, 60 Hz unit at only 1.3 kVA (1300 watts — not 1400 watts as advertised for the All-Power America version and with a peak output of 1.5 kVA (1500 watts — not the 2000 watts as advertised for the All-Power America version.”

It should be remembered that the above comments are from a third party and is testing not conducted by this reviewer.  It is listed for your informational purposes and is deemed to be reliable.

If you need DC power (Direct Current), the All Power APG3014 has this capability.  It supplies 12 Volts at 8.3 Amps for charging your car battery and running DC powered devices.  The unit comes with a DC charging power cord.

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Engine Type and Fuel Considerations

The engine displacement of 98.5 CC provides 3 HP with its overhead valve (OHV) 4 cycle engine.  No need to mix oil with the gas as in their available 2 cycle model. This unit will run on regular unleaded gas with a minimum octane rating of 87.  Of course, use fresh gas as with all portable generators.  You will get better performance.  Gas should not be stored for more than 3 months, otherwise add a fuel stabilizer.  Avoid letting dirt or moisture getting into the fuel.

The tank holds 1.3 gallons of fuel which is enough to run the motor/generator for 9.5 hours at half load.  So in a power outage, it can run some lights and some light entertainment for little cost.

There is a fuel gauge which will indicate the level of fuel remaining in the tank and will assist you in filling to the appropriate level.  Some reviewers noted that the fuel gauge window becomes cloudy over time.  Take care to not overfill the tank.  Wipe and dry before starting the unit.  Spilling will present a fire hazard.  Please check out the safety article on this site and become familiar with the safe use of a portable generator before operating ANY unit.

There is a fuel on/off valve which allows fuel to flow to the carburetor.  The drain on the carburetor is where you can drain the fuel tank if you plan for extended storage.

The choke is a lever type.  This is where you can adjust manually to give you peak performance when operating near the maximum capacity.  Turning the lever to OFF when starting and slowly moving the lever to ON after a few minutes of run time is all you need to do to get this unit humming.

The generator is EPA approved and with its quiet muffler.  It is not know if this unit has an approved spark arrester to make it suitable for use in U.S. National Parks.  The recommended spark plug replacement is NGK BPR6EA or DENSO W20EXR-U.

As with ALL portable generators this All Power unit is equipped with a grounding terminal.  Many users of portable generators operate without grounding.  There can be disastrous effects if you neglect taking this step.  Like the old saying goes, “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”  I suggest you consult the National Electric Code (NEC) Article 250 to read about the grounding of portable generators.  It goes into detail beyond the scope of this review.  In most cases, when the generator is mounted to its frame, the unit is neutral grounded.  There are however, exceptions.  You may read the extensive regulations, or contact All Power customer service.  The instruction manual or website does not go into this important subject.
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Starting Mechanism

Starting the All Power ABG3014 generator is simple.   As with ALL portable generators, do not have anything plugged in to the outlet receptacles when starting up the unit.  Check the fuel and oil levels first.  Open the fuel line by turning the fuel cock, turn the choke lever to off, turn on the start button and pull the recoil start.  In most cases one pull is all that is necessary.

The power indicator light on the control panel informs the user of the status of the receptacles. If the light is on, the power is on.  You may then attach your power cords and set your circuit reset buttons in case you accidentally overload the generator.  Then start your electrical devices.

When stopping the generator, unplug all devices from the generator first.  Not doing so can cause damage to the generator.  Then simply turn the engine switch to off, then turn the fuel valve to off.
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Oil Usage Considerations

This All Power generator is shipped without oil. You must add the proper amount of oil before operating the generator for the first time. The oil capacity is NOT stated in the instructions.  Most generators with larger engines will take a full 20oz container.  Fill slowly to avoid overfilling.

Under most ambient conditions of operating temperature, you will use SAE 30 oil.  5W-30 or 10W-30 may also be used in cooler temperatures.  The SAE 30 is not recommended under 40 degrees F.  Select good quality detergent oil bearing the American Petroleum Institute (API) service classifications SJ, SL, or SM.  It is assumed that you can use synthetic oil throughout the temperature range to extend frequency of oil changes.  Contact All Power just to be sure.

There is a Low-Oil Automatic Shutdown feature to protect the engine should the oil level become too low in the crankcase.  Of course with routine checking of the oil level with each use, you may never need this safeguard.

Changing the oil at recommended intervals or if the oil becomes contaminated is easy.  There is an oil drain plug located directly below the fill hole.  Remove the plug and allow the spent oil to drain completely.  It is recommended to perform this when the generator is warm but NOT running, for better draining.  You need not tip the unit to get the oil out as you would with some other brands.

Keep a maintenance schedule.  It is easy to lose track when using frequently, since there is not hour meter on this unit.
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Outlets and Meters

The All Power APG3014 power panel has two 20 Amp 120 Volt three pronged Receptacles (NEMA 5-20R).  This should be sufficient for 1400 running watts.  To have a 240v ability would not make sense at this power level.  That will allow a 5.8 amp draw which wouldn’t go very far.  You usually need over 3000 watts running to accommodate a 240 volt receptacle.  For more power needs, this unit is not for you.

At 120V, either of the three pronged receptacles will supply 11.6A. Do not expect to draw 11.6 Amps off of each receptacle at the SAME time.

Even though rated for 1400 running watts, try to even out the power distribution to keep from damaging the unit.

As mentioned earlier the power indicator light will glow green when power is being supplied to the receptacles.

The circuit reset button helps to prevent the generator from electrical overload. If your receptacle short circuits or becomes overloaded by an electrical device or devices with too great a wattage rating, the circuit protector may shut off power to the receptacle. If this happens, you will see the voltage indicator light or lights turn off and you will not be able to draw power from the overloaded receptacle. In the event of such an overload, disconnect all electrical devices from the generator and press the circuit reset buttons. If power still does not return to the receptacle, call the customer service line.

For DC power, this unit is equipped with a 12V DC outlet.  The maximum draw is 8.3 Amps.  A nice benefit to this purchase is that it comes with a cable fit to the DC receptacle and positive and negative battery charging clips at the business end.  Some other common uses for the DC capability are inflators, car vacuums and chargers of various types.  It is protected against overload by a trip button on the panel and an in-line fuse located behind the control panel.  The engine must be running to use the DC feature.
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Noise Level – Portability

The All Power APG3014 is relatively quiet at idle.   After all, it is only a 3HP engine.  The muffler is not stated to come with a spark arrester.  The muffler does its job of keeping the noise level to a respectable 65 decibels at idle speed.  It is presumed that this decibel reading is at 7 meters as are most readings of portable generators.  This level is probably acceptable for most camping or tailgating uses without annoying others.  Of course for outdoor jobs it will sound no louder than a lawn mower.

The weight of 54 pounds without liquids, means most can carry it from place to place,  Even with a full gas tank, remember this only has a 1.3 gal tank.  This unit does not come with a wheel kit, so if you did easy transport, you will need to construct your own cart if you are handy.

Once running, the generator stays stable on the ground thanks to the two rubber motor mounts which serves to dampen the vibration.  You won’t have to worry about the generator “walking” on you.  Just make sure to operate on a level surface.  Operating on an angle may cause oil to leak.  Of course always store and run your generator on a level surface.
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Warranty

All Power America generators are warranted (to the original purchaser and not transferable) to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of original purchase. There is no stated difference for generators used for commercial use.

They will repair or replace, at its discretion, any part that is proven to be defective in materials or workmanship under normal use during the 1 year warranty period. Warranty repairs or replacements will be made without charge for parts or labor. The warranty does not cover wear or maintenance parts.  You will be directed to your nearest repair facility.

Recommended Maintenance

• Check oil after every use.
• Replace oil after first several hours at break in period.
• Replace oil after first 20 hours use.
• Replace oil every 50 hours or every 3 months.
• Check air cleaner every use
• Clean air cleaner every 50 hours or 3 months
• Clean fuel cock filter every 100 hours or 6 months
• Check/Clean/Replace (if necessary) spark plug every 50 hours or 3 months
• Clean fuel tank every 300 hours or 1 year.
• Always check fuel line for cracks or leaks.

Remember once any generator is filled with oil and gas for the first time, they can NOT be returned via common carrier.  For any repairs, you’ll either have to do it yourself with the help of customer service, or take it to a local repair facility.
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What’s in the Box

• All Power APG3014 Portable Generator
• Instruction Manual (illustrated with photos)
• DC cord
• Spark Plug Wrench
• Starting instruction card
• May contain spare 3prong plugs

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Dimensions/Weight of the All Power APG3014

Dimensions ( L x W x H ):

18.5 inches (incorrectly listed as 8.5 in many documents)
14.2 inches
15.4 inches

Weight:

54 pounds
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Pros and Cons

PROS:

• Low Oil shutoff
• 2 standard 3-prong outlets
• DC ability
• DC cable included
• lightweight
• relatively quiet

CONS:

• Not CARB Compliant
• No Voltage Meter
• Oil not included

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Consumer Reviews

The All Power APG3014 is either a consumer favorite or a consumer nightmare.  With over 275 reviews, more than half are 4 or 5 stars out of 5.  The favorable reviews don’t try to power at its limit.  The negative reviews range from not nearing its advertised 1400 running watts to losing power from the outlets after a short period.

Read more consumer reviews directly from Amazon here: All Power APG3014 Portable Generator Reviews

Average Rating: 3.4 Stars

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Price

The price of the All Power APG3014 Portable Generator varies depending on where you buy it but Amazon tends to have the lowest price.

Check current pricing discounts:

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Summary

After reviewing the  All Power APG3014 Portable Generator, I confirm that it’s a good choice for someone looking for a dependable portable generator in with low-level needs.  It is a low price and remember that you get what you pay for.  Keep your expectations low and don’t try to run it at its maximum rating.  For the price it is a good choice.  The lack of a volt meter requires that you purchase a separate meter if it is of concern.

Make sure you test it several times within the warranty period.  Those who had bad experiences found out the problem right away.

Use it as a workhorse on the job, or keep it for that emergency.  Use as a camping generator, or for tailgating and you should be pleased.  It is a dependable choice for frequent outdoor use.  Having it will give you piece of mind in an emergency.

You will not be disappointed with this portable generator, over 75 % of people out of over 280 reviews have given this machine a positive review from Amazon.
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Filed under: $249 & under • All Power • Reviews