One of the most common forms of the electric generator comes in engine form and is known as the engine-generator. This electric generator is a simple combination of an electric generator and an engine, and is also known as a gen-set. The electric generator and the engine make one piece of equipment, the one indistinguishable from the other, so that often people don't acknowledge the engine portion of the device and simply refer to the whole thing as a generator. It isn't uncommon for these electric generators to come with a fuel tank and ways of regulating engine speed and voltage. Many come with a battery and electric starter.
Electric generators come in many sizes, with varying degrees of power, depending on the task that needs to be performed. Electric generators are a great convenience, as they provide power quickly, efficiently, and with little fuss. An electric generator in a home is a good backup source of power, and the smaller units are perfect for outdoor work such as painting, garden work, and home construction projects. These smaller units, portable and sturdy, can provide you with hundreds of watts of power, while their larger counterparts can provide up to thousands or even millions of watts. The smaller electric generators in general use gasoline as fuel while the larger electric generators use a range of fuels, including propane and natural gas and diesel.
Electric generators have many uses, from relatively small tasks such as providing power for nail guns on construction sites to relatively huge ones such as providing power for lighting and rides at carnivals. An electric generator comes in really handy on camping trips, when it can be used to power a television and DVD player, heat water, provide lighting, and so forth. Electric generators are of especial use in emergencies, when your power is knocked out and you have no where else to turn. By simply manipulating a crank or other lever your can transfer your own mechanical energy into electric energy, enough to light your house and provide you with your basic necessities.
Some basic safety tips to keep in mind when operating a generator:
 Don't plug your generator into one of the small, common outlets in your home. This can cause disruptions in power lines near your home, and hurt your neighbors or others.
 Don't ask too much of your generator. If you plug in too many appliances to your generator, for example, it can not only harm the generator, it can destroy the appliances as well.
 A portable generator isn't an indoor tool. Portable electric generators emit dangerous carbon monoxide fumes. Don't use it in an enclosed garage; it'd be just like starting your car there, and leaving it on.
 Electric generators can really heat up with a lot of usage, so watch out that you don't get burned.
 Lastly, make sure you read the owner's manual to your electric generator thoroughly. Knowing in and out the parts of your electric generator will save you time, money, and, most importantly, save you from being hurt.