Generators for Cairns

Justin's track came closest of the 14. It crossed the coast north-west of Cairns as a category 2 in March 1997, and its heavy rain, big seas and gales caused widespread damage between Cairns and Townsville. Larry crossed near Innisfail as a category 4 in March 2006. It knocked out seven 132 kV transmission lines between Ingham and Kamerunga, near Cairns, and cut power to 140,000 customers across the Far North.

Yasi crossed near Mission Beach, 138 km south, as a category 5 in February 2011, and isn't in the count. Cairns got off with mostly fallen trees and branches, but Stockland Earlville lost power overnight with about 2,500 people sheltering inside.

Jasper isn't in the count either. It crossed near Wujal Wujal as a category 2 in December 2023, but the rain that followed flooded Cairns. The Barron River at the airport was estimated at 4.4 metres, above the 1977 flood level, and the airport closed with planes standing in floodwater.

On 17 December, the Bruce Highway south to Ingham and every road down from the Tablelands were closed. Crews were still restoring power cut by the cyclone the week before, and that evening more than 12,000 properties across the far north were without power.

After Jasper, debris blocked the intakes at a Cairns water treatment plant. The city was said to be hours from running out of drinking water, and restrictions lasted three weeks. In a James Cook University survey afterwards, Cairns and Douglas Shire residents described up to eight days without power, and one said they had no water until they got their generator going.

A generator keeps the fridge cold, the fans on and the phones charged. If your water relies on a pump, it keeps the taps running too.

• Fridge, lights, phones and a laptop: a 2 to 3.5 kVA inverter.
• With the TV, microwave and fans as well: 3.5 to 5 kVA.
• Short, heavy jobs and quiet nights: a portable power station rated above the appliance. Most kettles need more than 2,000 W, while 1,000 to 1,500 W covers the fridge, lights and phones overnight.
• Most of the house, with a split system running: 7 to 10 kVA petrol, or 8 to 12 kVA diesel for long runs.
• The whole house including ducted air: 10 kVA and up, usually diesel.
• Shop, office or cool room backup: 10 to 20 kVA diesel.

Cairns is a working marine town, too: its marine precinct maintains Defence and Border Force vessels as well as superyachts. For a workshop, allow about 3.6 kVA for every kW of motor started direct on line, and choose a three phase set for three phase machines. Our generator size calculator does the sums, or browse 3 to 8 kVA and 8 to 15 kVA generators.

A generator doesn't have to run all night. Through the day, a small inverter on the fridge and lights burns less fuel than a generator big enough for the kettle. After dark, a portable power station can take over silently while the generator is switched off.

That's the idea behind our HY2000Si and HYPS1000 bundle, and the pair costs less than the two bought separately. The 2 kVA inverter recharges the 921 Wh power station as it runs, then the power station carries the night: the fridge, the lights, phone charging or a CPAP machine. The power station is 1,000 W, so it isn't a kettle setup. After Jasper, surveyed residents in Cairns and Douglas Shire reported four to eight days without power, which is a lot of nights to listen to a generator. Compare every portable power station we sell.

Roads can close fast in a big wet, as they did after Jasper, so have the generator home before the season starts. Buy before November, run it on the load it will carry, store fuel safely and start it every month.

Most units up to 10 kVA ship free, and anything else is priced at checkout. Checkout prices are based on delivery to capital cities and major centres, and Cairns is a major centre. If your address is further out and costs more to reach, we'll call before dispatch with the difference, and you can go ahead or cancel for a full refund.

Orders ship from our store or the supplier warehouse closest to you. Most leave within 1 to 5 business days and arrive within 3 to 8 business days of ordering. Sets over about 1 tonne take 1 to 2 weeks to dispatch and need a forklift, crane or tractor forks on site to unload, and we'll call before dispatch to confirm access.

Don't run the house from a generator plugged into a power point. That backfeeds the network, it's illegal, and it can kill the line crews restoring your power. A licensed electrician fits a changeover switch and inlet so the generator can supply your circuits safely: see how a changeover switch installation works. Run it outdoors, well away from doors and windows (your neighbours' too), because the exhaust can kill.