The term CARB is abbreviated as California Air Resources Board that deals with the control and management of air pollutants in a state. The CARB complaint usually improves the air quality in California by reducing the number of dangerous gases released in the air due to the burning of fuel. As we know, any machine that uses internal combustion engines causes pollution in the environment. It includes generators, cars, lawnmowers, and other vehicles. Therefore these engines are certified by the state of California as CARB compliant before use.

Working of CARB
The main purpose of the CARB is to reduce pollution in the state of California. To reduce pollution CARB implements some restrictions on the emission of different types of gases that engines produce. The main focus of CARB is to limit the emission from small off-road engines also called SORE Engines that contribute ⅕ to the total pollution of the environment.
Types of SORE Engines
The SORE engines that are the source of air pollution include many machines. Some of them are enlisted below:
- Portable generators
- Lawnmowers
- Pressure washers
- Riding mowers
- Leaf blowers
- String trimmers
These engines release dangerous gases that pollute the environment and CARB controls the emission of these gases.
Gases released by SORE Engines
The gases released by SORE Engines and limited by CARB are as follows.
- Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous colorless and odorless gas released by Sore engines. It is a dangerous gas and causes different health problems such as cough, vomiting, dizziness, and even death. That’s why you can’t use your generators in your homes. CARB uses the detectors for carbon monoxide and reduces its emission.
- Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is also considered an air pollutant because it acts as a Greenhouse gas and is the main reason for global warming. It is also released by Sore engines due to the burning of fuels.
- Nitrogen oxides
Nitrogen oxides include different types of gases produced by the combination of nitrogen with oxygen. Nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen dioxide are most commonly released by Sore engines and pollute the environment. They are also dangerous for humans and cause respiratory infections and asthma.
- Sulfur oxide
Sulfur dioxide also acts as a pollutant for the environment because it causes acid rains and damages the environment. It is also dangerous for humans as its short exposure causes asthma and respiratory diseases.
- Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons are caused by the burning of fuels because they are the building blocks of these fuels. Carbon and hydrogen are the building blocks of hydrocarbons. They damage the ozone layer.
- Particulate matter
Particulate matter is a mixture of solid particles with liquid droplets that cause the formation of a large number of chemicals. It includes dirt, smog, and soot particles that pollute the environment and also cause breathing issues.
CARB Compliant Engines
In the state of California if you want to buy or sell any kind of engine it must be carb compliant. CARB created some important regulations that specify the types, amount, and number of pollutants a SORE engine such as a generator can produce. The carb-compliant generators are one of the safest and environmentally friendly engines that are available in the markets.
CARB compliant generator
A CARB-compliant generator is a machine that meets all the standards of CARB and reduces the emission of dangerous gases. These generators are built with premium and environmentally friendly components that offer a long-lasting product. This generator runs more efficiently and releases a small number of dangerous gases as compared to non-carb generators.
How does CARB limit pollution?
The main focus of the CARB is to reduce the pollution caused by the SORE engines. These engines include a portable generator, lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and many more. There are three different ways through which Sore engines cause pollution, and CARB limits these ways.
- Exhaust emission
Exhaust emission is the most common source of pollution from Sore engines due to the burning of fuels. The improvements in the small engines by an update of regulation allowed cleaners for sore engines.
- Evaporative emission
Evaporative emission is caused by the evaporation of gas from the fuel tank. The CARB regulated the change of material that avoids evaporation and updated the system design to keep the fuel inside the tank.
- Spillage
Spillage is another source of pollution in the environment. It occurs during refilling of fuel, and fuel leakage. It releases dangerous gases into the environment and pollutes it. The CARB updates the standards for fuel cans and fuel caps to avoid spillage.
Does CARB differ from EPA?
The EPA stands for an Environmental Protection Agency that usually regulates the emission of dangerous gases from the entire country. It implements regulations in all the states of the USA.
While the CARB stands for California Air Resources Board and is only used for the state of California that regulates the emission of dangerous gases. It includes the state of California or any other state that follows the regulations of CARB.
However, both the agencies perform the same function to reduce environmental pollution.
Advantages of CARB compliant generators
As we know that the carb compliant generators are one of the most environmentally friendly generators that meet all the regulations of carb. This carb-compliant generator has the following advantages over other generators.
- They reduce the air pollution
- They enhance the efficiency of fuel with their premium quality components.
- They reduce the health risk in humans
- They offer you a long power supply
Disadvantages of CRAB generators
Although the crab generators are the safest generators for both the humans and environment, they have some disadvantages which are given below.
- The crab generators are costly.
- Fewer options of crab generators are available in markets.
Can we use a crab-free generator in the state of California?
No. We can’t use a crab-free generator in the state of California. If you are caught using a crab-free generator you will have to pay a heavy amount of fines. The state of California usually charges 13 million $ as a fine for crab-free appliances.
How do you check if a generator is carb compliant or not?
To check whether a generator is carb compliant or not, we use three different ways. Let’s check out what are these ways:
- The carb-compliant generators have emission labels on each generator.
- You can also check the manufacturing website of the generator.
- You can check from the online retail listings.
Conclusion
I hope now you fully understand what is crab complaint, how it works, and what is the main purpose of crab complaint. If you are a citizen of the state of California then the carb generator is your basic need. If you are caught using a non-carb generator, you will get fined by the state. But you can use any kind o generator if you are not living in the state of California. But the use of a crab complaint generator is still a better idea for the safety of the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crab Compliant

Hi! I am Michael Wilson. This is our personal blog which is all about generators. Being an electrical engineer, modern machinery has always captivated me. I love dealing with Creative projects as a trained and skilled electrician. As a consequence, I am pretty sure I am knowledgeable regarding the crucial elements of the field. This means I am familiar with all evaluation norms and significant requirements that regulate electronics connections and service overall. I currently reside in the USA. Would you like to know more about my life beyond? Well, It’s understandable. I enjoy traveling and camping. I started collecting each generator for camping that can be found! I have now more than a handful of generators, and the number is rising rapidly. I was thrilled to start this review blog, where I can combine my writing passion with my enthusiasm for outdoor equipment! In this blog, I make sure to offer everything one should know about the best portable generators for camping. I hope this blog will be helpful for you to get the best generator for your campsite and home.