Best Generac Generators for 2020

Comparsion Table

#1. Generac 7033 Guardian Series - 11,000 Watt Generator for Whole House

Finding the right standby generator that can meet the power that your home needs to stay on during an outage can be challenging, worry no more True Power Technology has come up with Generac 7033 Guardian Series 11KW/10KW that can deliver best in class power quality with less than 5% total harmonic distortion (THD) this mean all our sensitive electronics such as TVs, Laptops, and smartphones can be connected.

This unit is the best back-up when connected to your propane or natural gas fuel supply, it kicks in within seconds of sensing power loss – automatically – and runs for so long as necessary until utility power returns.

Why Generac 7033 Guardian Series 11kW/10kW

Durable: to ensure it last longer it base is made of stainless steel to which it resists rust while the enclosure is made of corrosion resistant aluminum coated with rhino coat powder finish to make it more resistant to corrosion.

Easy monitoring: this unit is mobile linked for remote monitoring this ensures that the user can monitor its working from any part of the world using the smartphones, tablets, or PC.

Dual fuel technology: this generator engine is designed to runs using natural gas or propane; hence, the user has the option of choice on the fuel to use.

Conclusion

While it relatively expensive, this unit has the ability to supply your entire house with power.

Warranty

Generac 7033 Guardian Series 11kW/10kW comes with 5 Year Limited Warranty.

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#2. Generac 7117 GP2200i Portable Inverter Generator

Are you and your family outdoors junkies on the lookout for an affordable portable inverter generator on the market? You might have to pay close attention to this Generac’s economical model that has an incredibly quiet functionality.

Whether you are tailgating for the upcoming big game or simply enhancing your camping experience – the Generac 7117 GP22200i will present you with stable power with no disturbances to the neighbors or surrounding wildlife.

At a glance, the GP2200i resembles a huge laundry detergent container instead of a portable generator. Nonetheless, it is this design-build that’s its prime selling point. Let’s have a look at why this model might be a good buy for you:

What is in the Package?

Here’s what the manufacturer includes in the packaging:

• Generac 7117 GP2200i Watt Portable Inverter Generator
• Maintenance Tool Kit
• User Manual

Operation & Ease of Use

You’ll use a standard recoil pull-starter cord to start the engine of this inverter generator. It has no electric start; there’s no space to strap an internal battery in its compact design. Instead, the manufacturer found it necessary to combine the choke, run, and stop switches into a single handy knob to make the starting process simple.

As for this generator’s outlets, they’re somewhat sparse. What you’ll get is a 120V, 20A duplex outlet, 12VDC outlet, and a 5VDC, 1.5A USB outlet. All of these outlets are covered for protection against dust. Sadly, there’s no interlocking outlet to power the more energy-intensive appliances.

The GP2200i has no fuel gauge on the front panel. All it has are indicator lights to let you know when you’re overloading it or when it’s running low on oil. It weighs in at 46.6lbs and has a convenient handle that makes it easier to carry around. Plus, its compact aspect makes it great for storage after use.

Noise Level & Power

The tradeoff for this invertible generator’s convenience is power; the GP2200i is fitted with an 80cc, gas-powered, 4-stroke engine and a 1.2-gallon fuel tank. It only presents you with about 1,700 running watts and about 2,200 surge watts; capable of powering small appliances but don’t expect it to be a sufficient backup power for your home or RV.

You can expect this Generac to run for about 5hrs when on full-tank. Even if this is quite impressive, you might want to carry sufficient refueling gas with you whenever you’re taking a weekend camping expedition. The upside to this model’s innovation is that it comes with a parallel kit – you can pair two of these models for twice the power yield.

Generac seemingly doesn’t publish the decibel levels for their generators. Why? They believe that there’s no industry standard for the portable generators. All the same, the noise level of the GP2200i has to be certainly lower in comparison to that of a, say, 2000W open-frame portable generator.

Verdict: Should You Buy It?

Is the Generac GP2200i the best portable inverter generator under $1000? All things considered, the answer is yes. Not only is it a reliable generator with a relative quiet functionality, it supersedes most of the other competitive brands in terms of affordability.

That said – if you have more than $1000 to spend on a portable inverter generator, you might wish to have look at the Honda EU2200i. But, if you have less than $1000 on hand, you might want to purchase the Generac GP2200i portable inverter generator.

Do you have experience with this generator? What are your thoughts or tips? Please take a moment to let us know in the comments!

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#3. Generac XD5000E 5,000 Watt - Portable Diesel Generator

Modern diesel generators are known for being more efficient and providing a long life while requiring less maintenance. The Generac XD5000E is one perfect example of these diesel generators.

It's a mid-range model of high-quality standards and offers great power and reliability, factors which have made it stand out against the best diesel generators that the market has to offer.

Under the hood of the unit is an air-cooled 435cc Yanmar LW Series engine which is capable of producing around 5, 000 watts of continuous power and 5,500 watts of surge power.

That's sufficient output to keep almost everything in a house running in case of an extended outage. Beyond power, this Generac model guarantees balance and smooth operation with minimal vibrations.

It utilizes a direct fuel injection engine which delivers 9.3HP at a consistent speed of 3,600 RPMs plus it's counterbalanced to facilitate smooth operation even at such high speeds.

Therefore, vibrations which used to be a major issue with older diesel engines won't be a point of concern with this model.

Like many other diesel generators, the XD5000E is not an inverter but it does feature a true power technology which allows it to provide cleaner power compared to a lot of other diesel generators.

Despite the enormous output, this technology is able to deliver power with a total harmonic distortion of less than 5% which makes it safe enough to distribute clean and smooth electricity.

That means you can use it to power even the most sensitive electronics like your smartphone and computer without having to worry about them getting fried by surges.

Another thing that stands out in this Generac XD5000E model is its incredible runtime. It has a 12-gallon fuel tank which is really generous and ensures continuous power supply for a long time during an outage.

Operating at 50% load, the unit can run for up to 32 hours straight which means you can use it for a whole day from morning to morning before you have to refill it. At full load, it can go for up to 16 hours which is still a decent runtime compared to that of similar models.

It's one of the best fuel-efficient diesel generators available in the market and it comes with an automatic shutdown feature, so in case the oil level gets too low, it will immediately shutdown.

Operating this generator is also no hassle at all. You can use either a push-button electric start or a recoil pull start to start it both which are straightforward. The unit also features a compression release lever which makes it easier to start it in cold weather.

However, the battery for the electric start is not included which is unfortunate plus there's no remote start option. Another notable downside is weight. At 254 pounds, it's quite a heavy unit which considerably limits its portability.

The good news though is that it features a dual grip handle and 2 never-flat wheels to make it a bit easy to move. Further to this, it's equipped with an integrated lifting eye to allow you to bring it anywhere you want.

Noise will neither be an issue as the unit utilizes a set of high-quality mufflers which help make it quite and suitable to use in most neighborhoods.

Overall, considering the powerful engine that produces clean power and the longer runtime, the Generac XF5000E indeed represents excellent value for money. It's a solid, reliable diesel generator that's efficient, quiet and durable.

It's good enough for not just home use but also for most outdoor applications like powering electric power equipment and tools if you have a small garage or workshop.

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#4. Generac 6866 iQ2000 - 2,000 Watt Quiet Portable Generator

At a glance, the Generac 6866 iQ2000 looks more like a laundry detergent container. But aside from its aesthetic values, why not get on board and explore what makes this model particularly unique?

What is in the Package?

Here’s what the manufacturer includes in the packaging:

• Generac 6866 iQ2000 Portable Inverter Generator
• Maintenance Tool Kit
• User Manual

Operation & Ease of Use

The iQ2000 is designed and built to be simple to use. You’ll use a heavy-duty pull cord to power up it up. Generac deemed it necessary to include a simple power dial in its construct to let you start, run, and stop it.

The model has a handy knob that lets you choose from its three operating modes – Economy, Turbo, and Standard – making it smart and effortless to operate in any condition.

On the control panel, there are several displays to present you with all of the info you need; they’re bold and in a pretty easy-to-understand format. The fuel gauge lets you keep an eye on how much gas you have left in the tank while the wattage meter lets you know the percentage of load that you’re operating. Also, there’s a display for the total runtime estimate in respect to the current load.

What’s more? The iQ2000 has a panel of status lights that are designed to alert you when your generator is running low on oil or fuel or in the case that it’s on the verge of overloading or overheating.

Noise Level & Power

This portable inverter generator yields a wattage range of about 2,000 surge watts and about 1,600 running watts; meaning, the cumulative power consumption for all appliances you are to connect shouldn’t exceed 1,600 watts.

What does this imply? You might want to avoid connecting multiple energy-intensive appliances to this generator. Essentially, connecting one energy-intensive appliance (like a refrigerator) and a number of other small appliances are just ideal to keep this model running efficiently without the risk of overloading it.

What’s good? With the parallel kit for the Generac 6866 iQ2000 portable generator, you have the option to double on the power output and runtime. With two units connected and running in parallel, you can power more appliances and enjoy a longer runtime with the average load.

With a fuel capacity of about 1.06 gallons, you can expect this model to present you with up to 9hrs of runtime at 500W load before you have to refuel. It uses a built-in digital module inverter to convert the raw power it yields from DC to AC power.

As for the noise generation of the iQ2000, it has an almost noise-free functionality in comparison to competitor brands in its class. Even so, you might want to remember that more load inclusion will surely lead to a spike in its noise generation and vice versa. Be it as it is – it’s definitely not the loudest portable inverter generator by any stretch.

Verdict: Should You Buy It?

In the end, it all trickles down to what you are looking for in a generator.

If the noise factor sits high on your wish list, the Generac 6866 iQ2000 is one of the quietest generators. Is your ideal generator one that should be easy to use? The iQ2000 certainly stands out with its effortless controls and exceptional easy-to-understand feedback displays.

Then again, if you want a generator with absolute huge power yields – this model might not be the ideal choice for you. Basically, the iQ2000 is pretty much a middle-of-the-line generator when it comes to power, runtime, and weight.

All in all, it’s the model’s quiet operation and user-friendliness that attribute to its uniqueness. If this appeals to you, you might want to buy the Generac 6866 iQ2000 portable inverter generator and it’ll indeed be worth every dollar you spend!

Do you have experience with this generator? What are your thoughts or tips? Please take a moment to let us know in the comments!

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